Team news: Chicago Bears | Page 6

Per Adam Jahns, "I thought D'Onta Foreman would show more throughout camp. Instead, it’s Roschon Johnson, the rookie, who earned headlines with his play."

Related Players: Khalil Herbert

The team at the Athletic listed Roschon Johnson as the RB2, an eventuality that many of us considered from the time he was drafted. Johnson should see a lot of action on a team that runs so often, but his ceiling is very, very low as long as Khalil Herbert is healthy.

Keenan Allen has been the focal receiver in Kellen Moore’s offense during camp. Some of that is the rapport he has with Herbert. But some of it, too, is how Moore is using Allen.

Related Players: Mike Williams, Quentin Johnston, Josh Palmer

It feels like we've been waiting for Keenan Allen to age out of fantasy production for years now, but when he's healthy, he's still an exceptional option in what should continue to be a high-powered offense. Allen missed seven games last season, but with no hiccups through camp, he is a fantastic selection when he slides towards the 5th Round.

The Eagles have given away all the signs throughout training camp where Kenneth Gainwell stands on this roster. He's the back they trust the most in late-game and pressure situations, showcasing that by not playing him in the preseason opener (along with the designated players who weren't going to play).

Philadelphia backed that up by having Gainwell on the first team of 11-on-11s during the joint practice, getting the first snaps before D'Andre Swift spelled him. Swift is the back splitting the reps with Gainwell, as the Eagles line him out wide and use his explosiveness in pass-catching.

Related players: Rashaad Penny

The story went on to say Gainwell is the lead guy, but Swift is the counter punch. They are the 1-2 combination at running back, splitting the bulk of the touches. Swift has had an excellent camp and will be in integral part of the offense, the story went on to say. There was no mention of Penny. We've already reflected this on our depth chart and it's no surprise considering Gainwell had a big role last year even with Miles Sanders on the team.

"And since (Roschon Johnson has) gotten in there, we really love the style. We’re just gonna keep letting that thing compete out where it belongs, and we’ll see where it goes."

Related players: Khalil Herbert, D'Onta Foreman

Fantasy opinions have been all over the place when it comes to Johnson and his potential, while reports so far say Herbert has had a great camp and will be tough to overtake as the RB1. Johnson got a couple reps with the first team in 11/11 and in the two min drill on Monday. Cronin said Bears coaches are impressed with what they've seen to give him a look with the starters. The unnamed coach in the post added about Johnson: "Just the running style. He’s a downhill guy that we’re excited about. He’s got good vision."

Much like his first two seasons, Kenneth Gainwell is the team’s featured running back during the two-minute drill.

Related Players: Rashaad Penny, D'Andre Swift

Though we've tried to make this work in fantasy before, it's very unlikely that Gainwell is going to be used enough to play outside of sneaky DFS Showdown slates. What is likely, is that Swift's role in this offense might be squeezed into a much smaller box than we think it's going to. With a healthy Penny being the early down back, Gainwell handling the two-minute drill, and Jalen Hurts running the ball instead of checking it down, you have to squint to see RB3 production for Swift.

Bears and TE Cole Kmet reached an agreement on a four-year, $50 million extension, including $32.8 million guaranteed and $20 million in new first-year cash.

Related Players: Robert Tonyan

Chicago locks in Kmet, who has become a favorite target of QB Justin Fields. This quells any consternation about veteran TE Tonyan taking a ton of snaps away from him in 2023, but that still doesn't make Kmet a reliable fantasy option, as he had three or fewer receptions in 10/17 games last season despite having a career year with a 50-544-7 line. Kmet was among the most "over-performing" touchdown scorer last season, and we're projecting him for much less this season. He will be a streaming option in plus matchups yet he is going off boards as an overpay at the TE10.

Though Khalil Herbert is taking first-team reps during OTAs, the competition for the RB1 with the Bears includes D'Onta Foreman, Travis Homer, and fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson.

In the article, running backs coach David Walker was quoted as saying, “No one has earned a seat in that room yet, and they’re all going to earn their seats from what we do now until August whatever, whenever that third preseason game is,” Walker said. “So that’s the good thing and they know it. That’s been communicated to them.”

This makes the presumed "backups" more intriguing in fantasy drafts, as they are basically free at the moment. Roschon Johnson is coming off the board as the RB46 in the 13th round, while D'Onta Foreman is the RB51, in the 14th.

Per Lindsey, Chargers WR Mike Williams hasn’t been on the field during the open portion of OTAs to reporters, but here he is working out. Williams was unable to play in the postseason because of a small back fracture.

Related Players: Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Josh Palmer

Any time missed by Williams would immediately boost the early-season projections for rookie Quentin Johnston. Thiry's original tweet had clips from the veteran's Instagram account that showed him working out just fine, so we should presumably see him on the field before too long, barring any setbacks.

The Lions are receiving a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-rounder (No. 219) this year, while the Eagles get D'Andre Swift and Detroit's seventh-round pick (No. 249).

Related Players: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott

Swift has had quite the Draft weekend after Detroit snagged Gibbs incredibly early in the proceedings. The writing was on the wall, and now he joins a moderately crowded backfield in Philadelphia. The move doesn't necessarily kill the value of Penny, because the team was practically guaranteed to add someone due to Penny's extensive injury history.

Scott and Gainwell, on the other hand, will once again be on the outside looking in, in terms of fantasy viability.

Saints and former Lions’ RB Jamaal Williams have agreed on a 3-year deal for $12 million, including $8 million fully guaranteed.

Related Players: D'Andre Swift, David Montgomery, Alvin Kamara

The writing was on the wall after the Lions signed David Montgomery, so Williams is off to New Orleans. Considering the Saints' current depth chart and the likely discipline that Alvin Kamara is facing, Jamaal has a great shot at carving out a large role with the Saints.