Chicago Bears Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Bears nabbed WR Rome Odunze with the ninth pick of the NFL Draft. Odunze led the Huskies in catches and receiving TDs in 2021 and then broke out as a redshirt sophomore in 2022 with the arrival of OC Ryan Grubb and QB Michael Penix. Odunze tallied 75 catches, 1,145 yards, and seven TDs that year, while ranking top-45 among 286 qualifying WRs in both Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route. He took another giant leap forward this past season, cranking out an FBS-high 1,640 yards and 13 TDs on 92 receptions. Odunze ranked eighth among 286 qualifying WRs in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 18th in yards per route. And he did it all despite suffering a broken rib and punctured lung in his fifth game. Odunze boosted his draft stock with a better-than-expected Combine showing, earning a 9.92 Relative Athletic Score at 6’3 and 212 pounds. A polished route runner with excellent ball skills, there are shades of Davante Adams in Odunze’s game. He looks ready to make an immediate impact and should quickly emerge as a high-volume target. Odunze will have trouble piling up targets as a rookie, with WRs D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen around. But Allen's not a good bet to remain in the picture beyond 2024. If this landing spot makes Odunze slip at all in your dynasty rookie draft -- take advantage.

The Bears selected USC QB Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A five-star recruit and the No. 2 QB in the 2021 recruiting class, Williams took over as Oklahoma’s starter midway through his freshman campaign. He finished that year with 9.1 yards per pass attempt and a sterling 21:4 TD-to-INT ratio. Williams then followed HC Lincoln Riley to USC and turned in a Heisman-winning 2022 season on the back of 4,537 passing yards and 42 TDs. His raw numbers took a step back this past year (losing WR Jordan Addison hurt), but Williams continued to flash a tantalizing skill set. He has the arm to make every throw, Mahomes-ian creativity and improvisation skills, and plenty of rushing ability. Williams will probably need to stay on script a bit more as a pro and clean up his ball security (33 career fumbles). But he has the potential to put up huge passing numbers while also adding fantasy value with his legs. Chicago supplies Williams with an excellent environment for year-one production – especially after the addition of Keenan Allen. The Bears have also built up a solid O-line in recent years. In 2023, they finished fifth in ESPN’s pass-block win rate. There’s top-five upside here long-term, but Williams sits just 21st in our redraft QB rankings, largely because of the position’s depth.

The Chargers are trading WR Keenan Allen to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. That low price clearly comes because of Allen's contract. He carries a $34.7 million cap number, according to Over The Cap. Of course, we don't care about that for fantasy. Allen remained highly productive last season, finishing third among WRs in PPR points per game -- before missing the final four contests. He'll compete with D.J. Moore for the target lead in Chicago, where we're all awaiting confirmation that Caleb Williams will take over at QB. Whoever pilots the Bears offense will have a nice crew of pass-catchers, including new RB D'Andre Swift. Allen's ceiling comes down with the target competition and offense that's almost certain to be less pass-leaning than the Chargers of the past few years. Moore also takes hits to both his floor and ceiling. L.A., meanwhile, has to be a strong candidate to draft a WR fifth overall after dumping both Allen and Mike Williams. Josh Palmer is the top incumbent and looks like a better bet to seize opportunity than Quentin Johnston, who stunk as a 2023 rookie. We'll see how the situation sorts out, but losing Allen obviously hurts QB Justin Herbert. And it further fuels the expectation that the offense will lean much more toward the run under HC Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman. That obviously hurts Herbert's 2024 fantasy outlook. We still believe in the QB's talent, though. So it might be a good time to check Herbert's trade price in dynasty. The whole market has already been down on him this offseason. Check our dynasty rankings to see how these moves affect the players involved.

The Bears are signing TE Gerald Everett to a two-year, $12 million deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Everett is reuniting with OC Shane Waldron, who was the OC for Everett's final season with Seattle in 2021. Everett tallied a 48-478-4 line in 15 games that year, ranking 20th among TEs in PPR points per game. He turned in TE13 and TE23 finishes with the Chargers the past two years. Everett figures to slot in behind TE Cole Kmet in Chicago and is unlikely to be a reliable weekly fantasy play. But his arrival dings Kmet's 2024 fantasy outlook.

The Bears have agreed to a three-year deal with RB D'Andre Swift, according to multiple reports. Chicago will pay Swift $24 million over that span, with $15.3 million of that guaranteed. That should position Swift as the backfield leader for at least the next two seasons -- assuming he stays healthy, of course. Swift opened his lone Philly season barely playing behind Kenneth Gainwell but then exploded when Gainwell missed Week 2. Swift worked as the lead back the rest of the way, averaging a career-high 41.3 carries per game but a career-low 2.4 receptions per contest. He should immediately step ahead of Bears incumbents Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson as both a runner and receiver. If the QB shift to Caleb Williams comes to fruition, then Swift would gain target upside over what Philly presented (or what Justin Fields would present). Swift has been a solid-to-good value in early best ball drafting. Expect his ADP to rise now that he has found starter money on the market. Swift's RB31 position in Underdog Fantasy to date gives him plenty of room to move up the board and still be worth targeting. Check our RB rankings to see where he lands.

