Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was limited in practice for the second consecutive day with a heel injury on Thursday afternoon. The veteran wideout also missed a practice due to the same injury last week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Allen's status as we approach the season opener on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. The 32-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, totaling 1,243 yards on 108 receptions with seven scores. If Allen were to miss Sunday's game or suit up in a limited capacity, DJ Moore should see an uptick in targets, and rookie pass catcher Rome Odunze should also see more playing opportunities.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen is eager to make his mark in Chicago and set new records. After he was told that his performance from 2019-2023 alone would have made him the all-time leading receiver in Bears history, saying, "Sky's the limit. We can definitely reset the bar here for sure. I'm pretty sure we will." While there is considerable excitement about the Bears' offense this year, Allen faces challenges that could affect his fantasy value. Joining a new team with a crowded receiving corps and a rookie quarterback might limit his numbers in 2024, potentially positioning him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in PPR leagues. With Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore also in the mix, it's unlikely he'll maintain his previous 31% target share. Despite the optimism surrounding the Bears' offense, predicting the primary target each week could be tricky. Allen and the Bears aim for a strong start as they face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (toe) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. A toe injury has plagued the second-year running back -- one he picked up early on in the preseason and hasn't seen any live action since the Hall of Fame game. It would seem he has a decent shot at suiting up for the Bears' regular-season home-opener against the Tennessee Titans due to him at least participating minimally. Johnson is currently slated to open the year as Chicago's third-string RB behind starter D'Andre Swift and backup Khalil Herbert. Even if the former Longhorn can find his way to the field, it would be tough to rely on him for more than groundwork with the loaded wide receiver corps around him. Additionally, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is not known for his propensity to check it down to his running back. Johnson can be safely left on the waiver wire for the time being sans dynasty and deep leagues.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was listed as a limited practice participant on the team's first official injury report of the 2024 regular season on Wednesday due to a heel injury. Allen missed practice late last week with the same issue. While it's something to watch heading into the regular season this weekend in a Week 1 matchup for Chicago against the Tennessee Titans, the 32-year-old veteran should be able to make his Bears debut on Sunday at Soldier Field. If Allen cannot play or is limited, it would open up targets for both DJ Moore and first-round rookie Rome Odunze. Allen's fantasy stock was down in the offseason after he ended his Chargers tenure on the bench due to injuries in 2023, and his fantasy ceiling is certainly lowered in Chicago where targets will be harder to come by. But when healthy, Allen is still worthy of at least a WR3/flex play.

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had plenty of opportunities to establish a connection with quarterback Caleb Williams during the preseason. According to fantasy football analyst Jacob Gibbs, Odunze was the Bears wide receiver who spent the most time on the field with Williams during the three preseason games even more than veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. This bodes well for Odunze's stock in 2024 as he's already started to get on the same page with his quarterback, a fellow rookie. The No. 9 pick will still have to compete for targets with Moore and Allen, but he's trending in the right direction. Odunze should be drafted in all fantasy leagues and will open the year with low-end WR3/FLEX upside.