Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams→ his ranking

Over three college seasons, Williams threw for 10,082 yards, 93 touchdowns, and just 14 interceptions. His 2022 campaign at USC stood out as his finest (4,537 passing yards, 42 touchdown passes, 382 rushing yards, and 10 more scores on the ground), earning him the Heisman Trophy and a sweep of major offensive honors. As a rusher, he carried 289 times for 966 yards and 27 touchdowns across 37 career games, but his yards per carry declined steadily as defenses adjusted (5.6 in 2021, 3.4 in 2022, 1.5 in 2023). He went 23-10 as a split starter between Oklahoma and USC.

Williams plays the position with a gunslinger's mindset, always looking to attack downfield and beat defenses with his arm. His college receiving corps had the deep speed to create frequent wide-open shots, and he consistently delivered in those moments. In the pocket, he showed poise under pressure — sliding to open windows, buying time against the pass rush, and turning broken plays into chunk gains with his legs. He's at his best when improvising, though he can get himself into trouble by forcing throws into tight coverage when his first read isn't there.

The adjustment he needs to make at the professional level is learning to operate as a rhythm passer who processes the full field rather than hunting for explosive plays. As defenses take away his primary options, Williams needs to work through progressions more patiently and get the ball out quickly to his second and third reads. At times, he drew comparisons to Peyton Manning in the way he manipulated the pocket, with a Patrick Mahomes-like quality emerging when scrambling under pressure: fluid, quick, and dangerous in open space.

The downside of his style is exposure to negative plays. When Williams retreats too deeply in his pass setup to create a throwing lane, sacks pile up, and the ball can come loose. That said, when given a clear look, his arm strength, accuracy, and ability to read the coverage are all legitimate.

Williams was sacked 68 times, and his timing was inconsistent — at times firing with too much velocity on throws that called for touch and placement. Still, he avoided major turnover damage, throwing just six interceptions, with only two coming over his final 14 starts. His four best games (338/2, 282/4, 373/2, and 368/2) came at home. Williams failed to reach 200 passing yards in nine contests, six of which came over his last 11 starts. When running lanes opened up, he made the most of them, carrying 81 times for 489 yards, but none reached the end zone.

Williams had almost the same passing (568) and rushing (77) opportunities as in 2024 (562/81), but he gained 300 more combined yards with an increase of 10 touchdowns. Fumbles (nine – one lost) remain an issue (10 in 2024, with five going to the opposing team). His completion rate (58.1%) was well below his rookie campaign (62.5%). He has a floor of 20.00 fantasy points (four-point passing TDs) in 12 of his 19 starts (including the postseason). Williams ended the season with seven consecutive games with two touchdowns, a feat he achieved seven times over his first 12 starts.

His two impact fantasy games came in Week 3 (32.10) and Week 9 (41.50). Williams attempted 35 passes or more 10 times. His lack of experience showed in the postseason based on his five interceptions in two matchups and weaker completion rate (52.2%). He finished sixth in quarterback scoring (366.00 fantasy points).

Williams comes off the board as the seventh quarterback in June in the National Fantasy Football Championship, with a ninth-round ADP (93). I expect more issues protecting the quarterback based on Chicago’s offseason changes to its offensive line. With a rebound in his completion rate, the Bears’ rising quarterback should push toward 4,500 combined yards with a new top touchdowns.

D'Andre Swift→ his ranking

Swift looked primed for a breakout in 2022, exploding for 15 carries, 144 yards, a touchdown, and three catches for 31 yards in a dominant Week 1 performance. Detroit then pulled back on his workload, giving him just 17 touches over the next two games (133 combined yards, a score, and five receptions). A shoulder injury then sidelined him for three weeks, and he returned to a reduced role over the following five games (23/61/2 with 16 catches for 109 yards and one score. He closed the season on a strong note, generating 453 combined yards, three touchdowns, and 24 catches on 73 touches over his final six games. He finished 21st among running backs in PPR scoring with 191.10 points.

