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Will D’Onta Foreman or Khalil Herbert Start?

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4 months ago

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The Chicago Bears revamped their offense this offseason as their rebuild continues. After producing one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL last year, the team is hoping to take pressure off star quarterback Justin Fields with another great ground game in 2023.

We dive into the Bears’ running back depth chart and project who will be the starter and backup in 2023.

Chicago Bears RB Depth Chart

The Bears allowed veteran David Montgomery to depart to Detroit, then replaced him with former Carolina Panthers back D’Onta Foreman and fourth-round rookie Roschon Johnson. Foreman has already been clear he has no intention of being a “backseat” option to Herbert, but he won’t have much of a say once the team hits the field. Foreman was good in 2022 when he broke out with 914 yards, but Herbert was dominant in his 129 rush attempts.

Foreman has defied the odds to even get to this point of his career. A torn Achilles injury in 2017 could have ended his career right there, and a torn biceps injury in 2019 further set him back. But promising stints with Tennessee and Carolina have shown a player who maximizes his opportunities and still has the athleticism to get downhill in a hurry.

Foreman characterizes himself as a “hard-nosed runner,” and he doesn’t hesitate once he gets the ball. According to Next Gen Stats, Foreman spent the fifth-least amount of time running behind the line of scrimmage. Furthermore, both he and Herbert were significantly more efficient than Montgomery was last year.

MORE: Chicago Bears Breakout Candidates in 2023 Include Khalil Herbert, Jaylon Johnson, and Braxton Jones

The biggest problem Herbert had last year was the Bears’ reluctance to give him more snaps when Montgomery was healthy. Though Herbert hasn’t produced as a pass catcher yet, Foreman’s addition shows the team may not value that aspect as much as they may have previously. Foreman has only 23 receptions in five seasons, Herbert had 23 in two seasons, and Johnson had 32 over his final three seasons at Texas.

With the receiving corps getting a big boost by the addition of DJ Moore, a healthy Darnell Mooney, and sliding Chase Claypool into a more-fitting third-target role, the receiving aspect from the RB position may not be as important.

Herbert’s ground production justifies giving him a larger role and relegating Foreman into more of a “lightning” to Herbert’s “thunder.”

Herbert’s efficiency in 2022 was startling, but a real breakout can come with more touches. He led all running backs with 5.7 yards per carry, ranked seventh in juke rate, and overcame the 21st-ranked run-blocking unit. The biggest flaw on Herbert’s résumé was he wasn’t given a role when Montgomery was available.

Bears GM Ryan Poles said the plan is to not rely on one back and to instead maximize the rotation they’ve built at the position. Whoever is the starter may be more of a nominal role, which is something fantasy football managers will hate accounting for. My guess is Herbert prevails as the lead back, but Foreman will be a constant presence if he stays healthy.

Will Roschon Johnson Back Up D’Onta Foreman or Khalil Herbert?

Chicago was busy revamping their RB room despite producing one of the best rushing attacks in the league in 2022. They not only drafted Johnson but also signed former Seattle Seahawks backup Travis Homer. With Herbert and Foreman vying for the top two spots, Johnson and Homer could fill in as the third-down back.

Despite the draft equity put into Johnson, he’s not a clear favorite to be the RB3 if the Bears want variety. Johnson was a solid player at Texas, and Chicago area scout John Syty eluded to his “it factor” after he led all rushers with a 45% missed tackle rate over his last two seasons. But Johnson’s not different from Foreman, so it’s possible he’s simply going to replace the veteran in 2024.

MORE: Are the Chicago Bears a Bottom-5 Offense Heading Into 2023?

The 6’0″, 219-pounder ran just a 4.58 40-yard dash but showed good explosiveness with a 1.52-second 10-yard split and 122″ broad jump at the NFL Scouting Combine. Still, considering he was Bijan Robinson’s backup at Texas and he’s not a special athlete at the NFL level, Johnson may have been an overdrafted rotational presence.

Homer, meanwhile, fits the Bears’ need for a pass catcher more than Johnson. Through four years, the fifth-year pro has caught 52 passes for an average of 8.9 yards per reception. Though he’s never been a high-volume threat, Homer’s quicker than fast and fits the mold of someone who can be efficient if given the chance to be a playmaker.



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Will Anthony Richardson Play in Week 3?

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45 mins ago

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September 20, 2023

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If you took a chance on rookie QB Anthony Richardson in your fantasy football draft, you were feeling pretty good early on Sunday. The young QB scored two rushing TDs early on, and he looked to be on his way to a monster game.

Unfortunately, an injury dashed the hopes of a massive fantasy week, and fantasy football managers are nervous about his status moving forward.

Are you looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Are you having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s FREE Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision.

