Jagger May circled D'Andre Swift as a priority target in the 7th–8th-round pocket. He reminded listeners that Swift now operates in Ben Johnson’s offense as the unquestioned RB1 with almost no competition outside deep-bench rookie Kyle Monongah. May loves that Johnson’s scheme historically peppers backs with high-percentage targets and noted Swift’s proven pass-catching chops. In his view the combination of locked-in volume, a creative play-caller, and an ADP that hasn’t caught up makes Swift one of the last running backs who can still swing a Best Ball tournament from the middle rounds.

Jim Coventry slammed the recent ADP surge that pushed Roschon Johnson into the top-50 RBs. Drafters view Johnson as the clear DeAndre Swift handcuff, but Coventry called that wishful thinking. Johnson ranked in the bottom 5th percentile for both broken-tackle rate and yards-after-contact last season and managed only 16 receptions for 104 yards on a 24 percent snap share. Chicago spent draft capital on Kyle Mononguy and could elevate other backs from the practice squad if Swift misses time. Coventry sees Johnson as a career special-teamer, not a three-down savior, making him an avoid even in the late rounds.

Mattek called Keenan Allen a ‘nickel on the sidewalk’ pick in the late rounds because the minute Allen inks with any team—Chiefs, Bears, Chargers, Eagles, Jets, whoever—his ADP will jump five to six rounds. With drafters desperate for bankable target volume, Mattek expects Allen to move from the 17th–18th round range into the 12th or even 13th the second news breaks. Loading up now bakes in an immediate, sizable closing-line value edge in Best Ball tournaments without needing to predict the landing spot.

Sam Monson advised taking the Chicago Bears over 8.5 wins. He argued Chicago’s five-win 2023 season came with a dysfunctional coaching staff that is now gone. The Bears hired play-caller Ben Johnson, fortified the offensive line, and added two rookie pass-catchers, giving second-year quarterback Caleb Williams a much better environment to make the typical Year-2 leap. Monson referenced NFL-com insiders who said Williams was essentially left to teach himself film study last season; if true, even modest coaching competence should unlock a sizeable jump. He also expects natural regression from Minnesota’s 14-win outlier and notes the Vikings’ quarterback uncertainty with rookie J.J. McCarthy. Those factors, plus divisional cannibalization, still leave a clear path for Chicago to reach nine or more wins, so Monson recommends betting the Over 8.5 now.

Andrew Erickson passed on the Vikings chalk and instead grabbed Chicago at +550 to win the North, citing the NFL’s long-standing "worst-to-first" phenomenon. Since divisional realignment in 2002, at least one last-place team has jumped to first in 18 of 22 seasons, and Erickson notes last year was one of just three exceptions. He argues the Bears are the only 2024 cellar-dweller with a realistic path: New England faces Buffalo, Tennessee must overtake Houston, while Chicago benefits from likely regression in Detroit and Green Bay and an untested rookie quarterback in Minnesota. Erickson believes Ben Johnson will immediately elevate Caleb Williams and views the +550 as mis-pricing that trend-driven upside.

Joe Pisapia backed the Bears to clear 8.5 wins, arguing that Caleb Williams’ second-year leap gives Chicago the only ascending quarterback situation in a division where two clubs are likely to regress and another is breaking in a rookie signal-caller. Pisapia views Williams as the division’s highest-ceiling passer and noted that OC Ben Johnson’s scheme has historically produced fast starts for young quarterbacks. With the Lions and Packers both projected to take a step back, Pisapia sees an 9-10 win path for Chicago and is comfortable laying standard juice on the over.

Terrell Furman Jr. urged bettors to play Chicago’s win-total under and look to fade them early in 2025. He is skeptical that new DC Dennis Allen will replicate his late-COVID Saints success right away, predicting "growing pains" as the unit learns a new system. Offensively, Furman still sees red flags: Caleb Williams holds the ball too long and melts under pressure, and the rookie head coach/second-year QB combo is a recipe for inconsistency. Furman argued that unless the Packers and Lions "completely bottom out," Chicago remains the North’s weakest link, projecting closer to .500 with, as he put it, "more covers than wins." That profile, in his view, makes an under ticket and early-season fades the sharp side.

Andy Holloway labeled DeAndre Swift a glaring seventh-round value, noting that Swift has never finished worse than RB23 in any season despite injury hiccups and crowded backfields. Chicago just signed him to be its every-down back behind an offensive line that quietly finished 12th in adjusted line yards over the final eight weeks. Holloway expects the Bears to give Swift his largest touch share yet, forecasting 260 touches, 50 receptions and double-digit touchdown upside. With that workload, he sees a top-12 ceiling and believes RB29 represents Swift’s injury-adjusted floor.

