Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Chicago Bears new head coach Ben Johnson said the team plans to go "back to the basics" with quarterback Caleb Williams heading into his second year as a pro after a disappointing rookie campaign after he was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft. "It's the fundamentals of the quarterback position: What's our footwork going to look like under center? From the shotgun? What are we calling the formations? What's the defensive identification going to look like? So that we're all speaking the same language," Johnson said. The 23-year-old will take more snaps under center during offseason workouts to gauge his comfort level. Chicago ran 70.8% of their plays from shotgun in 2024 (tied for 16th-most), but the Lions lined up in shotgun less than any other team under Johnson. Williams took a league-high 68 sacks last year, so using more play-action should help better protect him. On paper, the addition of Johnson should be excellent news for Williams' development.

The Chicago Bears agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent wide receiver and two-time Pro Bowl kick returner Devin Duvernay on Wednesday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Duvernay will most likely see most of his work in Chicago on special teams as a returner, but he will also provide depth behind wideouts DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus. The 27-year-old former third-rounder (92nd overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 out of the University of Texas only played in 13 games (one start) with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024 and caught 11 of his 16 targets for 79 yards and no touchdowns on offense. Duvernay won't be an option in the vast majority of fantasy leagues entering the 2025 campaign. His best season as a receiver came in 2022 with Baltimore, when he had 37 receptions for 407 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (13 starts).

Free-agent running back Travis Homer re-signed with the Chicago Bears on Monday on a one-year, $2 million deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Homer will be back for a third year in the Windy City and is currently the No. 3 behind D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. The 26-year-old former sixth-round selection (204th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 out of the University of Miami (FL) saw a grand total of six rushing attempts for 23 yards while catching three of four targets for 11 yards in 26 games (no starts) over the last two years in Chicago, so he hasn't been a very big part of the offense. A hamstring injury kept him sidelined for the final three games in 2024, but he should be good to go for training camp this summer. Homer will once again be nowhere near the fantasy radar for the Bears heading into 2025 drafts.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that free-agent wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. The amount has not yet been disclosed. The 27-year-old bounced around the NFC East over the prior two seasons, spending time with the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles. He will link up with his fourth team since joining the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Zaccheaus notched a career-high with 45 receptions on 63 targets last season while playing with rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels and serving as a punt returner for Washington. He projects to slot in as the Bears' third receiver, playing alongside incumbent starters DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Despite the change in scenery, the Virginia alum can be safely avoided sans deep best-ball formats.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released two-time Pro Bowl return man/wide receiver Devin Duvernay on Thursday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Jaguars were busy on Thursday clearing salary cap space for the 2025 season, as they traded receiver Christian Kirk to the division-rival Houston Texans and also released tight end Evan Engram. The 27-year-old Duvernay was much more valuable to Jacksonville as a kick returner in 2024, racking up 351 yards on kickoffs and 167 yards on punt returns while also chipping in 11 receptions for 79 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games played. The former third-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 out of Texas had 94 catches on 131 targets for 898 yards and five touchdowns in his four years with Baltimore. Wherever he lands in free agency, he'll once again primarily be a kick returner.