Targeting Bears in Fantasy Football

Fantasy football is not real football. That said, it's a whole lot of fun. For the first time in years, the Chicago Bears will have players at every skill position on offense worth drafting, led by quarterback Justin Fields. But if you want to take home the trophy in your fantasy league, finding value in your draft plays a huge role. Where should you target Bears? Let's dive in.

Justin Fields On Tap for Record-Breaking Season

Make no mistake about it; fantasy expectations for Justin Fields are off the charts and not without reason. After rushing for 1,143 yards, the second most ever by a quarterback, expectations are even higher for Fields this season - his 2nd in Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy's system. Fields has new toys, most notably D.J. Moore, a full offseason with Chase Claypool, and new tight end Robert Tonyan, joining holdovers Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet.

Not all fantasy leagues are created equal. From scoring to league size, there are variables in play. For the purposes here, we'll assume it's a 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, Flex (non-QB) league, with quarterbacks getting six points per passing touchdown. I'm not a believer in watering down QB touchdowns to four points. A touchdown is a touchdown, and the quarterback is the most important position on the football field. So where does Fields stack up against other top QBs?

The consensus top-3 guys are Patrick Mahomes, who set the single-season record for total fantasy points last year, Jalen Hurts, and Josh Allen. The only other QB to average more per-game points than Fields last season was Joe Burrow, who is recovering from a training camp calf injury. That puts Fields in a group that includes Lamar Jackson, another dynamic runner, Justin Herbert, and fellow riser Trevor Lawrence. In 12-team mock drafts, Mahomes, Hurts, and Allen are almost always off the board by the end of round 3. Top-tier runnings backs, wide receivers and elite tight ends (Travis Kelce) are generally valued higher than quarterbacks. If you can get Fields in the 5th round, that's a solid value for a player that could lead QBs in scoring. If Fields can take the next step and stay healthy, he could have the type of season that wins fantasy leagues

DISCLAIMER: If you're in a league with Bears fans, it's safe to assume that Fields could go higher than any of the quarterbacks mentioned above, even 1st overall.

D.J. Moore: Best Bears wide receiver since Brandon Marshall?

D.J. Moore wasted little time showing Bears fans exactly what he brings to the football field.

Bottomline: Moore's speed gives defenses problems. His connection with Fields in training camp is well documented, and he's already established himself as the Bears' #1 pass catcher. Thankfully for fantasy managers wanting to draft D.J. Moore to their roster, there's a caveat that will make him available much later than he should be: Chicago Bears wide receiver, which is a four-letter word in fantasy football circles. Former Bears pass catcher Mushin Muhammed famously said, "Chicago is where wide receivers go to die." For this reason, D.J. Moore will be available much later than he should be, likely in the 6th and 7th rounds. Take advantage of this perception and grab yourself a #1 wide receiver mid-draft.

Target Herbert as Bears' Top Running Back

After fan favorite David Montgomery signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason, it was assumed that the former 6th-round pick Khalil Herbert would take over the reins. That was before the Bears signed D'Onta Foreman, fresh off his best season, running for 4.5 ypc and nearly 1,000 yards with the Panthers after Christian McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers. The Bears then drafted Roschon Johnson from the University of Texas, fresh off his senior season that saw him rush for 5.6 ypc. But make no mistake about it, Herbert is the Chicago Bears' #1 running back. He averaged 5.7 ypc compared to Montgomery's 4.0 ypc. Herbert is underrated catching the ball out of the backfield and dynamic in open space, as he showed against the Patriots last year and in the Bears preseason opener: