2026 Team Outlook: Chicago Bears
RB Kyle Monangai, CHI - Fantasy Handcuff
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). Fantasy Outlook: Monangai finished 30th in PPR scoring (146.60) despite scoring fewer than 6.0 fantasy points in eight of his 19 matchups. Midseason, he was playable as an RB2 or flex option in five of his seven games. In the NFFC in late June, his ADP (97) prices him as a backend RB3 based on his running back ranking (36th). Trending toward 200 touches with an outside chance at 1,000 combined yards with five to seven scores. Just like D'Andre Swift, Monangai has just as much of a chance of regressing as improving in 2026.
TE Cole Kmet, CHI - Deep-league Only
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%). Fantasy Outlook: At this points of his career, Kmet is only a flash player with a waiver wire price tag.
WR Rome Odunze, CHI - Sleeper (undervalued)
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 Year WRC SPT WYD YD% YC TGT TD 2025 190 0.569 2420 0.61 12.74 314 18 2024 233 0.660 2531 0.71 10.86 380 16 2023 155 0.483 2090 0.59 13.48 258 10 Chicago Bears
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). Fantasy Outlook: Coming into last year’s fantasy draft season, Odunze had the feel of an upside WR1. He stated in early June that his foot isn’t
all the way back, while expecting to be able to play through his issue in 2026. In the National Fantasy Football Championship, Odunze is the 29th wide receiver drafted in late June, with a late fourth-round ADP (52). His floor this year should be a 60/900/8 player with two variables determining his ceiling – a higher catch rate and no further issues with his foot.
RB Roschon Johnson, CHI - Not Draft Worthy
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. Fantasy Outlook: At this point, Johnson has a lot to prove to move one spot up on the Bears’ running back depth chart. He will go undrafted in 12-team formats this summer.
WR Zavion Thomas, CHI - Deep-league Only
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. Fantasy Outlook: Thomas doesn’t offer any playable fantasy value in 2026.
