Fantasy Football Player Notes

Swift landed in Chicago, securing the bag in free agency. I know we often follow the money for running backs, but I have worries about investing heavily in Swift for 2024. Last year, Chicago utilized a full-blown committee, with Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and D'Onta Foreman all having their moments of glory in 2023. Swift should be the leadback for the Bears this season, but his 2023 season wasn't nearly as impressive as it might seem on the surface. After monster games in Weeks 2 & 3, he proceeded to average only 16.8 touches and 72.4 total yards the rest of the season as the RB25 in fantasy points per game. He also ranked only 40th in yards after contact per attempt and 30th in missed tackles forced per attempt. He is an RB2/3 this season.

Roschon Johnson had a consistent role as a committee back in his rookie season, but he was never able to seize the backfield fully. In the three games he played at least 49% of the snaps, he did average 9.7 touches and 53.5 total yards while flashing upside in the passing game. Among 60 qualifying backs last year, he ranked 27th in yards per route run and 17th in targets per route run rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Sadly, though, Johnson's collegiate tackle-breaking prowess didn't translate to the NFL in year one as he finished outside the top 40 backs in explosive run rate (46th), missed tackles forced per attempt (49th), and yards after contact per attempt (42nd). Johnson is now buried as the RB3 on Chicago's depth chart and is only a late-round best-ball target at best.