JSU said Caleb Williams is a late-round quarterback you absolutely want in DraftKings Best Ball rooms this summer because Chicago finally fixed the two things that submarined his rookie efficiency: coaching and protection. Ben Johnson replaces Matt Eberflus with the same play-action, quick-hitting scheme that fueled monster fantasy seasons for Jared Goff and a Detroit run game that punched in 28 rushing scores last year. The Bears also invested heavily in the offensive line after Williams faced pressure on 38 % of rookie dropbacks, sixth-worst in the league. With Rome Odunze stretching defenses vertically and DJ Moore owning the intermediate area, JSU projects Williams for both explosive passing plays and designed-run usage that can produce 3–4 thirty-point spike weeks. He admitted the exact target pecking order between Moore, Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland remains unsettled, but argued the Ben Johnson system plus improved trench play gives Williams a clear path to a top-10 fantasy finish while still going well after the elite QB tier.

JSU urged drafters to load up on Rome Odunze now, predicting the rookie’s ADP will shoot into the 50-60 range once training-camp reports start hyping Ben Johnson’s offense and Caleb Williams’ chemistry with his new WR2. Odunze is already climbing boards, and JSU thinks the Chicago media machine plus a few highlight clips will push him another round higher. Grabbing shares before that buzz hits gives drafters closing-line value on a boundary playmaker who could command immediate volume opposite D.J. Moore.

JSU is deliberately leaving drafts with at least one Chicago running back— usually D'Andre Swift— because new head coach Ben Johnson just oversaw a Detroit duo that punched in 28 rushing TDs (16 for Jahmyr Gibbs, 12 for David Montgomery). He pointed to a bulked-up Bears offensive line and Johnson’s proven red-zone play-calling as signals that someone in this backfield will rack up scores. With the market fading Chicago backs, JSU sees Swift’s current ADP as a bargain path to double-digit touchdowns and multiple spike weeks in DraftKings’ top-heavy tournament structure.

Rubio said he is hammering Keenan Allen in the double-digit rounds because the second the veteran signs anywhere his DraftKings ADP will climb by at least 20 spots. Allen’s slot skill set delivered a steady 12 fantasy points per game last season even while supposedly ‘fat’ and battling target competition from Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore, proving he can still separate on quick-hit routes that score well under PPR settings. Rubio believes any team that makes Allen a top-two option— Atlanta, Dallas or even Miami if the Dolphins prioritize another chain-moving route runner— instantly locks him into that same dependable floor with the occasional multi-TD ceiling. JSU agreed, adding that if Allen joins a pass-heavy offense playing from behind (he mentioned the Falcons) the veteran could even smash his current projection. Draft him now before the market bakes a landing spot into the price.

May labeled Rome Odunze the pure X receiver in Chicago and his favorite sophomore breakout candidate. He blamed Odunze’s quiet rookie year on coaching chaos—Matt Eberflus’s historically sluggish offenses and Shane Waldron being retained despite poor results—plus two different play-callers for a rookie QB. With Keenan Allen now gone, both Luther Burden and DJ Moore profile as slot/flanker types, leaving Odunze to dominate perimeter snaps and, in May’s view, potentially the team’s target share. He highlighted Odunze’s flashes as a down-field threat in limited opportunities and believes the extra "runway" will translate into a major leap in 2025.

Pat Kerrane called Luther Burden the most under-priced ceiling play on the entire 2025 board. The former No. 1 WR recruit posted a monster sophomore season, slipped only because of a sluggish, injury-tagged junior year, yet still earned second-round draft capital and now lands with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. Kerrane acknowledged the bust paths—concerns about commitment, gadget-heavy college usage, and a few nagging injuries—but argued those risks are already baked into a ninth-round ADP. Meanwhile the payoff could mirror Garrett Wilson’s rookie eruption: Chicago lacks an established alpha, Burden could dominate targets down the stretch, and his five-star pedigree gives him true league-winning upside. Because best-ball tournaments reward extremes, Kerrane wants meaningful exposure to Burden, saying, “He’s so cheap and so boom that you’ve got to be somewhat in.”

