Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Chicago Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, as expected, in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Last year's draft trade with the Carolina Panthers allowed Chicago to move to the No. 1 spot this year. Williams was the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears for the entire pre-draft process, and it became more apparent when they dealt Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers a month ago. Not only is the 22-year-old the safest QB prospect in this year's class, but he's entering a situation in Chicago that should be conducive to immediate success in real life and in fantasy. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner will be the clear top pick in rookie-only fantasy drafts this fall and should be in play in two-QB leagues in 2024 as well.

The New York Giants signed free-agent wide receiver Miles Boykin on Tuesday, according to Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team. The former third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after three years with the Baltimore Ravens. In 73 NFL games, the 27-year-old has hauled in just 38 receptions for 498 yards and seven touchdowns. Although New York has one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the league, it's hard to find a path toward fantasy football success for Boykin based on his lack of productivity to begin his career. In all likelihood, he will be a backup wideout or fail to make the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the potential No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, made his top-30 facility visit to the Chicago Bears on Wednesday, according to sources. Williams was in town for dinner on Tuesday night as well. It's likely his only visit with Chicago before they most likely take him with the No. 1 overall pick later this month. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is the consensus top QB prospect in this year's draft class. The Bears tipped their hand by already trading Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, so Williams is fully expected to be taken first overall as Chicago's next franchise signal-caller. Williams' college production fell off in his final year in 2023, but he's still likely to start right away in Week 1 of his rookie season in the NFL this fall.

Free-agent wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has agreed to terms to sign with the Washington Commanders, according to John Keim of ESPN. Zaccheaus was originally undrafted out of Virginia in the 2019 class, and he spent four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons before one year with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Overall, the 26-year-old has hauled in 104 passes for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns through his first 72 NFL games. With Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson on the roster and Washington likely to take shots on wide receivers in next month's draft, Zaccheaus is unlikely to have a path toward fantasy success in 2024, barring injury. He's likely just a depth piece for a franchise looking to rebuild on the fly.

The Chicago Bears signing of former Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles running back D'Andre Swift was one of the first moves of free agency, and head coach Matt Eberflus suggested he will be a passing game weapon for the organization. "We just felt that we wanted a home-run hitter there. I think D'Andre brings that. We wanted a weapon back -; a guy who could be a weapon out of the backfield," Eberflus said. "I know that in situational football it's very difficult to be able to have the two guys outside covered, two tight ends covered, and then you got another situation where you have the weapon back inside. So that was critical." It sounds like Chicago is planning to utilize Swift out of the backfield more often, which was a role he excelled in while in Detroit. Swift posted just a 10% target share in his lone season in Philadelphia after being at 15.1% in 2022 and 18.4% in 2021. With Chicago almost certainly slated to take USC's Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Swift could see a ton of usage underneath as a receiver while Williams feels out the NFL game.