Bears WR Darnell Mooney "likely" needs season-ending surgery to repair torn ligaments in his ankle, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If that's the case, Chicago will be without the guy who drew 26.6% of the team's targets over the first 10 games of the season. It'd open up opportunity for WR Chase Claypool and TE Cole Kmet. But this will remain a low-volume passing game, so it's tough to get excited about any of the pass catchers. Even Mooney sat just 45th among WRs in PPR points through Week 11.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reports that Bears QB Trevor Siemian took a pain-killing injection for his oblique injury and might still start vs. the Jets today. Both Siemian and QB Nathan Peterman took some 1st-team reps in final warmups. You should obviously be staying far away from this situation in fantasy lineups.
Bears QB Trevor Siemian suffered an oblique injury in pregame warmups, so QB Nathan Peterman will now get the start vs. the Jets. Siemian wasn't a great option, but Peterman is even worse. He's somehow managed to toss 12 INTs on 135 career pass attempts. You should try to avoid Chicago's passing game in Week 12 fantasy lineups. The Jets defense is an elite play.
Bears QB Justin Fields (shoulder) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Jets. He got in 3 limited practices this week, so we’ll see if he can get cleared for Week 13. QB Trevor Siemian makes his 30th career start today. He owns a 59% completion rate and 6.6 yards-per-attempt average. Chicago figures to throw it at least a bit more with Siemian under center, but we wouldn’t consider this an upgrade for anyone on the offense.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (thigh) is not listed on the final injury report. He got in a full practice on Friday after opening the week with a no practice and a limited practice. Kmet should be ready for his usual role vs. the Falcons on Sunday.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (thigh) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That should have him on track to play vs. the Falcons this weekend, but check back tomorrow for another update.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (thigh) did not practice on Wednesday. We don't have any other details on the issue but haven't heard any concern about Kmet's availability for this weekend's game vs. the Falcons. Check back tomorrow for another update on his status.
Bears TE Cole Kmet caught 4 balls for 74 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday's narrow loss to the Lions. He drew a team-high 7 targets and accounted for the Bears' only 2 receiving scores, including 1 from 50 yards out. WR Darnell Mooney was the only other Chicago player to catch more than 1 ball. Mooney snagged all 4 of his targets for 57 yards. Atlanta presents a positive fantasy-scoring matchup for all aspects of the Bears offense in Week 11.
Bears QB Justin Fields logged just 17 pass attempts in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Texans, completing 8 for 106 yards, 0 INTs and 2 INTs. Through 3 weeks, Chicago has 10 fewer pass attempts than any other team in the league, with the next lowest being a Giants offense that has yet to play in Week 3. WR Darnell Mooney (6 targets) and TE Cole Kmet (3) assumed their expected positions as Chicago's target leaders, but the shares won't matter until the Bears begrudgingly throw the ball more. Each guy caught just 2 balls vs. Houston.
Bears TE Cole Kmet failed to record a catch in a Week 2 loss at Green Bay. His lone target was dropped. That means that through 2 weeks, the young TE has a grand total of 2 targets…for 0 yards. He’s also outside the top-30 TEs in routes run (31). In theory, opportunities should come in a thin Bears passing game that'll likely continue playing from behind. But we’d have to see some signs of life from Kmet before considering him anything close to a TE streamer. He gets Houston at home in Week 3.
The rain was no joke in Chicago on Sunday, helping produce sub-50% completion rates for both the Bears and 49ers. QB Justin Fields attempted just 17 passes for the game, completing 8 for 121 yards and 2 TDs. Unfortunately for anyone who started WR Darnell Mooney or TE Cole Kmet, those scores went to WRs Dante Pettis and Equanimous St. Brown. RB David Montgomery led the team with 4 targets. Mooney tied for 2nd with just 3 looks, catching 1 for 8 yards. Kmet garnered just 1 target, which fell incomplete. Each guy did, at least, easily lead his position in Week 1 playing time. We're not altering our fantasy football outlooks for Mooney or Kmet based on the opener.
Chicago has been hit with heavy rains this morning. It looks like the worst of it will be gone by kickoff of 49ers-Bears, but there will be lingering showers -- and a wet field. The forecast also calls for 15-20 mph winds. Less than ideal scoring conditions, although this looked like a low-scoring game anyways. Expect lots of running from both teams.
The Athletic’s Adam Jahns considers Bears TE Cole Kmet the team’s #2 option in the passing game. No surprise there, but per Jahns, Kmet has earned the “trust” of Justin Fields and OC Luke Getsy. The young TE snagged 2 of 3 targets from Fields for 31 yards in Thursday night’s preseason game, carrying over what's been a strong training camp showing. There’s clear TE1 potential here.
Bryan Perez of Bears Talk writes that "no Chicago Bears player is having a better start to training camp" than TE Cole Kmet. OC Luke Getsy says they're moving the 3rd-year TE around the formation and that he's doing everything well, including running some routes from out wide. "I think he's on the brink right now of taking his game to another level," Getsy says. "So I am hopeful that by the time we get through this camp, he is ready to be a rock star for us, because we're going to need him to be." That need is key, as Kmet looks like the favorite to follow WR Darnell Mooney as top targets. Kmet has been a value pick outside the top 12 TEs in PPR drafts all year.
Bears OC Luke Getsy spoke about his first impressions of TE Cole Kmet. “I’ve been very impressed with Cole,” Getsy said. “Again that mindset that we’re trying to set, he’s been a great example of that as well. And you go back to that thing we talked about before, just the ability, the flexibility as a player, I think he has all that stuff. So I’m excited to see him have a bunch of different roles in our offense. Some players that are out there they’re kind of like this is what they do well. But I think the more guys that you can get in a system that can do a bunch of different things, the more success you’re going to have and I think Cole is one of those guys.” Kmet played all 17 games last year, notching 60-612-0 on 93 targets. A favorable target outlook remains in year 3, and a TE1 finish is certainly within his range of outcomes.
Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun Times writes that TE Cole Kmet “simply hasn’t been a game-changer, so unless there’s clear evidence that suggests he’ll get there next season, that position goes on the [offseason] shopping list.” Indeed, 2022 is probably a make-or-break year for Kmet. Last season, he failed to find the end zone and ranked mid-pack in yards per catch and yards per target. We’ll see if Chicago adds a veteran or mid-round rookie. For now, consider Kmet no more than a TE2 in early best ball drafts.
Bears WR Allen Robinson has been activated from the COVID list. He figures to siphon a few targets from WR Darnell Mooney and TE Cole Kmet this weekend, but A-Rob isn't a fantasy option vs. the Giants.
Bears HC Matt Nagy said Friday that QB Nick Foles will start Sunday's game vs. the Seahawks. QB Andy Dalton (left hand, groin) is out for Week 16, while QB Justin Fields (ankle) was unable to practice on Thursday or Friday. Nagy said that Fields might be active on Sunday, but it'd be as Foles' backup. Foles made 7 starts for the Bears last season, averaging 238 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT on a 66% completion rate and 5.9 yards per attempt.
Bears WR Allen Robinson has been placed on the COVID list. He'll likely miss Monday night's game vs. the Vikings. Robinson, of course, has been a major disappointment this season and shouldn't have been in your Week 15 fantasy plans. His absence is a slight upgrade for WR Darnell Mooney and TE Cole Kmet.
Bears TE Cole Kmet (groin) is not listed on the final injury report after putting in a full practice on Friday. So that groin shouldn’t be an issue against the Cardinals on Sunday. Kmet is a solid target bet with WRs Allen Robinson and Marquise Goodwin out.
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