Even the most optimistic of Chicago Bears fans couldn’t have seen this 2025 season coming. Just 12 games into Ben Johnson’s tenure, Chicago is 9-3 and currently holds the top seed in a stacked NFC featuring the fearsome Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. Kyle Monangai ranks sixth in fantasy points among rookie running backs despite not getting a proper opportunity until Week 7. He and D’Andre Swift might not quite be the combination of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery that Johnson had with the Detroit Lions, but each is a solid running back in his own right and the team wouldn’t be 9-3 without both of them.
However, when the Bears travel to face the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon in a matchup that could prove critical for their chances of making the playoffs — they could drop as far as the seventh seed if they lose — they might not have Monangai. The 23-year-old has been dealing with an ankle injury that also put him on the injury report prior to Week 10, and he was listed as a DNP in Chicago’s practice estimate on Wednesday. It’s unclear whether it’s a fresh injury or simply a case of maintenance, but his complete non-participation is worth noting.
If Monangai can’t go, Swift should be more than capable of handling a larger load. He, like Monangai, throttled a strong Philadelphia Eagles defense last Sunday. In that game, Monangai had 22 carries for 130 yards and a score, while Swift turned his 18 into 125 and an additional touchdown, so it’s very much an RB1a and RB1b situation, with either back assuming either role depending on the week. Swift, in fact, had more total yards because he also caught a pass for 13 yards. In certain matchups, they’re both fantasy must-starts whether or not the other is absent.
All in all, he has more rushing and receiving yards on similar efficiency as Monangai. In the first seven weeks of the season, prior to Monangai’s breakout, Swift was averaging 93.7 total yards and 0.7 touchdowns per game, making him fantasy-viable with Monangai as a relative non-factor. Just as Monangai thrived in Swift’s absence, he should thrive in Monangai’s; in quality, frame, and play-style, they are similar, though Monangai is the slightly better runner and Swift the slightly better receiver.
The Packers won’t make it easy, given that they’ve allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs on the 12th-fewest rushing yards and the 10th-fewest touchdowns. Green Bay has been even more elite on a per-play basis, allowing the seventh-fewest yards per carry and generating the fifth-most expected points added on rushing plays. Still, the Packers have allowed among the most catches to opposing running backs because they generate pressure at a high rate, and while they’ve been extremely efficient on a per-possession basis, Swift leads the league in yards after the catch.
