Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze will make his NFL debut this Sunday against a significantly upgraded Tennessee Titans secondary. With the Titans adding L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie to their cornerback lineup, they aim to transform a weakness from last season into a strength. While the allure of starting Odunze in Week 1 might be tempting, it's wiser to keep him on the bench for now. Rookies, especially receivers, often take time to develop their fantasy value, and Odunze will be starting behind established stars Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore. Although he has the potential to be a standout asset later in the season, his current role makes him a high-risk, boom-or-bust flex option. The Bears' offense should be capable of supporting two key pass catchers, but it remains to be seen who will emerge alongside Moore. While Odunze could make a few notable plays this Sunday, his role and target share are still uncertain, making him a risky play for now.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (heel) will debut in the Windy City this Sunday against a significantly revamped Tennessee Titans secondary. Allen is expected to be utilized in various roles, with his most significant impact likely coming from the slot, where he received nearly half of his targets in 2023. The Titans will probably match him against Roger McCreary, creating an intriguing clash between experience and youth. Given that L'Jarius Sneed will be focused on covering the outside, Allen should have ample opportunities, provided he is healthy. However, Allen has been dealing with a heel injury, described by GM Ryan Poles as a "cleat issue," and was limited in practice this week. While Allen could serve as a solid flex option for those who drafted him for that role, the combination of his injury and the adjustment to a new team might make it wise to consider alternative options for this week.

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore remains a solid WR2 option this week, but adjusting expectations is vital given the challenging matchup against one of the league's most improved secondaries. Last season, Moore was a key target for the Bears, receiving 28.5% of the targets and averaging about 80 receiving yards per game. While his target share may go down with Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze added to the team, with Caleb Williams now at quarterback, there's potential for enhanced productivity. However, the Titans' defense has seen significant upgrades, including the addition of L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie at cornerback, alongside returning starter Roger McCreary. Sneed will likely be matched against Moore frequently, which could limit Moore's production. In their previous matchup, Moore was held to just 41 yards on three catches when facing Sneed while he was with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, although he did score a touchdown during garbage time in a blowout loss. While Moore remains a worthwhile starter, don't expect him to deliver a game-changing performance this week.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift is a borderline RB2/RB3 for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, who present a challenging matchup. In their final three games of last season, the Titans allowed only 83.7 rushing yards per game, the best in the league during that period. Their defensive line, now bolstered by the addition of T'Vondre Sweatwho stands 6'4 and weighs 366 poundsposes a significant challenge. Sweat's presence is likely to draw double-teams, which could complicate inside runs for Swift. However, Swift might find success running to the edges. In this area, he performed well last year in Philadelphia, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and showing better efficiency and yardage after contact compared to his inside runs. Swift also has the potential to contribute in the passing game. However, the Titans were effective against receiving backs last season, allowing the fourth-fewest receptions and ranking 16th in yards per reception. This game will also be notable for the distribution of snaps, as Swift will share the backfield with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. While Swift will get plenty of work in Week 1, tempering expectations against a formidable run defense is wise.

Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is a high-risk, high-reward option as a borderline QB1 against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. Williams displayed impressive potential during the preseason, with notable throws on the run and exceptional arm angles. However, this will be his first official game, so some growing pains are to be expected. In the preseason, Williams showcased his significant upside with a 13% big-time throw rate and 8.5 yards per attempt despite an adjusted completion rate of 61.1%. Williams must utilize his talented offensive weapons, including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet, to capitalize on his opportunities, especially given the Titans' potentially improved pass defense. Last year, Tennessee allowed the ninth-highest yards per attempt and CPOE and had the seventh-highest adjusted completion rate. However, they've bolstered their secondary with Quandre Diggs, Chidobe Awuzie, and L'Jarius Snead. While the Titans' secondaryfeaturing Sneed (56.6 passer rating allowed in 2023), Roger McCreary, and Awuzie is seen as a strength, their safety corps could be a weak spot. The critical storyline will be how Williams performs in his debut, and leveraging his top targetsnotably Moore, Allen, and Odunzewill be crucial.