Analysis
7/31/23
5 min read
Chicago Bears 2023 Fantasy Football Team Preview
As we inch closer to opening day of the NFL season, we want to prepare you for your fantasy football drafts. That process begins with our team previews, where we’ll break down each team’s offense while providing players we’re targeting and, in some cases, avoiding.
>> READ: Bears Season Preview from Greg Jennings
Bears Fantasy Football Team Preview
Head Coach: Matt Eberflus (second season)
Offensive Coordinator: Luke Getsy (second season)
Key Offensive Additions
- QB P.J. Walker
- RB D’Onta Foreman
- RB Travis Homer
- WR DJ Moore
- TE Robert Tonyan
- OG Nate Davis
Key Offensive Departures
- QB Trevor Siemian
- RB David Montgomery
- OT Riley Reiff
Key Offensive Rookies
Points Per Game: 19.2 (23rd)
Passing Yards: 130.5 (32nd)
Rushing Yards: 177.3 (First)
Vacated Targets: 78 (27th)
Pass: 52 percent Run: 48 percent
Pace: 16th
OL Rank: 24th
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields ran for 1,143 yards last season, finishing seventh in the league. That is the second-most rushing yards ever for a quarterback in a single season. Fields accomplished this despite missing two games. His historic season on the ground led to 20.5 fantasy points per game, good for fifth-best among quarterbacks.
His rushing prowess drove his fantasy production, as Fields finished with an absurdly low 149 yards passing on just 21 attempts per game. Some of that futility can be attributed to Fields' supporting cast. He began last year with a bottom-five offensive line and arguably the league’s worst wide receiver group. Chicago went out of its way to improve both units to support Fields better this offseason.
We’ve seen Fields’ enormous ceiling as a runner, which alone gives him tremendous fantasy upside. However, Chicago’s offseason acquisitions clearly signal it intends to throw more this season. Whether that venture is successful relies on Fields, which will determine his fantasy impact.
Fields already has shown he has top-five upside at the position. Still, he’s a more volatile bet than quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence who are regularly selected after Fields.
Running Backs
The Bears had nearly 300 more rushing yards than any other team last season. Ironically, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team with less invested in its running back room. Khalil Herbert is the suspected starter, and he was taken in Round 6 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Bears brought in the veteran, Foreman, on a $2 million deal and took Johnson in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Herbert should pace the team in carries, and he’s the favorite for early down work. It’s tough to know how much Foreman cuts into this workload, and there’s a chance the veteran becomes the preferred option at the goal line due to his massive frame.
Johnson was Bijan Robinson’s backup in college, and their one year without overlap was Roschon’s freshman season when he had more than 20 receptions. He’s the best pass-catcher in this backfield, and because of the lack of investment in the position, he has an outside chance to become a true workhorse.
While none of this trio deserve early-to-mid-round consideration, Herbert should be prioritized in the double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts due to his two-year track record of efficient rushing. Johnson is a preferred last-round dart throw due to his pass-catching. Foreman is best left on waivers outside of extremely deep leagues.
Wide Receivers, Tight Ends
The Bears made a big move by trading down from the first overall pick to acquire Moore from the Carolina Panthers. That move sparked comparisons to fantasy breakouts like Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown when they were traded.
However, there's a crucial difference in the passing volume of the Bears' offense compared to the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles before they got top receivers.
Last season, Fields attempted around 21 passes per game, while Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts attempted about 30 passes per game before the arrival of Diggs and Brown.
Moore is undoubtedly talented and will lead the team in target share, but Chicago’s limited passing volume could cap his fantasy ceiling. In three-receiver sets, Moore will be joined by Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney, both of whom are talented but coming off injuries.
While they possess the versatility to play in the slot and outside, the low passing volume could hinder their fantasy impact, especially with Moore commanding a significant target share.
The tight end room features Cole Kmet and Robert Tonyan. Kmet recently secured a contract extension. However, the presence of Tonyan could limit Kmet's goal-line opportunities, making neither tight end an appealing option as a fantasy starter.
Dynasty Sell
Ian Miller: Sell Moore (WR22)
Moore has always been a strong peripheral producer, including back-to-back seasons with at least a 25 percent target share. But the offensive situation has always held him back from hitting a 16-point per game season. He’s now 26 and joins a passing offense that’s fresh off the lowest passing volume season in the past 20 years.
Bears We’re Targeting or Avoiding in Fantasy Football
Josh Larky: Avoid Moore
Ryan Reynolds: Target Johnson
Jordan Vanek: None
Other Fantasy Previews
NFC East: DAL | NYG | PHI | WAS
NFC South: NO | ATL | CAR | TB
NFC West: SF | LAR | SEA | ARI
AFC East: BUF | NE | MIA | NYJ
AFC North: CIN | CLE | BAL | PIT
AFC South: HOU | IND | JAX | TEN
Follow our Team on Twitter
Josh Larky: @JLarkyTweets
Ryan Reynolds: @RyanReynoldsNFL
Jordan Vanek: @JordanVanekDFS
Ian Miller: @Dynasty_IM
Our data is provided by Sports Info Solutions and our vacated targets figure is provided by Tru Media.
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