Williamson notes Keenan Allen is ‚practically free‘ at WR58 despite a 2024 campaign that produced a WR33 finish and five separate 20-plus-point weeks. As a big-slot technician, Allen racks up PPR points through sheer reception volume and has been a steady touchdown producer. The only reason for the markdown is uncertainty around his next team; Williamson predicts his ADP will jump several rounds the moment a favorable landing spot is announced, making now the time to buy low.

Dan Williamson said D.J. Moore is mispriced at WR18 because his 2025 environment looks materially better than last year’s WR17 finish. He expects Moore to top the 140 targets he commanded in 2024 for three reasons: Ben Johnson’s arrival as head coach, a rebuilt offensive line that should lower Chicago’s league-worst sack rate, and the departure of target magnet Keenan Allen. Moore already provided four 20-plus-point spike weeks and a 10-point weekly floor, so even a modest efficiency bump under Johnson could turn him into a league-winner at current cost.

Jim Coventry said Rome Odunze is a screaming buy at his current WR30 ADP because the environment around him has completely flipped. Odunze flashed as a rookie—54-734-0 on scraps behind Keenan Allen and DJ Moore—yet still posted a 64th-percentile YAC rate despite primarily deep targets, logged two 100-yard games, and saw his targets climb to 6.5 per game after Week 7. With Allen gone, Ben Johnson installing his spacing-heavy scheme, a fully rebuilt offensive line, and Caleb Williams expected to drop back 35-plus times while a shaky Bears defense forces shootouts, Coventry expects Odunze to command true WR1 volume. He projected a jump into the top 24 wideouts and urged drafters to pounce before the market corrects.

Erik Beimfohr explained why he is happy to stop at two quarterbacks when those passers are Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. Both are going outside the top-10 at the position even though each inherits a play-caller upgrade that could turbo-charge efficiency: Ben Johnson brings his +8% pass-rate-over-expectation history to Chicago, while Liam Cohen returns to Jacksonville fresh off a Kentucky offense that averaged 35 points per game. Williams posted a 90th-percentile collegiate EPA per play and Lawrence ranked eighth in NFL QBR over his final six healthy weeks, giving each a realistic 30-point weekly ceiling. Beimfohr argued the market is underpricing a 2024 Houston-style leap for both teams; if either offense hits, their ADPs will be two rounds higher next summer. Rather than wasting an 18th-round pick on a Daniel Jones insurance policy, he’d rather fire another late-season RB/WR lottery ticket and trust this discounted duo to carry the room.

Greg Brainos urged drafters to hammer Luther Burden wherever he is still lingering in the 90-110 range. Brainos contrasted Burden’s sticker with DJ Moore’s pick-40 cost even though new play-caller Ben Johnson has been crystal clear that (a) the slot receiver will be the focal point of his scheme and (b) Chicago will lean on short-to-intermediate, YAC-friendly concepts to goose Caleb Williams’ EPA. The Bears backed that philosophy by spending the 39th pick on Burden and the 10th on yak-monster TE Colston Loveland. Brainos downplayed Burden’s OTA absence and maturity whispers, noting those same ‘diva’ flags follow Moore yet aren’t suppressing his price. With the risk already baked in several rounds over, Brainos sees Burden as a discounted path to a 22-25 % target share in an offense that should throw more than Detroit did under Johnson. He is loading up on the hometown rookie as a cheap Week-17 bring-back opposite Brock Purdy stacks.

Nez called Luther Burden an easy "lower" in Pick’Em cards and a hands-off Best Ball pick after Underdog set the rookie’s receiving prop at just 474.5 yards. Burden is still the first sub-500 receiver drafted—often inside the top-110 picks—yet the book projects him for fewer yards than veterans Adam Thielen, Michael Wilson, and even injured Mike Williams, all of whom go multiple rounds later. Nez linked the conservative line to two red flags: Burden has missed every team activity since rookie mini-camp with a lingering soft-tissue injury, and the offense already funnels targets to established options, making it tough for a rookie to carve out volume. Unless Burden returns to full health soon and jumps multiple established pass-catchers on the depth chart, Nez doubts he’ll sniff 500 yards. He’s fading Burden in drafts and smashing the lower on the season-long prop.

In light of Nick Chubb landing in Houston, Erickson shifted his late-round running-back exposure to Kyle Monangai. He believes the Bears backfield is wide open behind Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, giving the bruising rookie a real path to short-yardage and touchdown work in an ascending offense that could pay off handsomely in a best-ball tournament.