Latest News Surrounding Anthony Richardson

During Richardson’s second rushing TD on Sunday against the Houston Texans, it looked like he hit the back of his head and might have gotten a concussion.

This was in the first quarter. Richardson re-entered the game before reporting any concussion symptoms but left the field in the second quarter and did not return. Backup Gardner Minshew II finished the game.

Richardson is currently in the concussion protocol.

Will Richardson Play This Week?

This is the second week in a row that Richardson has clocked an injury — Week 1 was his knee — and this is to be somewhat expected from a rushing QB of his caliber.

That being said, if the Indianapolis Colts would like to have Richardson under center for the large majority of the season, they will have to protect him better and attempt to have him be more careful with his style of play.

The Colts have not released much information on Richardson’s current status, so we don’t have a concrete answer to whether he will play in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens.

An NFL source has said that he believes that Richardson is “likely out,” but make sure to monitor practice reports.

What Does This Mean for Richardson’s Fantasy Ranking?

If Richardson does not play this Sunday, it will be Minshew again under center. Assuming fantasy managers drafted Richardson to be their second option, most managers will have a pivot available.

If you do not have another QB on your roster, there are better options on the waiver wire than Minshew.

MORE: 2023 Dynasty QB Rankings | Week 3 Waiver Wire Rankings

If Richardson does clear protocol, it will be difficult to bench a player with such a high upside. However, we won’t know if the Colts will have tweaked Richardson’s playing style to lengthen his tenure.

Either way, there are better options available for fantasy managers this week, as the Baltimore defense is nothing to sneeze at.

The worst thing to happen would be to start Richardson and he gets injured again. Give the young man a little time to get right before you plug him back into your starting lineup.

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Should You Trade for RB Cam Akers in Fantasy Football This Week?

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2 hours ago

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September 20, 2023

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Everyone was startled when the news broke 10 minutes before the Week 2 kickoff that Los Angeles Rams RB Cam Akers was a healthy scratch, was not going to play, and was going to be shopped to other teams in a potential trade. Even Akers himself was surprised. Pushing all their chips in on Kyren Williams, Sean McVay and Co. have decided to move on from Akers, but should you? Is Akers a potential trade-for candidate?

Are you looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Are you having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s FREE Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision.

Cam Akers Rest-of-Season Fantasy Outlook

The pre-season hype on RB Cam Akers was real, with many analysts drafting him on the basis of pure volume. He finished 2022 as the RB33 but went out with a bang, scoring over 14 fantasy points (.5 PPR) in four out of the last six weeks, including a monster Week 16, catapulting many managers into their league finals.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

However, we quickly realized that, for some reason, he was back in the doghouse in L.A. In Week 1, he had 22 attempts, the majority coming once the Rams already had the game in hand. Akers has the capacity to be the RB1 for a team, and he might get the chance now, especially with the number of lead backs recently injured.

Nick Chubb is now out for the season, Saquon Barkley will be out for a few weeks, and there is no timeline currently for Austin Ekeler’s return — not to mention J.K. Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor, and recently, Jamaal Williams. Head coach Sean McVay has said the Rams have been receiving interest in Akers. It’s also been reported the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders have all inquired.

Should I Trade for Akers?

If you have Akers on your fantasy team, it is worth holding onto him, at least long enough to see the dust settle on some of these RB injuries. However, if you want to trade for Akers in the hopes of him landing in a good situation and giving you fantasy goodness, you might get the trade done pretty easily.

There are many managers who are ready to cut bait on Akers immediately, especially if they have a high waiver priority or a lot of FAAB and can see themselves acquiring a solid, hot RB pickup off waivers.

With Akers’ performance at the end of 2022, we know he can put up solid fantasy numbers, and most of the teams that seem interested in him would actually use him.

Akers is a good trade-for candidate on his upside alone, not to mention the propensity of RBs getting injured this season. If there is a potential RB1 for a team out there, you need to at least put out feelers. Just make sure that if you put out an offer, you have enough RBs on your bench to play in case it takes multiple weeks for him to find a landing spot.

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What Comes Next For 49ers, Cowboys, and Dolphins?

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3 hours ago

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September 19, 2023

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Beginning the NFL season 2-0 doesn’t necessarily guarantee a team a playoff spot, but it certainly can’t hurt. All six teams that went undefeated through the first two weeks of last year’s campaign ended up making the postseason.

Which of this year’s 2-0 teams are genuine contenders, and which are pretenders?

Ranking the NFL’s Undefeated Teams

9) Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are extremely lucky to be 2-0. After sneaking past the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, Washington had to rally from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Sam Howell has been a perfectly league-average quarterback, ranking 20th in the league in QBR, just behind Lamar Jackson. That’s probably as good as the Commanders could have hoped for from the 2022 fifth-round pick.

