Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus explained that tight end Cole Kmet's limited playing time in Sunday's win over the Titans was due to the team's rotation strategy. Kmet saw fewer than 50% of the snaps, as Eberflus highlighted using multiple tight ends and personnel groupings to exploit defensive matchups. Despite signing a four-year, $50 million extension last offseason and being viewed as a key player in the team's rebuild, Kmet's role is currently shared with Gerald Everett to diversify the offense. Everett and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who has previously collaborated with the Rams and Seahawks, bring a wealth of experience and trust from their history together. Kmet expressed dissatisfaction with the reduced playing time but emphasized focusing on making the most of his opportunities. As long as he remains in a rotation, Kmet isn't a reliable fantasy starter. However, he has a favorable matchup against the Houston Texans this Sunday, which could help him turn his season around.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) was given a rest day at practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Matt Eberflus. The Bears will evaluate Allen on Thursday and see where he's at. Allen tweaked a heel injury that he also dealt with in training camp in August in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans and even went into the medical tent on the sideline to be checked, but he eventually returned to the field and finished out the game. In addition to Allen, rookie Rome Odunze's (knee) is dealing with an MCL sprain and may not be able to play in Week 2 at the Houston Texans. The 32-year-old Allen's status should be closely monitored the next few days. If both he and Odunze are unable to play against the Texans, DJ Moore will see as many targets as he can handle, with tight end Cole Kmet also see a sizeable uptick in targets from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) is not practicing on Wednesday and will be "day-to-day," according to head coach Matt Eberflus. Reports earlier this week had Odunze labeled as week-to-week due to an MCL sprain that he suffered in his NFL debut in the Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans. This new report is much more optimistic, but fantasy managers should still consider the 22-year-old very questionable for the Week 2 game in Houston against the Texans. And with Keenan Allen (heel) also banged up, Chicago's deep receiving corps could suddenly be thin this weekend. Odunze played 77% of the offensive snaps in his first regular-season NFL game last Sunday but caught just one pass for an 11-yard gain. As long as both DJ Moore and Allen remain healthy, Odunze figures to be an inconsistent fantasy option on a weekly basis despite all of his upside.

The initial belief is that Chicago Bears rookie first-round wide receiver Rome Odunze (knee) suffered a Grade 1 knee sprain in the Week 1 season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Odunze will seek a second opinion after undergoing an MRI exam on Monday, but this is a best-case scenario for the talented rookie pass-catcher. For now, the 22-year-old is being considered week-to-week, but fantasy managers should probably already be expecting him to sit out in Week 2 versus the Houston Texans on the road. In addition to his injury, Odunze had a very quiet NFL debut against Tennessee, catching just one of his four targets for an 11-yard gain. The future is bright for Odunze, but it was always going to be an uphill battle in terms of target load in his rookie season. For any time that Odunze misses, DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and tight end Cole Kmet will likely benefit the most.

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a disappointing debut on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, catching only one pass for 11 yards on four targets. His lone reception came on an unusual play where the ball, initially intended for DJ Moore, was deflected into the air and snagged by Odunze. He fumbled after the catch, but fortunately, an offensive lineman recovered the ball. Adding to his woes, Odunze left the field with a knee injury sustained during the Bears' final drive with 4:22 left in the game. He appeared to be rolled up on while blocking for a screen pass to Velus Jones Jr., and though he stayed in for one more play, he walked gingerly to the sideline afterward. If Odunze is sidelined for an extended period, the Bears must rely on DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott to step up. Odunze is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, and the team hopes for positive news. With the Bears set to face the Houston Texans next Sunday night, they will need all available offensive talent.