Projecting the Bears to take a major step in Year 1 under OC Shane Waldron and Year 2 of Caleb Williams, Erickson predicted that either tight end Colston Loveland or wideout Luther Burden will pop for massive rookie production. He leans toward sprinkling shares of both, banking on the offense generating enough volume and red-zone chances for at least one to emerge as a weekly top-12 option.

Pat Mayo urged drafters to bypass D.J. Moore at his round-four price and grab Rome Odunze 3-4 rounds later. Mayo reminded listeners Odunze finished a brutal WR59 in PPR points per game as a rookie, but noted that 32 % of his targets were officially charted as uncatchable and he now gets Ben Johnson calling plays instead of Shane Waldron. With Odunze a top-10 real-life pick and only 22 years old, Mayo sees legitimate second-year breakout potential—especially if the rumors of Moore griping about Caleb Williams lead Johnson to feature the more "coach-friendly" receiver. Mayo framed Odunze as the classic upside swing: if the Bears offense truly takes a leap, the cheaper guy could match or even outscore Moore while freeing up early-round capital for running backs or elite tight ends.

Ian Hartitz said he has dropped D.J. Moore all the way to WR21 because the arrows keep pointing the wrong direction. Hartitz rattled off a string of red flags: Bears beat writers reported Moore bad-mouthing Caleb Williams to teammates, Ben Johnson publicly challenged him to block harder, and 2024 film showed several "low-effort" snaps. Moore’s production also cratered from 84 receiving yards per game with Kyle Allen in Carolina to just 56 with Caleb despite similar target shares. Now first-rounder Rome Odunze and slot weapon Luther Burden are in the mix, creating the three-wide rotation Jake Ciely warned about earlier in the show. Hartitz still acknowledges Moore is Chicago’s most talented receiver, but between the locker-room smoke and real target competition he thinks ranking Moore inside the top-20 assumes too much sunshine. He will draft Moore only as a volatile WR3/FLEX until the situation stabilizes.

Jake Ciely slotted DJ Moore at WR21 but admitted he is tempted to move him lower because the new Ben Johnson offense may spread targets much more evenly than fantasy managers expect. Ciely envisions Johnson using Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and even tight ends in matchup-based rotations similar to how he deployed Amon-Ra St. Brown and multiple tight-end sets in Detroit. He also expects rookie quarterback Caleb Williams to be coached into quick one- or two-read concepts that could funnel extra touches to check-downs or scrambles, leaving the third progression – often Moore – out of the play. With that uncertainty, Ciely said he would take Rashee Rice over Moore if Rice were fully cleared and is debating whether higher-volume bets like Chris Olave make more sense in the same draft range. Bottom line: Moore remains his highest-ranked Bears receiver, but Ciely sees a realistic path where he is merely a volatile WR3 instead of the reliable WR2 drafters are buying.

Greg Brainos said Roschon Johnson is a sneaky late-round target because Chicago may ask him to handle valuable short-yardage and goal-line work that new starter DeAndre Swift has struggled with his entire career. Brainos cited Swift’s league-worst 41% conversion rate on carries inside the five over the last two seasons and believes analytically-minded OC Ben Johnson will look for a sturdier option. Johnson, at 225 pounds with a 94th-percentile broken-tackle rate at Texas, fits that bill. Free agency is barren and seventh-round rookie Kyle Menungai profiles closer to a special-teamer, so Brainos sees a clear runway for Roschon to siphon touchdown equity. If that role materializes, the second-year back becomes a perfect Week-17 bring-back opposite 49ers stacks while providing mid-season spike weeks.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound called DJ Moore a screaming value at his late-fourth-round ADP, arguing the market has not priced in Keenan Allen’s departure or rookie Luther Burden’s slow start. With Burden missing the entire install phase, Pat expects Chicago to open in a strict two-wide set featuring Moore and Rome Odunze, recreating last season’s Chargers target funnel in a more explosive Caleb Williams offense. Moore already owns a 27% target share with Williams in limited OTA work, per beat writer reports, and Pat reminded listeners that Arthur Smith’s system fed A.J. Brown a 28% share in Tennessee while still ranking top-five in play-action rate. He projected Moore for 140 targets and a career-high 10 TDs, noting that any mid-summer Burden hype is unlikely to dent Moore’s volume because Smith historically keeps rookies in ancillary roles until post-bye. Pat said he is comfortable taking Moore a half-round ahead of ADP on Bears–Packers or Bears–Seahawks stacks to lock in a potential top-12 wideout.