The Bears have agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with S Kevin Byard, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That positions Byard to take over the starting spot vacated when the team released S Eddie Jackson in February. Byard, of course, spent the second half of 2023 in Philly after a trade from Tennessee. But the Eagles released him this offseason. Byard still finished among the top 15 fantasy DBs, his seventh straight year among the top 24. Byard should remain a solid bet to remain in that range heading into his age-31 campaign.

USC QB Caleb Williams declined to throw or work out at the NFL Combine. He spoke to the media but passed on medical testing. “I’ll be doing the medical stuff, just not here in Indy,” Williams said. “I’ll be doing that at [individual team visits pre-draft]. You know, not 32 teams can draft me. There’s only one of me. And so the teams that I go to for my visit, you know those teams will have the medical and that’ll be it… I didn’t feel the need to go out and throw. I played around 30-some games, I believe. Go ahead and watch real live ball with me and see how I am as a competitor.” We’re fully behind Williams as a future dynasty asset. As of early March, he’s the heavy favorite to land No. 1 overall in Chicago.

While Ohio State's Marvin Harrison and LSU's Malik Nabers -- widely considered the top-two WRs in this year's class -- opted not to work out at the Combine, Washington WR Rome Odunze went through the full gauntlet. Smart choice considering how well he performed. The 6'3, 212-pounder ran a plenty-fast 4.45-second 40-yard dash. He posted a 39-inch vertical and 124-inch broad jump. And he rocked a strong 6.88-second 3-cone. It all earned Odunze a 9.91 Relative Athletic Score that ranks 96th among 3,063 WRs from 1987 to 2024. He's a virtual lock to be a top-10 pick in April's NFL Draft and looks like a top-5 pick in 1-QB dynasty rookie drafts.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Bears are finalizing a deal to make Shane Waldron their new OC. Waldron spent the past three seasons as Seattle's OC, finding particular success in passing efficiency. The Seahawks finished those years ranked ninth, ninth, and sixth in pass-offense DVOA. That span covered QB Russell Wilson's injury-interrupted final Seattle campaign and then QB Geno Smith's first two as starter. The Seahawks also increased their passing rate the past two years vs. Waldron's first in town. We'll see what the Bears do at QB this offseason. If Justin Fields remains at the 2024 helm, we wouldn't bet on a pass-heavy approach -- though we wouldn't be surprised to see at least a bit more of a lean in that direction. Chicago, of course, owns the No. 1 NFL Draft pick (from the Panthers), though, and could select USC's Caleb Williams. That move could signal a new era of Chicago passing. The uncertainty for both players is likely to make Fields and Williams intriguing values in early best ball drafting.

Eagles RB D’Andre Swift (illness) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Giants. RBs Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Rashaad Penny are all active. We’re expecting Gainwell to lead the way – but that might depend on how motivated the Eagles are to win this one.

Bears TE Cole Kmet (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Packers. Kmet went catch-less on just 13 snaps last week, but he should play something much closer to his usual role today after putting in a full practice on Friday.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is active for today’s game vs. the Packers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday – although it’s unclear if the back or personal issue kept him out. RB D’Onta Foreman is a healthy scratch again today, suggesting little concern about Herbert’s status.

Eagles RB D'Andre Swift is not expected to play today against the Giants because of illness, according to multiple reports. That would leave the backfield to Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott -- maybe Rashaad Penny. Over-trusting any remaining member of the Philly backfield will be risky in a game the Eagles likely figure won't matter. (They need Washington to beat Dallas to have a shot at improving their playoff position.) But there's also upside if you're selecting a DFS RB.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is expected to play vs. the Packers today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Herbert was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday, so he comes with elevated risk in Week 18 fantasy lineups. We'll see whether RB D'Onta Foreman is active for this one after missing the last two games.

Eagles RB D’Andre Swift (illness) is questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Giants. He was added to the injury report on Friday and limited in practice. Swift should be fine come Sunday, but you’ll need to make sure he’s active around 3 pm ET.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen (heel) is out for Sunday's finale vs. the Chiefs. He finishes his age-31 season with a career-high 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven TDs in 13 games. Allen is signed for the 2024 season -- but at a $34.7 million cap hit. We'll see how the Chargers handle that situation.

Bears TE Cole Kmet (knee) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Packers. He was a full-go in Friday’s practice, so he should play. Kmet went catch-less on just 13 snaps last week but is seemingly healthier now.

Bears RB Khalil Herbert (back, personal) is questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Packers. He was added to the injury report on Thursday and then sidelined on Friday. Herbert’s absence would presumably leave Chicago’s backfield to Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman, who has not played the past two weeks.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen (heel) remained sidelined on Wednesday. Interim HC Giff Smith said chances are “slim” that Allen will play in this weekend's meaningless finale vs. the Chiefs. Allen will finish the season with a career-high 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven TDs in 13 games.

Bears TE Cole Kmet (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. He battled through this injury last week but finished catch-less on just 13 snaps. Unless he gets in a full practice on Thursday or Friday, Kmet won't be a trustable Week 18 fantasy play.