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.

The Chicago Bears’ deep backfield offers more questions than answers

Will rookie Roschon Johnson shake up the backfield for fantasy purposes?

While the Chicago Bears’ struggles passing the ball were well documented, they quietly led the NFL in both rushing yards (3,014) and yards per carry (5.4). Of course, much of that was QB Justin Fields, whose 1,143 yards paced the club. Conversely, their top two backs, David Montgomery, and Khalil Herbert, finished with 801 and 731 yards, respectively — without Fields, Chicago’s yards per carry drops to 4.7, which would’ve tied for eighth.

Montgomery, who served as the team’s lead back in each of his four NFL seasons, signed with the Detroit Lions during the offseason. To replace him, the Bears inked former Carolina Panthers RB D’Onta Foreman to a one-year deal and spent a fourth-round selection on Roschon Johnson. That trio should partner with Fields in what figures to be a more balanced attack after Chicago strengthened their pass catchers via trades and free agency.

Still, the ground game appears to be the strength of the Bears offense, so let’s look at how the backfield touches might be divvied up.