Team Profile
Chicago Bears
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-16.1% 27thOff DVOA
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-7.5% 26thPassing DVOA
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-10.3% 21stRushing DVOA
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-5.6% 11thDef DVOA
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-14.3% 4thDef Passing DVOA
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5.4% 29thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For19.4 24th
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Points Against18.6 6th
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Yards Per Game278.0 30th
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Yards Allowed Per Game323.0 14th
The Chicago Bears are signing wide receiver DeAndre Carter, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The 2015 undrafted free agent has spent time with nine NFL organizations, including the Bears in 2020. Overall, the 31-year-old has tallied 108 receptions for 1,259 yards and six touchdowns. However, he has returned 132 punts and 118 kickoffs in 94 career games, so that's likely why Chicago was interested in bringing him in. Carter is likely to compete with third-year wideout Velus Jones Jr. for return-man duties, a role that could be more important following the updated kickoff rules in 2024. With DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze on the roster, it'd be a surprise if Carter makes an impact as a receiver.
Free-agent tight end Marcedes Lewis agreed to a one-year deal with the Bears. The veteran, who will be entering his 19th NFL season, played for the Jaguars and Packers before spending last season with Chicago. However, he didn't do much for fantasy managers, amassing just four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. With Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett on the roster, Lewis should continue to have a tough time getting involved, meaning he won't see much attention from fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, free agent tight end Marcedes Lewiswill visit with the Bears on Monday. If all goes according to plan, he will sign a new contract. The veteran has spent time with the Jaguars and Packers before spending 2023 with Chicago, where he amassed just four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. This will be season No. 19 for Lewis, assuming he signs. However, the Bears have Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett on the roster, so Lewis isn't expected to find a spot on many fantasy rosters during the 2024-25 campaign.
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus called new running back D'Andre Swift "a weapon back" when asked why the team moved so quickly to sign him in free agency back in March to a three-year, $24 million deal. "You know we really needed that guy that can really operate on third down and even on first or second down and be a weapon in the deep part of the field and the short part of the field and take it the distance. And he's got a lot of gas," Eberflus said. Swift posted his first 1,000-yard season with the Eagles in 2023 and had career-bests in yards, carries (229), first downs (50) and yards per game (65.6). The Bears' offense now has a lot of dangerous weapons around rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, but in fantasy, it may be hard for Swift to match his 2023 exploits with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson also demanding backfield touches.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reportedly had plenty of expected rookie struggles at last week's OTAs, but Zach Pearson of Bear Report said he had one of his best showings during Friday's seven-on-seven period. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of USC completed 13 of his 14 passing attempts and threw a touchdown to DJ Moore. Needless to say, it's not a good idea to overvalue reports from practices with no live rushers on defense, but any sign of growth is encouraging. While rookie quarterbacks usually struggle in real life and fantasy football, Williams arguably has the best supporting cast any No. 1 overall pick has ever had. With pass-catchers like Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D'Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, and Gerald Everett surrounding him, he could post low-end QB1 numbers in Year 1.