The Chicago Bears keep adding weapons, while the Los Angeles Chargers keep shedding salary. According to multiple reports, the Chargers are trading WR Keenan Allen to the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

Let’s examine the immediate implications and fantasy impact of Allen being traded to the Bears.

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Chargers Trade Keenan Allen to Bears

Keenan Allen will walk into the Windy City to compete with D.J. Moore for the team lead in targets this season. Moore was a volume hog last year without anyone but Cole Kmet to challenge him for targets weekly. He’s sure to see his volume numbers drop some from last year when he was 12th in target share (25.9%) and fifth in air-yard share (42.2%), especially since Allen didn’t show any signs of slowing down last year.

Allen was the WR3 in fantasy, ranking fifth in receptions, 11th in receiving yards, and 14th in yards after the catch. Allen was also 11th in yards per route run and second in first-read target share (per Fantasy Points Data). While Chicago’s quarterback situation remains uncertain, Allen should at least be viewed as a volume-based WR2 in 2024.

Josh Palmer last season in the 7 games without Big Mike

18.9% target share
31.4% air-yard share
2.19 YPRR
23.3% first-read share
71.1 receiving yards per game

(per @FantasyPtsData)

An easy buy in all formats. pic.twitter.com/dEUJSNt4Mz

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) March 15, 2024

The Chargers entered free agency wildly over the NFL salary cap and have been making moves throughout the week to clear space. WR Mike Williams was released, edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa agreed to restructured contracts, and now Allen has been traded. For the Chargers, their WR room is suddenly without its top two pass catchers, and new HC Jim Harbaugh will certainly want to bring in some competition for WRs Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston despite Palmer looking good with an expanded role last year.

In the seven games he played after Mike Williams went down, Palmer commanded an 18.9% target share, a 31.4% air-yard share and produced 2.19 yards per route run. He averaged 71.1 receiving yards with a 23.3% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Palmer could easily walk into Week 1 as the Bolts’ WR1. If that happens, even in a run-centric offense, Palmer should return WR3 value.

Fantasy Football breakdowns of major moves

Quarterbacks

• Russell Wilson Signs With Steelers
• Kirk Cousins Agrees to Deal With Falcons
• Sam Darnold Agrees to Deal With Vikings
• Joe Flacco signs with Colts
• Mason Rudolph signs with Titans
• Brett Rypien signs with Bears
• Jimmy Garoppolo released by Raiders Wednesday

Wide Receivers

• Jerry Jeudy Traded to Browns
• Michael Pittman Jr. Re-Signs With Colts
• Gabe Davis Agrees to Deal with Jaguars
• Mike Evans Re-Signs with Buccaneers
• Darnell Mooney Agrees to Deal With Falcons
• Noah Brown re-signs with Texans
• Diontae Johnson Traded to Panthers
• Mack Hollins agrees to terms with Bills
• Calvin Ridley Signs With Tennessee Titans
• Cedrick Wilson inks two-year deal with Saints
• Trent Sherfield inks one-year deal with Vikings
• Chris Moore signs with Cardinals
• Curtis Samuel signs with Bills

Running Backs

• D’Andre Swift Agrees to Deal with Bears
• Saquon Barkley Agrees to Deal with Eagles
• Gus Edwards Agrees to Deal With Chargers
• Tony Pollard to sign with the Titans
• Austin Ekeler headed to Washington Commanders
• Devin Singletary Agrees to Deal With Giants
• Zack Moss Agrees to Deal With Bengals
• Derrick Henry Expected to Sign with Ravens
• Joe Mixon Traded to Texans
• DeeJay Dallas plans to sign with Cardinals
• Salvon Ahmed plans to re-sign in Miami on one-year deal
• AJ Dillon expected to re-sign with Packers

Tight Ends

• Noah Fant Re-Signs with Seahawks
• Will Dissly agrees to terms with the Chargers
• Irv Smith Jr. signs with Chiefs
• Gerald Everett Agrees to Deal With Bears
• Austin Hooper to Sign With Patriots
• Jack Stoll signs with Giants

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