Tag: Roschon Johnson

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 3 free-agent forecast

Here are the top waiver wire targets for fantasy football in Week 3.

Fantasy football continues to rage on following a high-scoring slate from the Week 2 games, making this upcoming group of waiver wire targets vital for managers to monitor.

We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!

We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Why did the Bears abandon their productive run game vs. Buccaneers?

Bears running backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson combined for 11 carries for 67 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Bucs.

The Chicago Bears offense relied heavily on the run game last season, but that hasn’t been the case through these first two games of the 2023 season.

It’s not as if they don’t have guys that can get it done. While David Montgomery is now with the Detroit Lions, they have some capable backs in Khalil Herbert, rookie Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman.

With Foreman inactive, Herbert and Foreman combined for just 11 carries — in the entire game. And it wasn’t as if the run game wasn’t working or the Bears were losing to the point where they needed to throw the ball.

The run was there for Chicago the entire game, where they found success with the duo of Herbert and Johnson. Herbert had seven carries for 35 yards (5.0 average) while Johnson had four carries for 32 yards (8.0 average).

The handling of the run game is another indictment on offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who doesn’t seem to have any feel for calling a balanced offense. The Bears had four runs by Herbert and Johnson in the first half, as well as seven runs in the second half.

The expectation is we’d see more of the rookie Johnson with Foreman a healthy scratch in this game, especially after Johnson’s impressive 29-yard run that led to a first-half field goal. But they only went to him once more, which came in the fourth quarter.

With the offense struggling, maybe Getsy should go back to last year’s playbook where running the ball was a focal point, as well as something that helps a young quarterback.

Justin Fields impressed by Bears rookie Roschon Johnson’s debut

Bears rookie Roschon Johnson was asked to do a lot in his NFL debut, and he was definitely a bright spot in an ugly loss.

Bears rookie running back Roschon Johnson was one of the few bright spots in the team’s embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Packers.

Johnson was asked to do a lot — whether it was run the game, line up as a receiver or pass block. And he excelled at it all. Johnson had five carries for 20 yards and a touchdown, as well as a team-high six receptions for 35 yards.

When the game got out of hand in the second half, Johnson had some highlights, including a tough 11-yard run through Packers safety Rudy Ford for a first down.

Quarterback Justin Fields praised Johnson in his first NFL start, where he impressed as a runner, receiver and pass blocker. It wasn’t anything Fields didn’t expect from the rookie.

“I think since Day 1 he’s kind of a grown man, to be honest with you,” Fields said. “He has handled himself as a grown man. He has come in here and worked. He is always one of the last ones off the field. Every day after practice, every time we need to throw extra, he’s always right there to catch.

“His first game, we asked him to do a lot from a lot of different positions. Running back, of course. He was lined up as a receiver a couple times. He handled it very well. I am definitely proud of him for doing that. For getting so much put on his plate and the way he handled it, I am just excited for him and his future and what he’s going to be able to do for us and this team.”

Johnson led all Bears running backs in reps with 29 (Khalil Herbert saw 27, D’Onta Foreman had 21). That was likely due to the game being out of reach, but Johnson’s performance has certainly earned him more looks on offense, especially with his versatile skillset. We’ll see how involved he is against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Six points with David Dorey

Friday’s quick look at six fantasy items to know

Week 1 is over, and now we have to decide about all those big and small performances, the unexpected changes, and more than a few disappearing acts. Was it real? No arguing that Week 1 was a slop-fest for most teams that just now are playing “for keeps” and not just to decide which 53 guys get a locker for the season.

We’ve already seen J.K. Dobbins’s much-hyped season turned into yet another disappointing trip to injured reserve. And the Aaron Rodgers era with the Jets only lasted three plays. There were a few surprises in various backfields, and running back is the position that always delivers several in-season surprise fantasy stars. Most often, it comes from injuries shaking up the depth chart.

Here are six players and situations that I’m watching this weekend on the hunt for fantasy opportunity.

