With the selection of quarterback Caleb Williams, combined with the additions of wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, excitement surrounding the Chicago Bears offense might be at its high point in franchise history. While that level of optimism is understandable, let’s not get too carried away with the idea that the Bears, which featured the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL last year, are simply going to put everything on Williams’ shoulders from Week 1 on.
Granted, former QB Justin Fields, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a big part of the team’s success on the ground, but it’s a commonly held belief around the league that defense and a strong running game are a young quarterback’s best friends. Plus, while Williams won’t match Fields in terms of raw athleticism, he did run for 11 touchdowns at USC last year, so he’s not devoid of running ability.
Chicago returns two of its top three backs from 2023 with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson while bidding adieu to D’Onta Foreman, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. The Bears hope they have found a new lead back in the form of D’Andre Swift, handing him a three-year, $24 million deal at the start of free agency. How does this trio look for fantasy owners? Let’s find out.
D'Andre Swift
Swift, a former second-round pick of the Detroit Lions, returns to the NFC North after a one-year stay with the Philadelphia Eagles where he ran 229 times for 1,049 yards, both career bests, and five TDs. His ability to handle a full-time workload was probably the most important aspect of his 2023 performance, though, as injuries defined his time in Motown and led to Detroit carefully monitoring his touches to keep him on the field.
Although he wasn’t used as a receiver extensively in Philly, Swift is a proven commodity in that area as well, posting 156 receptions during his three years with the Lions. A talented checkdown option should appeal to Williams, even with a dangerous trio of receivers. From a scheme fit, Swift looks like a good one. Just as it did last year, it all comes down to durability with the talented back.
Khalil Herbert
Coming off a strong second season, in which he averaged an impressive 5.7 yards per carry, Herbert looked like the leading candidate to take over RB1 duties from David Montgomery, who had signed with the Lions before last year. Instead, his production was all over the map.
In his 12 games, Herbert topped the 100-yard mark three times but only eclipsed 40 yards in a game once in his other nine. An ankle injury landed him on Injured Reserve, costing him five games. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Herbert faces an uncertain future in the Windy City.
Roschon Johnson
Best known for being stuck behind Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson in college, Johnson garnered a healthy amount of preseason buzz as a possible sleeper candidate who could leapfrog Herbert and Foreman to become Chicago’s top back. That didn’t happen.
We have a nearly 30-year track record of creating fantasy football champs. Sign up for The Huddle today to gain an award-winning edge on the competition!
Despite injuries to both backs ahead of him, Johnson never saw regular duty as a ball carrier. He wound up turning 115 combined touches into 561 yards and a pair of touchdowns. We’ll see if a year adapting to the pro game gave him the seasoning he needs to claim the No. 2 job behind Swift or if he’ll be stuck in a tertiary role once again.
Fantasy football outlook
There’s a lot more clarity in terms of Chicago’s backfield hierarchy than there was in 2023. That comes at the cost of less transparency with how the Bears will attack opponents. General manager Ryan Poles didn’t hand out a three-year deal to Swift without the intention that the Georgia project would be RB1. As noted, talent isn’t the question with Swift. It’s how many games and touches he can log without breaking down. As a low-end RB2 or strong RB3, he’s worth the risk.
Beyond that, the combination of Herbert and Johnson will battle for snaps. Considering contract status and upside, Johnson would appear to have a leg up here. Herbert, while talented, has been dogged by inconsistency. Neither player projects as a top-50 fantasy back for now, though perhaps once the situation crystallizes the primary backup might be worth considering in the final rounds.