The move to Philadelphia in 2023 was good for his counting stats. Swift set career bests in carries (229), rushing yards (1,049), and games played (16), but the Eagles sat him in the regular-season finale. After a quiet opener with just two touches, he reeled off five productive games in a row (564 combined yards, three touchdowns, and 22 catches), averaging 19.28 fantasy points per game in PPR formats. Four of those outings topped 100 combined yards, with one standout performance of 28 carries, 175 yards, a score, and three catches for six more yards. However, from Week 8 through Week 17, Philadelphia largely removed him from the passing game (19 targets over nine games, barely two per contest), leading to six performances under 10.00 fantasy points. He ended the year 19th in running back PPR scoring at 200.30 points.

In his first season with Chicago, Swift reached career highs in touches (295) and combined yards (1,345) but posted a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. He topped 100 rushing yards just once (18 carries, 129 yards, and one touchdown) and received 20 or more touches in six games. His fantasy peak came in a three-week stretch from Weeks 4 through 6, where he scored 29.50, 20.00, and 21.90 PPR fantasy points. Outside of those moments, his production was inconsistent. He finished under 10.00 fantasy points nine times. He again ranked 19th in running back PPR scoring, this time with 214.50 points.

The explosiveness returned to Swift’s game in 2025, highlighted by him gaining a career-high 5.9 yards per carry and success catching the ball (8.8 yards per catch). He’s gained over 1,000 combined yards (1,386) for the third consecutive year with a career-best in rushing touchdowns (9). The Bears used a two-back rotation all year, thanks to 479 running back touches.

Swift scored over 20.00 PPR fantasy points in five matchups (25.50, 20.80, 20.80, 22.80, and 21.90), but also posted six dull showings (9.50, 9.00, 2.90, 9.00, 5.80, and 7.60), with five coming over his last 10 starts. Swift rushed for more than 100 yards three times (14/108, 19/124/1, and 18/125/1). His uptick in play lifted Swift to 15th in PPR scoring (230.80). Chicago has him on the field for 54.0% of their plays.

Kyle Monangai→ his ranking

Over his final two seasons at Rutgers, Monangai was the focal point of their ground game, carrying 242 times for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns before following that up with 256 carries, 1,279 yards, and 13 scores. The passing game was almost never part of his role across 52 career games. He caught just 38 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. Monangai surpassed 100 rushing yards in 12 games in 2024, with his best performance coming in his second outing of 2024 (27 carries, 208 yards, and three touchdowns).

Monangai won't wow anyone with his straight-line speed. His 4.60 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine was below the standard for the position, but he makes up for it in confined spaces with sharp quickness and a natural feel for eluding tacklers. His bigger concern at this stage is his patience and instincts at the point of attack; he often commits to running lanes early, only to run into traffic that a beat of hesitation might have avoided. Monangai plays with toughness and a desire to finish runs through contact, though pass protection and receiving out of the backfield are still areas where he needs meaningful development.

Over the first four games in his rookie season, Chicago had him on the field for 29.1% of their plays, leading to 85 combined yards with three catches on 20 touches. Monangai flashed in Week 7 (94 combined yards with a touchdown and two catches). After lighting the Bengals’ defense in Week 9 (26/1776 with three catches for 22 yards), he scored a touchdown in four consecutive games. Running room was an issue over his final seven games (69/255/0 – 3.7 yards per carry), but Monangai made bigger plays in the passing game (13/125/0 on 20 targets – 9.6 yards per catch).

Roschon Johnson→ his ranking

Johnson is a thick-framed back at 6'0" and 220 pounds. His 4.58 40-yard dash puts him below the speed threshold teams typically look for at the running back position. He's at his best running downhill through open holes, while being a capable weapon in space against defensive backs at the second level. There's also some nuance to his game. Johnson uses a stiff arm or jump cut to squeeze out extra yards, and he holds up well as a pass protector. His role catching the ball figures to remain limited.

At Texas, Johnson spent four seasons accumulating 2,190 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 392 carries, adding 56 receptions for 420 yards and three more scores on 77 targets. His biggest rushing performances were concentrated early in his college career; four of his five 100-yard games came within his first 26 contests, and he never produced a standout individual effort in his senior year.

As a rookie in Chicago, Johnson saw 115 touches across 15 games, finishing with 561 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 34 catches. His most productive outings came in Week 1 (55 combined yards, a score, and six catches) and Week 17 (59 combined yards, a touchdown, and three receptions). A concussion cost him two games.

