Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

With wide receivers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) listed as questionable for Sunday night's game in Houston, the Chicago Bears have elevated wide receiver Collin Johnson from their practice squad. Johnson, who was released by the Giants during final cuts in 2023, was signed to the Bears' practice squad on October 10th and was later promoted to the active roster. He played 40 snaps over the last three games of the season, catching one pass for 11 yards. Johnson showcased his potential during the preseason, recording three catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns in the Hall of Fame Game against the Texans on August 1. Despite this, he did not play in the subsequent three preseason games due to injury and failed to make the Bears' 53-man roster. If Allen or Odunze are unable to play, the Bears will miss the size and physicality that Johnson, standing 6'6" and weighing 222 pounds, can provide. Johnson has had more time to learn the offense and could fill that gap. While he doesn't need to be rostered in fantasy leagues at this time, he could be a useful emergency fill-in if both Allen and Odunze are sidelined.

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is a solid fantasy option for Week 2 against the Houston Texans. Santos has quietly established himself as one of the NFL's most reliable kickers. In Week 1, he accounted for nearly half of his team's points, successfully converting on all his attempts, including field goals from 24, 48, and 50 yards, along with two extra points. With the Bears' offense struggling to find its rhythm, Santos had plenty of chances to score. While Caleb Williams and the offense are expected to improve, they might not be able to find the end zone consistently just yet. With a favorable 46.5 over/under for the game, Santos remains a strong fantasy play until Chicago's passing game shows more consistency.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet is in a timeshare with Gerald Everett, who out-snapped him and ran more routes in Week 1. Kmet was on the field for less than half of the team's offensive snaps and received just one target during those 27 plays. Given that the Bears passed the ball on 57% of their offensive plays, this lack of involvement stems from the playbook rather than the game script. It appears that specific offensive packages are designed to feature Everett over Kmet. Conversely, with wide receivers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) not practicing and listed as questionable, Kmet could see an increase in targets in Week 2. If the Bears continue to ease rookie quarterback Caleb Williams into the game, particularly with two of his top wideouts potentially limited, Kmet may see more action. Expect him to run more routes, potentially catching three to four passes, with a chance for a red-zone opportunity. While Kmet is a risky, touchdown-dependent play in deep leagues, this could be the week to take a chance on him, given the uncertain status of Allen and Odunze.

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore remains a solid WR2 option for this week's potential high-scoring matchup. Moore will look to bounce back from a modest Week 1 performance, where he recorded 36 receiving yards on five catches and added a 14-yard rush. With fellow wide receivers Keenan Allen (heel) and Rome Odunze (knee) not practicing and listed as questionable, Moore is poised for an increased target share. The Texans will be fielding rookie corner Kamari Lassiter alongside Derek Stingley, and Moore will likely test the rookie's coverage. The Texans' defense allowed a league-high 9.5 Net Yards per Attempt in Week 1, suggesting opportunities for explosive plays. Their vulnerability was evident in their game against the Colts, where Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin caught long touchdown passes. Moore, known for his ability to capitalize on deep passes, averaged 14.2 yards per catch over his seven-year career, and he had five different games in 2023 in which he averaged over 16 yards per reception. If the offensive line can provide adequate protection, expect quarterback Caleb Williams to target Moore deep and frequently, mainly if Allen and Odunze are limited or sidelined. Moore should be a major focal point for an offense eager to improve upon its Week 1 performance.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is a borderline Flex/RB3 for Sunday's matchup against the Houston Texans, who have shown to be a tough opponent for running backs. Swift aims to rebound from a lackluster Week 1, where he managed only 30 yards on ten carries and was targeted only once in the passing gamea notable concern given his past effectiveness as a receiving threat. Compounding the issue was poor offensive line play, with Titans rookie defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat dominating the interior. This situation does not bode well for the Bears' rushing attack going forward. Although the Texans allowed 4.7 yards per carry against the Colts last week, they have been stingy with rushing yards, allowing an average of just 73.6 yards per game to visiting backs since last season and holding Jonathan Taylor to only three yards per rush. With the Texans allowing more than 100 rushing yards to just one player last season, Swift is a risky flex option. Khalil Herbert was out-snapped by Travis Homer, making Swift the only viable running back fantasy option. Of course, only if the Bears can sustain drives and improve their offensive line performance.