Fantasy football preview: Chicago Bears running backs

Will there be a three-way attack from the Chicago backfield?

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.

Fantasy football reaction: D’Andre Swift heading to the Windy City

Swift head back to the NFC North after a one-year stint in Philly.

Following the Detroit Lions drafting Jahmyr Gibbs in the 2023 NFL Draft’s first round, D’Andre Swift was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles with one year left on his deal. He entered the 2024 free agency period with the opportunity to pick his next destination, ultimately returning to the NFC North to play for the Chicago Bears.

Fresh off his first 1,000-yard rushing season and a career-high 229 carries, Swift scored five times on the ground for the third straight season. He did, however, experience a dramatic downturn in the aerial element of his game, logging personal lows in targets (49), receptions (39), yards (214), and touchdowns (1).

Despite the mixed bag of results, Swift’s per-game average of 12.6 points in reception-rewarding scoring is the lowest of his four-year career, down from a 16.2-point showing in 2021. The larger workload produced fewer yards per touch, so we may have seen his efficiency rating maxed out.

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In Chicago, he should be the primary back in a tandem approach, presumably with Khalil Herbert as D’Onta Foreman is a free agent. Will Justin Fields be the team’s starting quarterback? If so, his presence drastically impacts the fantasy value of Swift. Should Fields be traded, it likely means rookie Caleb Williams will be the starter … not all that different of a fantasy outlook for Swift.

Fantasy football outlook

The fifth-year pro is a much better asset in PPR formats. He’s a solid but potentially erratic RB2, regardless of the unsettled quarterback situation. Factors of a notable injury history, outdoor weather, and a two-back approach makes him an inconsistent consideration. We’ll dig deeper once the post-draft dust settles.