  1.  RB Melvin Gordon (BAL) – The first name mentioned here last week was J.K. Dobbins but he didn’t last long. The Ravens also used Gus Edwards (8-32) and Justice Hill (8-9, 2 TD). Hill was scraped off the waiver wire in every league after those two touchdowns, but the player who appears most likely to benefit from the Dobbins injury is Melvin Gordon. HC John Harbaugh said they would not add any backs but promote Gordon up from the practice squad. Gordon is no longer special, but Hill and Edwards have never been. Hill enters his fourth season with the team, and Edwards is in his fifth. Neither have done much in the past. It is a great offensive line in Baltimore and a decent schedule. The committee will persist, but Hill and Edwards have long been just depth players. Gordon could end up with reliable weekly value, though not as a difference-maker. One more name gets thrown into the ring next month – the rookie Keaton Mitchell who is on IR for now.
  2. RB Emanuel Wilson (GB) – Aaron Jones was productive in Week 1 but injured his hamstring and has missed practice. He has not been ruled out, and if he was, the expectation is that AJ Dillon becomes the primary with a significant chunk of carries. But also watch for Wilson if Jones is out. The rookie was a scratch in Week 1 but is the only other back on the active roster. The OC Adam Stenavich said that Wilson was a potential replacement for Jones if needed. He made the team as an undrafted free agent after rushing for 223 yards during the preseason.
  3. RB Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette – The Colts lost Evan Hull to injured reserve but may have Zack Moss ready for this week as he returns from a broken arm in the summer. But they’ve also contacted Hunt and Fournette this week and are “monitoring the market.” The Colts’ only other backs are Deon Jackson and Jake Funk, which isn’t optimal for the next 16 games. Jackson ran for 14 yards on 13 carries last week versus the Jaguars. Both Hunt and Fournette will end up somewhere this season, and yet they are already being dumped in fantasy leagues. This all goes away if Jonathan Taylor returns, but there is hardly any certainty that he will. 
  4.  RB Kendre Miller (NO) – The Saints 3.08 pick was inactive in Week 1 due to his hamstring strain. He returned to practice on Thursday and may make his debut this week. Jamaal Williams (18-45) wasn’t very effective rushing against the Titans and suspended Alvin Kamara is still out for three more games. The Saints have an out in Kamara’s contract next year, so any playing time that Miller gets could help him make the case that he should become the starter at least next year.
  5.  RB Roschon Johnson (CHI) – The rookie may be stuck in a committee, but he’s made the most of it. In his first NFL start, his seven targets tied for the highest on the team, and his six catches was the leader. Add in that he ran five times with a touchdown and a 4.0-yard-average, and Johnson already looks better than Khalil Herbert (3.0 yards per carry) and D’Onta Foreman (3.2 yards per carry). The Bears face a tough defensive line in Tampa Bay, but Johnson’s role as a receiver could lift him above the other two backs. No Chicago back had more than four catches in any game last year – Johnson just caught six.
  6.    WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (NE) – The ex-Chief signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Patriots and then laid an egg in Week 1 with only four catches for 33 yards. Kendrick Bourne (6-64, 2 TD) became a waiver wire darling this week. The Pats offense looked better already with the addition of an actual offensive coordinator, except for Smith-Schuster, who was only on the field for 54% of the offensive snaps. He was on the sideline on the final drive. There is speculation that his knee injury of last year still lingers, even though they let Jakobi Meyers go. Bourne is in his seventh season and third with New England, and he is no sudden star. This week versus the Dolphins should give plenty of reasons to use Smith-Schuster, and if they don’t, there are problems that they haven’t been public with. DeVante Parker may return if only to face his old team, but Smith-Schuster is the one to watch.

And about last night…

Vikings 28, Eagles 34

At halftime, it was 13-7 in favor of the Eagles, and it appeared the standard sloppy play of last week, and too many Thursday night games had shown up again. It became a great game in the second half, with the Eagles leading 27-7 and then the Vikings putting on a show for the final quarter and a half – although too little, too late.

The Vikings offense is very good. Kirk Cousins threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson showed up in the second half with 11 catches for 159 yards and inches away from a touchdown. Jordan Addison (3-72, TD) scored for the second week, breaking free on a 62-yard touchdown down the middle. T.J. Hockenson (7-66, 2 TD) is getting a lead on all other fantasy tight ends.

Unfortunately, Alexander Mattison flopped for the second week, gaining just 28 yards on eight rushes and catching three passes for 11 yards. He also lost one of the four team fumbles. At some point, maybe soon, the Vikings may be rethinking the whole “let’s just use our second string” approach to the backfield.

Jalen Hurts has not thrown much this year. He totaled just 18-of-23 for 193 yards and one touchdown to DeVonta Smith (4-131, TD), who provided nearly all of the receiving yards, much to the dismay of A.J. Brown owners (4-29). Brown caught a score but was called back on a holding penalty. Hurts ran in two scores to pump up the fantasy points on his 12 rushes for 35 yards. Kenneth Gainwell picked a bad week to be out, since D’Andre Swift (28-175, TD) has to have leapfrogged the career depth running back.

Chicago Bears stock exchange: Who’s up, who’s down after Week 1?

Let’s take a look at whose Bears stock is on the rise and whose is falling after Week 1.

Week 1 is thankfully in the rearview mirror for the Chicago Bears and their fans, but the fallout from their disappointing 38-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers continues throughout the week. Analysts and experts continue to pick apart the team’s performance, player effort, and overall execution. Week 2 can’t get here fast enough to give this group a chance at redemption.

As the Bears return to practice to prepare for their trip down to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they’ll do so with these players in the spotlight whose stocks may be rising and falling. Some of them shined in their first action of the season last week, while quite a few fell flat.

