The Bears offense has been a disappointment through three weeks, scoring under 18 points per game. Going into a matchup against a banged-up Rams team on Sunday afternoon, Chicago could get back on track as 2.5-point favorites.
Running back D’Andre Swift ($5,500) has been one of the biggest Bears underachievers, gaining just 1.8 yards per carry to start the season. The free-agent pickup’s blazing speed has been squandered behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. His EPA per rush is at -21.0, lowest among all qualified rushers according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Things haven’t been much better through the air; rookie quarterback Caleb Williams ($5,600) has only targeted Swift ten times.
If there was ever a get-right game for Swift, Sunday is it. Los Angeles has been one of the NFL’s worst defensive units, giving up the second-most points to opponents (30.3 PPG). On the ground, a defensive line giving up 461 expected rush yards (31st) can be exploited, even by a feeble Bears o-line. In a game with an over/under of 41 points, Chicago’s best defense against Matthew Stafford ($5,600) is to run the ball and chew some clock.
The D’Andre Swift that was RB23 in Philadelphia is gone. The reality is that the downgrade up front from the Eagles to the Bears will be too immense to match last season’s numbers. That doesn’t mean he’s a total bust. Better days are sure to come for Chicago’s offense as Williams improves and the new pieces on the roster continue to gel.
If you’ve held on to Swift for this long, there’s no harm in letting him ride your bench. Should you absolutely need to start the running back, it’s not the end of the world. Since the Rams are a prime matchup for any back, Swift could finally break out of his slump this weekend and deliver flex-level production. Fantasy managers in 12+ team leagues can start with cautious optimism.
Swift is currently -120 to rush for 40+ yards and +180 to score an anytime touchdown.
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