His second season never gained traction. Despite 71 touches over 14 games, Johnson managed just 254 combined yards, six touchdowns, and 16 catches, averaging a thin 2.7 yards per rush and 6.5 yards per reception. His best fantasy outputs came in Week 5 (10 carries, 25 yards, and two touchdowns) and Week 11 (10 carries, 41 yards, and one score). He missed three additional games due to a toe injury and another concussion.

Johnson was only on the field for four plays in 2025 due to foot and thumb injuries.

Rome Odunze→ his ranking

A year after selecting their franchise quarterback first overall, the Bears used the ninth pick in the 2024 draft to add Rome Odunze. At 6'3" and 210 pounds with a 4.45 40-yard dash, he offered an appealing combination of size and speed. His route running was already at a reliable level and should sharpen further as he accumulates NFL reps. Odunze also brings excellent hands and a wide catch radius to the table, traits that should make him a threat in the red zone and a weapon for explosive plays down the field.

In his final two years at Washington, Odunze caught 167 of 244 targets for 2,828 yards and 20 touchdowns, hauling in passes at a 68.4% clip and averaging 16.7 yards per reception. His 2023 season was his peak (92 catches, 1,677 yards, and 14 scores), and he topped 100 receiving yards in 10 games across both campaigns.

Caleb Williams struggled to find chemistry with Odunze in his rookie year, reflected in a catch rate that dipped to 53.7% despite playing 84% of Chicago's snaps as the team's second receiver. He finished 49th among wide receivers in fantasy scoring, totaling 54 catches for 749 yards and three touchdowns (145.90 PPR points). Odunze cleared 100 receiving yards twice (6/112/1 and 5/104) and provided starter-worthy value in one other game (4/42/2) on the strength of two scores. Outside of those moments, he managed 9.00 fantasy points or fewer in 12 of his 17 appearances.

Odunze opened 2025 with success over four games (6/37/1, 7/128/2, 3/62/1, and 4/69/1) while also shining in Week 8 (7/114) and Week 10 (6/86/1). Unfortunately, he was a losing fantasy option across his other six matchups (2/32, 2/31, 0/0, 2/41, 3/53/ and 2/8). The Bears gave him double-digit targets in three contests (11, 10, and 10), with further regression in his catch rate (48.9%). Odunze gained at least 20 yards on 29.5% of his targets, leading to him gaining 15.0 yards per catch.

A foot injury (stress fracture) cost Odunze the final five games of the regular season. His return in the postseason led to two more dull games (2/44 and 2/44 on 12 combined targets). He finished 41st in PPR fantasy points (146.10) but higher in fantasy points per game (12.18 – 14th).

Luther Burden→ his ranking

Burden burst onto the scene in his sophomore year at Missouri, catching 86 passes for 1,243 yards and 10 touchdowns. His junior season was a step back across the board (61 receptions, 676 yards, and six scores), supplemented by nine carries for 115 yards and two rushing touchdowns. His yards per catch dropped from 14.1 to 11.1, despite playing with the same quarterback (Brady Cook). His big-yardage games were more plentiful in 2023, when he topped 100 yards in five outings (8117, 7/114/2, 10/177, 11/140/2, and 11/149), compared to just one such game in 2024 (6/117/1).

Missouri leaned into his abilities as a chain mover by deploying him closer to the line of scrimmage in 2024, giving him more opportunities to create after the catch in open space, an area where he tends to thrive. Burden runs with wiggle and instincts, and his change of direction when running laterally before turning upfield is a real weapon. His hands are reliable, and his timing and finishing ability on deep throws stand out.

His 4.41 40-yard dash at the Combine confirms the speed to stretch a defense vertically, and at the next level, Burden projects as a natural fit on crossing routes that let him build momentum before turning on the jets. His areas to watch are his route-running refinement and his engagement when the ball isn't coming his way. He can check out at times when he's not involved in the play.

Chicago selected Burden in the second round of the 2025 draft, bringing a young and dynamic piece into their offensive mix. In his rookie season, he missed two games with a concussion and an ankle injury. The Bears gave him only 15 targets over his first seven games, resulting in 13 catches for 171 yards and one score. His snap count rose over his last 10 games, helped by the Romo Odunze injury. Burden flashed in Week 17 (8/138/1), leading to him catching 40 of his 59 targets for 547 yards and one score.