But Washington’s next two opponents are the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, so it won’t surprise anyone if Ron Rivera’s squad is 2-2 entering Week 5.

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A Baker Mayfield renaissance? The Buccaneers’ Mayfield/Kyle Trask preseason competition felt like one of the NFL’s most dour quarterback battles in recent memory, but Mayfield has played above expectations through two games. He’s fifth in adjusted net yards per attempt and seventh in EPA per dropback.

Mayfield’s performance — combined with an improving rushing attack, excellent weapons in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and a veteran-laden defense that’s posted the NFL’s second-highest turnover rate — has been enough to help the Bucs take down the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

The Eagles and New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay’s next two opponents, will present a much stiffer defensive test for Mayfield and Co.

7) Atlanta Falcons

Arthur Smith is unsurprisingly sticking to his guns thus far in 2023. The Atlanta Falcons have posted the league’s lowest pass rate over expectation through two weeks, preferring to hand the ball to Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier continuously. Desmond Ridder has only attempted 50 passes, tied with Jimmy Garoppolo for least among full-time, healthy starting QBs.

But Atlanta’s defense — helmed by first-year coordinator Ryan Nielsen — has arguably been more impressive than its offense. The Falcons rank 13th in EPA per play on defense and have allowed just 4.2 yards per play, third-best in the NFL.

6) New Orleans Saints

Speaking of talented defensive units, the Saints finally allowed their first touchdown of the season when Adam Thielen scored for the Carolina Panthers with 1:16 remaining in regulation on Monday night. The jury is still out on whether Dennis Allen can be New Orleans’ long-term head coach, but he’s an outstanding defensive play-caller.

While some observers expected the Saints to win the NFC South easily, they’re currently tied with the Falcons and Buccaneers atop the division. Upcoming games against the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars — two elite offensive teams — will give us a better sense of where New Orleans stands league-wide.

5) Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens were expected to beat the Houston Texans in Week 1, but their win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 was much more impressive. Lamar Jackson might be an MVP candidate, while rookie wideout Zay Flowers looks like he’s played in the NFL for a decade.

The only question Baltimore might face is injuries. Health questions are a seemingly annual occurrence for the Ravens, who have already lost RB J.K. Dobbins for the season and S Marcus Williams for the foreseeable future. More injuries at critical positions could undo Baltimore, but they’ve looked as good as advertised through two weeks.

4) Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have already proven they’re capable of winning with different formulas. In Week 1, Miami outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers in a shootout as Tua Tagovailoa passed for 466 yards. On Sunday, Raheem Mostert totaled 121 yards on the ground, while the Dolphins’ defense held the New England Patriots to 17 points and 288 total yards.

Miami might have the most explosive offense in the NFL, and if Vic Fangio’s defense can play consistently, the Dolphins can beat any team in the league. If Jalen Ramsey can return to action before the playoffs begin, Miami should be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

3) Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts hasn’t necessarily looked like the quarterback who finished second in MVP voting a year ago, but the Eagles have enough talent to win even when Hurts isn’t playing his best.

In Week 2, D’Andre Swift took over as Philadelphia’s lead back and carved up the Minnesota Vikings to the tune of 175 yards. As soon as the Eagles realized their passing attack wasn’t working, they took to the ground, refusing to relent until they found the end zone.

2) San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are the only team in the NFL with an offense and defense that both rank top-five in EPA per play. Brock Purdy has been effective as a distributor to San Francisco’s talented set of weapons, although the 49ers’ offensive line could eventually become a problem. Purdy has been pressured on 40% of his dropbacks, the highest rate in the NFL.

But San Francisco’s defense hasn’t taken a step back, even with ex-coordinator DeMeco Ryans now serving as the Houston Texans’ head coach. Steve Wilks has maintained the same principles Ryans employed, and it’s worked.

The 49ers have given up just 30 points through two weeks and should continue their defensive dominance against the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals over the next two weeks.

1) Dallas Cowboys

No team’s performance has been as commanding through two weeks as the Cowboys’. It starts on defense, where Dallas is first in EPA per play, yards allowed, and turnover rate. Nearly a third of the Cowboys’ opponents’ drives have ended with a turnover, while just 8.7% have ended with a score.

MORE: NFL QB Rankings 2023

Dallas is lapping the rest of the league in point differential — they’re at +60, doubling the second-place 49ers. Dak Prescott is tied with Purdy for the NFL lead in QBR, while Tony Pollard looks miles better than Ezekiel Elliott did last season.

Week 5’s Cowboys-49ers tilt is already shaping up as one of the most critical games of the 2023 campaign.





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