Here is the first iteration of the Chicago Bears Stock Exchange for the regular season.

Bears NFL power rankings roundup going into Week 2

Following the Bears’ brutal showing in the season opener, here’s where they stand in the power rankings heading into Week 2.

After a very ugly showing against the Green Bay Packers, there are a lot of question marks surrounding the Chicago Bears. As the Power Rankings show, now many people have the same faith they had in them just days before their Week 1 matchup.

Going into their game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both sides of the ball will have to change the narrative. The offense will need to be able to air the ball out better, while the defense will need to be able to stop Baker Mayfield and get the football back for their offense.

Before their Week 2 matchup with the Buccaneers, let’s take a look at where the Bears stand in various power rankings around the league.

Bears rookie Roschon Johnson a bright spot in miserable loss vs. Packers

There wasn’t much to love about the Bears in their embarrassing loss to the Packers, but rookie RB Roschon Johnson was an exception.

There wasn’t much to love about the Chicago Bears being whipped by the rival Green Bay Packers in front of most of the country. But when looking closer, rookie running back Roschon Johnson proved to be a bright spot.

Johnson did it all — he was an effective runner, pass catcher and solid in pass protection. He had five carries for 20 yards and a touchdown, as well as a team-high six receptions for 35 yards. Johnson was the fifth highest-graded player on the Bears, according to Pro Football Focus, earning a 71.5.

When the game got out of hand in the second half, Johnson continued to fight and made some highlight plays, including a tough 11-yard run where Johnson ran through Packers safety Rudy Ford for a first down.

“Yeah I think he did a good job,” said head coach Matt Eberflus, via The Athletic. “… He was in there at the very end and he was catching checkdowns and had a couple nice runs, but I certainly like his style. His style was really good, and that’s what he is. He’s a downhill, north(-south) guy, and he showed that yesterday. And he showed his physicality. He did that several times.”

The Bears deployed their running back committee consisting of Johnson, Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman. Johnson proved to be the most complete of the three, and he also happened to see the most reps with 29 (Herbert saw 27, Foreman had 21).

It feels like only a matter of time that Johnson will emerge as the lead back, and his Week 1 performance (and usage) proved just that.

Good, bad and ugly from Bears’ Week 1 loss vs. Packers

The Bears suffered a heart wrenching loss in Week 1 against the Packers. Let’s take a look at the good, bad and ugly from the game.

It’s alright, Bears fans. You can uncover your eyes. The Packers aren’t here to hurt you anymore. Chicago suffered a horrific, demoralizing loss to Green Bay to kick off the new season, getting trampled and beat up all game. The offense played scared and only pushed the ball downfield when it was too late, and the defense got torn apart by a Packers’ offensive gameplan that could have easily been adjusted too.

It all resulted in a Packers win, the NFL signing their praises about Green Bay QB Jordan Love who didn’t even do too much to beat Chicago, and both the Bears’ fanbase and the team searching for answers. With that being said, let’s access the repressed parts of our memories and talk about the Good, Bad, and Ugly of Week 1 against the Packers.

Game balls: 5 standouts from the Bears’ loss against Packers

The Bears were embarrassed by the Packers in Week 1. But we’re focusing on some of the brighter spots in an otherwise ugly opener.

The Chicago Bears kicked off the second season of the Matt Eberflus era on a low note, being blown out 38-20 by the Green Bay Packers. This was supposed to be a close game, with the Bears being favored to win. But that’s not how it unfolded.

What was supposed to give Chicago the edge – but ended up hurting them – was the debut of quarterback Jordan Love. With Aaron Rodgers gone, it was officially time for the Bears to take back the rivalry. They couldn’t do that, or at least they couldn’t, for now.

Despite the blowout, there were a few standouts on Chicago’s side. Given all of the bad coming out of the game, we’re looking at some of the positives. Here are those few Bears players who earned a game ball.

4 reasons why the Bears will beat the Packers in Week 1

The Bears battle the Packers in Week 1. Here are four reasons why Chicago will defeat Green Bay:

Today’s the day. Week 1 is officially here! Bears fans will have cope with the pregame jitters longer than usual since the game is set to kick off in the late afternoon, which gives the fans plenty time to mull over how the game will go.

The Bears and Packers are evenly matched in many crucial ways, and predicting who will be the winner of the divisional matchup is tough. Chicago has a great defensive backfield, but they are hampered by a weak defensive front four, make it ripe for the picking for Green Bay runners Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. On the contrary, the Packers may have a good running attack, but quarterback Jordan Love is largely unproven, which the aforementioned Bears cornerbacks and safeties can take advantage of.

Overall, the Bears will need to win in four key aspects of the football game to obtain the Week 1 victory. Let’s break down the reasons why Chicago will defeat Green Bay.