Kalif Raymond, Detroit Lions

Over the past five years with the Lions, Raymond has 171 catches for 2,185 yards and eight touchdowns on 231 targets. His top catches (48) and touchdowns (4) came in 2021. He finished his highest output in receiving yards in 2022 (616). His season ended in 2023 due to a knee injury sustained in the postseason. Raymond missed another five games in 2024 with a foot issue, coming after a dull 11 games (16/204/2 on 21 targets). His role was minimal again last year (24/289/1).

Zavion Thomas→ his ranking

Thomas comes to the NFL via a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft despite a dull college resume (106/1,213/7 with 40 rushes for 198 yards and one score) across 48 games with Mississippi State and LSU. His best two seasons catching the ball came in 2023 (40/503/1) and 2025 (41/488/4). He gained over 100 yards in one game (9/112/1).

His drawing card to the Bears was his elite speed (4.28 40-yard dash), showcased at the 2026 NFL Combine. Thomas should upgrade the Bears' return game while potentially getting some change-of-pace carries. His route running is well behind NFL standards, making him a deep threat with the ability to use his lengthy cushion to make easy comeback catches. Thomas has winning vision and open-field running, which may lead to some scripted plays close to the line of scrimmage.

Colston Loveland→ his ranking

Across three seasons and 39 games at Michigan, Loveland hauled in 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. His final year was his busiest (56 catches and five scores), both career bests, but his yards per reception dipped notably from 14.4 to 10.4. His standout game came against Oregon, where he put up seven catches for 112 yards. A shoulder injury cut his season short, causing him to miss the final three games in 2024, and he finished with six or more receptions in six of his 10 starts.

Loveland is a physical player who wins with strong, reliable hands. He has a good feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage underneath, but he also has the athleticism to threaten a defense over the middle and down the seam when coverage allows. His route running is above average for his position. Loveland will need to do a better job of winning off the line of scrimmage at the next level, requiring him to get into his routes cleanly and quickly to beat more athletic defenders. His blocking is a work in progress, particularly when asked to engage bigger bodies at the point of attack in pass protection.

It's worth noting that Michigan's offense ran a limited passing game over the past two seasons, averaging fewer than 24 attempts and 16 completions per game, a context that naturally capped his production and target volume. Moving to the NFL, where passing is more central to every offense, opened up significantly more opportunities for him to show what he can do as a receiver.

The Bears gave Loveland minimal looks over his first six games (11/116 on 18 targets) while missing Week 4 with a hip issue. He flashed in Week 9 (8/118/2) against the Bengals, highlighted by a back-breaking, game-winning 58-yard touchdown. Over his final 11 games, including the postseason, Loveland was a winning option at the tight end position. He caught 53 of his 82 targets for 672 yards and four touchdowns (13.09 PPR fantasy points per game), worthy of the second-best tight end output if repeated for 17 games.

Cole Kmet→ his ranking

Kmet started his rise up the tight end rankings in 2021 (60/612 on 93 targets), but he failed to find the end zone. Over the next two years, his overall fantasy value became more fantasy relevant (50/544/7 and 73/719/6), highlighted by back-to-back winning games in 2022 (5/41/2 and 4/74/2), with the first outcome helping me win $250,000 in the daily games at DraftKings. Kmet played well in six games in 2023 (7/85/2, 5/42/1, 10/79, 6/55/2, 5/23/1, and 4/107).

The change to Caleb Williams at quarterback led to him only seeing 55 targets in 2024 while continuing to post a high catch rate (85.5%). He finished with 47 catches for 474 yards and four scores, with most of the production coming in two games (10/97/1 and 5/70/2).

The arrival of Colston Loveland led to Kmet posting his worst stats (30/347/2 on 48 targets) since his rookie season. He scored double-digit fantasy points in only two matchups (3/36/1 and 3/31/1). The Bears had him on the field for 66.3% of their snap, slightly higher than Loveland (62.1%).

Cairo Santos

Over his six seasons with the Bears, Santos made 158 of his 178 field goals (88.8%). He missed 95 of his 98 extra-point tries over the past three years. His leg gained value from long range (29-for-37) from 2022 to 2025. Santos finished 18th in kicker scoring (140.30) in 2025 while missing two games.