Chicago Bears DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

After an encouraging rookie season in 2025 in which he recorded 783 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries across 17 games, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (knee) entered training camp as one of the buzzier names in fantasy circles. Unfortunately, Monangai is currently sidelined after suffering a hyperextended knee during a camp practice. While Monangai is lucky to have avoided significant structural damage and could even return in time for the start of the regular season, he will have missed a significant chunk of the summer. The missed time matters for Monangai because he entered camp competing for touches with veteran Bears running back D'Andre Swift. Swift has been a steady player since signing with Chicago before the 2024 season, recording over 2,700 scrimmage yards and 16 touchdowns across 33 games with the team. Given his injury situation, Monangai seems likely to be Chicago's true RB2, at least early in the year. He still carries upside as a handcuff and stash option, but Monangai's stand-alone value in redraft leagues is in question entering 2026.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (groin) was back on the field Wednesday for the first time since getting injured on Aug. 8, according to Sean Hammond. Burden only took part in a short, light practice, so this wasn't a full return to action, but it's an encouraging step after more than two weeks on the sideline. The Bears previously expected him to miss the entire preseason while hoping to have him available for their Sept. 13 opener against Carolina. Burden remains listed as a starter on Chicago's latest unofficial depth chart after catching 47 passes for 652 yards and two touchdowns across 15 games as a rookie. With DJ Moore traded to Buffalo during the offseason, Burden is positioned for a larger role alongside Rome Odunze in his second season. Wednesday's limited work is a positive sign, though he'll still need to progress beyond a light practice before his Week 1 status can be considered settled.

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson picked up 42 yards on 12 carries in his team's 27-9 loss to the hosting Cincinnati Bengals. He also gained a yard on his sole target. Johnson carried the load again, leading Chicago's backfield in rush attempts for the second consecutive outing. With backfield mate Kyle Monangai (knee) shelved for a few weeks and D'Andre Swift failing to suit up with the rest of the starters, it was Johnson in with the first-string and for most of the first half. While the University of Texas alum doesn't figure to be an impactful fantasy asset in 2026, it appears the Bears' RB3 job is his to lose for the time being. As it stands, that could spell a decent amount of work for Johnson to begin the campaign. That is, if Monangai hasn't fully recovered from a hyperextended knee by the time Week 1 rolls around. Chicago will hit the road again for their preseason finale, squaring off with the Tennessee Titans next Saturday.