Chicago Bears
NFC North
The Chicago Bears re-signed Patrick Scales on a one-year deal. (Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Scales one-year deal is worth $1.317 million and $1.092 million guaranteed. He'll continue to long snap for the Bears.
Category: Transactions
The Chicago Bears are signing FB Khari Blasingame to a two-year extension to stay in Chicago, according to the agency Team IFA. (Source: Team IFA on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Blasingame excelled as a blocker in Chicago’s run-heavy scheme in 2022, helping QB Justin Fields and RBs David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert to strong seasons. Blasingame also found success in Tennessee prior to his time in Chicago. The extension shows a commitment to keep the Bears’ identity as a run-heavy team.
Category: Transactions
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears are fielding calls from multiple teams for the first overall pick and are “leaning toward” trading it away. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Chicago was gifted the pick when the Texans’ successful two-point conversion gave the team a victory in Week 18. With QB Justin Fields on the roster, Chicago has the opportunity to trade the pick for assets. Teams like Houston, Indianapolis and Las Vegas could all be interested in moving up for a QB. A trade down would also solidify Chicago’s commitment toward Fields as their future after speculation.
Category: Rumors
According to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, Chicago Bears WR Equanimeous St. Brown is signing a one-year extension to stay with the team in 2023. (Source: Kevin Fishbain on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The deal will be worth $1.25 million to keep St. Brown in Chicago another season. St. Brown, in his first season in Chicago, currently has 20 catches for 320 yards and a score. Chicago will likely continue to add depth at WR, but St. Brown provides depth as the Bears find weapons for Fields.
Category: Transactions
Nathan Peterman will start on Sunday against the Vikings. (Source: Brad Biggs on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Justin Fields has been ruled out with a strain in his hip. Peterman is likely not someone you'll want to target in DFS lineups this week.
Matt Eberflus said Justin Fields came in Monday morning with a sore hip and he had an MRI that shows a strain. He has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Vikings. (Source: Brad Biggs on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Nathan Peterman will start in his absence. Fields 2022 season ends having thrown for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,143 yards on the ground, coming just short of Lamar Jackson's record back in 2019 with 1,206 yards on the ground.
Category: Injury Updates
Cairo Santos connected on his lone field goal attempt as well as his sole extra point attempt in the Bears' 41-10 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Fantasy Impact: Santos was not required to do much in Week 17 as the Bears struggled to move the football for most of the game. His lone attempt was a chip-shot 23-yarder in the blowout loss. Santos has been a reliable and accurate kicker throughout the 2022 campaign, and he should have a good chance of returning to Chicago next season.
Category: Game Recaps
Cole Kmet caught a 13-yard touchdown pass on the Bears' opening drive. However, he was only able to reel in one more grab in the game finishing with two catches on three targets for 27 yards.
Fantasy Impact: Kmet has had a decent fantasy season at tight end with six touchdown catches while playing in every game. The low-volume Bears' passing offense limits his upside but he is worth fantasy consideration in Week 18 at home against the Vikings.
Category: Game Recaps
Byron Pringle led the Bears with four targets but was unable to catch any of the looks from Justin Fields in the 41-10 loss to the Lions.
Fantasy Impact: With only a total of seven completions, none of the Bears' wide receivers were able to top 20 yards this week. Pringle and the rest of the Bears wideouts can be safely left out of fantasy lineups against the Vikings next week.
Category: Game Recaps
Khalil Herbert had five carries for 31 yards against the Lions. He was not targeted in the 41-10 loss.
Fantasy Impact: Herbert has 13 carries over two weeks since his return from injury. His return is eating into David Montgomery's workload which makes both backs unusable in fantasy leagues. Herbert and the Bears wrap up the regular season against the Vikings.
Category: Game Recaps
David Montgomery had six carries for 24 yards and added two catches on three targets for 12 yards in the loss to the Lions.
Fantasy Impact: With a negative game script and the return of Khalil Herbert, Montgomery had his fewest touches since Week 10, also against Detriot. Search for better fantasy options in Week 18 when the Bears face the Vikings.
Category: Game Recaps
Dante Pettis is officially active for Chicago's game in Detroit in Week 17.
Fantasy Impact: Fields has shown some chemistry with Pettis previously. In a game with such a high expected total, he could have some value.
Category: Injury Updates
Chase Claypool is officially active for Chicago's game against Detroit in Week 17.
Fantasy Impact: Claypool gives Justin Fields a weapon in the game with the highest total on the slate. He is still hard to trust, however.
Category: Injury Updates
Velus Jones Jr. hauled in two of four targets for 52 receiving yards in the Bears' 35-13 Week 16 loss to the Bills.
Fantasy Impact: Jones Jr. had a mostly forgettable day for an inept Bears passing offense, doing most of his damage on a third quarter 44-yard reception. The rookie wideout has been used sporadically all season in the Bears passing attack and will be difficult to trust in a Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Category: Game Recaps
The Chicago Bears are placing CB Jaylon Johnson on injured reserve, effectively ending his season, ahead of their matchup with the Buffalo Bills. (Source: Field Yates on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Facing against Josh Allen and Stephon Diggs, the Chicago Bears will be down both starting outside corners in Johnson and Kindle Vildor. This puts the Bills' pass catchers in a great position for the fantasy playoffs and offers the Bears a chance for a stronger pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Category: Injury Updates, Transactions
N'Keal Harry (back) is not on Chicago's injury report and will be good to go for their matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16. (Source: Chris Brown on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Harry missed Week 15's loss due to a back injury, but he has been able to practice in full all week and is without an injury designation for Saturday. He will be available to play, and he will be in line for more work with Chase Claypool (knee) and Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) both unlikely to play against Buffalo.
Category: Injury Updates
Darrynton Evans had three carries for 21 yards in the 28-19 loss to the Packers.
Fantasy Impact: Evans has been getting a few carries per game as the backup to David Montgomery with Khalil Herbert on injured reserve. Evans doesn't get enough touches to warrant fantasy consideration.
Category: Game Recaps
Trevor Siemian will undergo season-ending oblique surgery, per head coach Matt Eberflus. (Source: Ari Meirov on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Siemian was injured last week in pregame warmups, but did make the start anyway for the Bears. With Justin Fields practicing in full, Nathan Peterman will be the new backup quarterback for the Bears moving forward.
Category: Injury Updates
Tue, Nov 29th 2:38pm EST
By Diego Sandoval
Darnell Mooney has been officially placed on the injured reserve, a move that confirms that he is out for the rest of the season. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: This is just a formality, as Mooney was already reported to miss the rest of the year with the ankle injury he suffered in Week 12. In his absence, Justin Fields will turn to Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown as his top receiving options for the final stretch of the season.
Category: Injury Updates
Trestan Ebner had six carries for eight yards and was unable to reel in his only target in the loss to the Falcons.
Fantasy Impact: With Khalil Herbert on injured reserve, Ebner moves up into the backup role behind David Montgomery. Ebner won't get as many touches as Herbert was getting which gives a boost to Montgomery, while Ebner can remain on the waiver wire.
Category: Game Recaps