Expected to be the Chicago Bears No. 2 wide receiver opposite Alshon Jeffery, rookie wide receiver Kevin White still hasn't seen the practice field in over six weeks.
Currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an undisclosed shin injury, White looks to be getting closer to a return, but it's not yet known when he will actually take the field in camp.
This is obviously a huge blow to White's potential early in his rookie campaign. Young receivers need as many reps as possible during OTAs and training camp to get accustomed to the speed of the NFL game. There's also a little thing called building trust and a relationship with Jay Cutler here.
White, the seventh overall pick in this year's draft, had been seen as a likely Week 1 starter opposite Jeffery. In his last season at West Virginia, the 6-foot-3 pass catcher caught 109 passes for over 1,400 yards and 10 scores. Seen as pro-ready, White's value among first-year players was relatively strong during the early part of the off-season program. That's obviously no longer the case.
Fantasy Slant
With White still sidelined, veteran Eddie Royal is getting first-team reps for the Bears. Suiting up for the San Diego Chargers last year, Royal made a solid fantasy impact. He caught 62 passes for 778 yards and seven touchdowns. This enabled Royal to finish as the 31st-best fantasy receiver—a mid-tier FLEX option. If he's given the opportunity to start in 2015, there's no reason to believe he won't surpass those numbers. Remember, Cutler and Royal have a built-in relationship during their time as teammates with the Denver Broncos. In fact, Royal's best season came with Cutler as his quarterback back in 2008. That season saw Royal tally 91 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards.
If you are drafting today, Royal is obviously the better bet between himself and White. That's only magnified by both player's current ADP's. White is currently the 33rd receiver off the board, while Royal comes in at 71. Talk about value there.