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Fantasy Football Player Notes

Week 1 Rankings

Khalil Herbert Note
Khalil Herbert photo 39. Khalil Herbert RB - (vs . GB)
The Packers were atrocious against the run last season, finishing 31st in DVOA. And I am not entirely convinced they have totally revamped the unit into a stone wall that the Bears cannot overcome. In Chicago's last four matchups versus current GB defensive coordinator, Joe Barry, the Bears have averaged 153 rushing yards per game. Herbert started one of those games back as a rookie in 2021, when he rushed for 97 yards on 19 carries. As the clear-cut RB1 in the offense on early downs based on preseason usage, Herbert can easily flirt with mid-range RB2 numbers, given his projected workload of at least 13 touches. Herbert has played eight games over the last 2 seasons when he has seen 13-plus touches. The Bears RB1 has averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) in those contests. Fantasy RB1 numbers.
27 weeks ago
Keenan Allen Note
Keenan Allen photo 44. Keenan Allen WR - (vs . GB)
The Justin Herbert-Keenan Allen duo has faced Vic Fangio's defense on three separate occasions since 2020. Allen has posted 12 targets, 10 targets and 9 targets in those three contests. He has also scored or posted at least 67 yards with four-plus receptions. As long as Allen is not held back by any injury, he's going to be posting fringe fantasy WR1 numbers like we saw during the back half of the 2022 season. He also cooked this Miami defense to the tune of 12 catches for 92 yards on 14 targets last season.
27 weeks ago
DJ Moore Note
DJ Moore photo 50. DJ Moore WR - (vs . GB)
As the clear-cut No. 1 option in the Bears passing game, D.J. offers a target volume floor with spike week potential should he and Fields connect on a big play or two. A WR2 start for fantasy is appropriate for the ex-Panthers WR.
28 weeks ago
D'Andre Swift Note
D'Andre Swift photo 59. D'Andre Swift RB - (vs . GB)
Gerald Everett Note
Gerald Everett photo 124. Gerald Everett TE - (vs . GB)
Everett has been my favorite sleeper tight end to select this season, and I feel great about thrusting him into my starting lineup with offensive fireworks likely on deck versus the Miami Dolphins. He should occupy the Dalton Schultz role in Kellen Moore's offense, which should lead to plenty of routes/snaps for Everett to create fantasy production. Denver's defense under Fangio was extremely stingy in the red zone - first in red-zone scoring defense from 2020-2021 - so it might be more of a floor performance than a ceiling game if Everett can't find the end zone. Luckily for him, the Dolphins were horrible versus tight ends in 2022 (3rd-most points allowed) and there has not been a dramatic personnel change along the safety or linebacker positions that would suggest they will start to completely nullify tight end production in 2023. David Long is much more of a run defending linebacker as is DeShon Elliott at the safety position. Everett posted a 5-28-0 stat line on 8 targets in his lone matchup versus the Dolphins in Week 14 of the 2022 season.
27 weeks ago
Cole Kmet Note
Cole Kmet photo 131. Cole Kmet TE - (vs . GB)
Kmet should see a favorable route-running role in the Bears' offense, but the additional bodies at tight end such as Robert Tonyan and WRs added to the offense create doubt on how effective he will be on a weekly basis. Despite posting the league's highest route participation (84 percent) last season, he posted a horrible 16 percent target rate - identical to Foster Moreau. He also caught five red-zone touchdowns, despite just nine red-zone targets - a mark that ranked outside the top-15 at the position. All in all, Kmet finished as a top-12 tight end in just 25 percent of his games played (22nd). Kmet is going to remain a TD-or-bust tight end unless we see him really separate from the other pass-catchers in Chicago's offense. Given he has surpassed 50 receiving yards once versus the Packers in his last four games with zero TDs, I am not optimistic this is a spot to start him.
27 weeks ago
D'Onta Foreman Note
D'Onta Foreman photo 144. D'Onta Foreman RB - (vs . GB)
Roschon Johnson Note
Roschon Johnson photo 150. Roschon Johnson RB - (vs . GB)
Don't get cute looking to start Roschon Johnson in Week 1. It seems like he has earned a role on the starting offense in third/receiving downs, but that role may not offer enough for fantasy football purposes. Keep in mind, Fields is a running quarterback, and he is less likely to check the ball down to his RB. Only the Eagles threw fewer passes to RBs last season than the Bears. Leave RJ on the bench and keep tabs on how his role grows as the season progresses.
27 weeks ago
Tyler Scott Note
Tyler Scott photo 216. Tyler Scott WR - (vs . GB)
Robert Tonyan Note
Robert Tonyan photo 259. Robert Tonyan TE - (vs . GB)
Travis Homer Note
Travis Homer photo 309. Travis Homer RB - (vs . GB)
Marcedes Lewis Note
Marcedes Lewis photo 345. Marcedes Lewis TE - (vs . GB)
Khari Blasingame Note
Khari Blasingame photo 387. Khari Blasingame RB - (vs . GB)
Trent Taylor Note
Trent Taylor photo 393. Trent Taylor WR - (vs . GB)
Nsimba Webster Note
Nsimba Webster photo 481. Nsimba Webster WR - (vs . GB)