Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus says a majority of the starters, including quarterback Caleb Williams, will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against the defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. That also means fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting to see wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze on Thursday against the Chiefs, with running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet also being unlikely to suit up. Williams notably scored a seven-yard rushing touchdown in Saturday's preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bears were one of the offseason's biggest winners, landing the 22-year-old USC standout first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and surrounding the signal-caller with one of the league's premier supporting casts, but this offense has plenty of mouths to feed from a fantasy perspective.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams appeared in 22 plays during Saturday's 27-3 preseason victory over the Bengals, completing six of 13 passes for 75 yards. Following a stellar debut in a limited appearance, Williams' efficiency took a step back in his second professional outing. His escapability and rushing upside were evident, with a seven-yard touchdown on his only rush of the game. However, he took his first sack against Cincinnati and ended the game with a completion percentage below 50. Williams' final tune-up game is scheduled for Thursday in Kansas City before he hosts the Titans in Week 1 for his regular-season debut.

Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze recently heaped high praise on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, describing his performance as "pretty unreal." Odunze highlighted a memorable moment: "He's throwing off one leg, putting it on my outside shoulder. It's like ooh, it's magical what he's doing back there in the backfield. He's special." This excitement about Chicago's revamped offense is well-founded, especially given the impact both players are making. During their latest preseason game, Williams connected with Odunze for a spectacular 45-yard completion late in the first half, putting the Bears in scoring position. Odunze's standout performance also included a 16-yard rush on a reverse. Williams capped off the drive with a thrilling 7-yard scramble into the end zone. Given their impressive preseason showings, both rookies are shaping up to be intriguing late-round fantasy picks this year.

ESPN's Mike Clay believes that Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert could become available before the regular season begins. Herbert is currently a part of a logjam in Chicago's backfield alongside starter D'Andre Swift and change-of-pace back Roschon Johnson. With an expiring contract and without a clear future with the Bears, Herbert is a trade candidate this offseason or at the deadline later in the year. The 26-year-old former Virginia Tech standout and sixth-round pick demonstrated a decent level of explosiveness over 152 touches in 2023, producing 4.9 yards per touch across 12 appearances. Even in the case of an injury to Swift, Herbert would likely be a part of a timeshare with Johnson as well as pass-catching specialist Travis Homer.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet saw limited time in his first preseason game of the season and caught one of two targets for 26 yards in the team's 33-6 win over the Bills. Kmet had his first game action with quarterback Caleb Williams and dropped a pass that could have made his day even more productive. While the Notre Dame alum likely won't see the same volume he did a year ago, the offensive additions should improve the unit and give Kmet more opportunities near the end zone. His next chance to get reps in the preseason comes Saturday at home against the Bengals.