Greg Brainos said Roschon Johnson is a shrewd late-round buy in Best Ball Mania because he expects the second-year back’s ADP to jump the instant Bears coaches publicly describe the backfield as a “one-two punch” with newly-acquired DeAndre Swift. Brainos noted that neither head coach Ben Johnson nor running-backs coach Declan Doyle has fielded a direct depth-chart question yet, so the market is still guessing. Once beat reporters force the issue, he anticipates coach quotes confirming Johnson as the clear No. 2 will get baked into draft rooms, pushing him up several rounds. Brainos is scooping Johnson now before that inevitable coach-speak driven price correction, banking on the contingent upside of a runner who flashed strong tackle-breaking ability as a rookie.

Tom Strachan likes taking cheap shots on Roschon Johnson now that the Bears exited the draft with only DeAndre Swift competing for touches. Chicago’s offense is now coordinated by Ben Johnson, fueling dreams of a Lions-style dual backfield where Johnson could fill the David Montgomery power role, especially near the goal line. Although Roschon never topped 14.5 PPR points as a rookie, his price bakes in the risk, and Strachan noted Swift’s history of fading late in seasons. For a player going in RB4-RB5 territory, Johnson offers a clear path to volume if Swift underperforms or misses time.

Sam Monson cautioned that Caleb Williams’ out-of-structure playing style—while capable of Mahomes-level highlights—rarely yields week-to-week consistency. He pointed out that Williams showed every possible behavioral extreme as a rookie: pathological check-downs, YOLO deep shots, turnover-worthy throws, and long stretches with no interceptions, all in the same season. Historically, quarterbacks who live outside the pocket struggle to sustain efficiency unless they become pocket-first passers, and Monson doubts that transformation will happen right away. Until Ben Johnson gets Williams comfortable operating inside the "paint-by-numbers" framework, Monson expects continued roller-coaster production that could sink fantasy lineups and make it dangerous to hammer Chicago passing overs or early MVP futures.

Steve Palazzolo said Caleb Williams could make a fantasy leap in 2025 because Chicago finally addressed every pain point around him. The Bears replaced Shane Waldron with Ben Johnson, rebuilt the offensive line, and spent premium picks on Luther Burden and Colson Loveland to deepen the pass-catcher room. Palazzolo noted that last year Williams was sacked an alarming 68 times—28 % of his pressured dropbacks, second-worst in the league behind Will Levis. That pressure-to-sack tendency is often sticky year-to-year, so the key metric to watch this summer is whether Johnson’s timing-based scheme and better protection can cut that number in half. If the sack rate comes down, Palazzolo believes the existing high-end flashes (nine big-time throws vs Detroit and Minnesota late in the year) will translate into consistent fantasy production, making Williams a high-ceiling QB2 you can draft after the elite tier in season-long or best-ball formats.

Sean Koerner pitched Keenan Allen as a unique Round-16 moonshot. Despite being 33 and currently teamless, Allen still ranked 34th in fantasy points per game last year and remains an elite route runner. Koerner argued that free-agent status is a feature, not a bug: Allen can wait for a perfect landing spot—an injury replacement or a contender suddenly thin at wideout—allowing him to walk into a top-two target share rather than fight depth-chart politics. He cited scenarios such as a Stefan Diggs suspension in New England or a late Ravens deal that morphs into a Texans playoff rental, emphasizing multiple paths to relevance. The risk of retirement or a bad fit exists, but at pick 190-plus the opportunity cost is negligible compared with the ceiling of a 110-target season. Koerner framed Allen as the quintessential stash for managers willing to swing big in Best Ball tournaments or deep season-long leagues.

Steve Palazzolo predicted a substantial Year-2 leap for Caleb Williams, saying he "wouldn’t be surprised" if the Bears signal-caller posts a monster statistical season that vaults him into the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks and dark-horse MVP discussions. Palazzolo cited Chicago’s off-season haul—hiring play-caller Ben Johnson and adding multiple explosive pass-catchers—as a perfect environment for the former No. 1 pick to follow the recent trend of second-year breakouts (think Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud). He noted Williams already owns the arm talent to attack the deep third, plus off-script creativity that should pad fantasy points through rushing and scramble drills. Bettors, he said, should consider early MVP tickets at long odds and attack any preseason passing-yardage props before they adjust upward. For season-long leagues, Palazzolo recommended drafting Williams as a mid-range QB1 with top-five upside, while stacking him with Bears receivers in best-ball formats.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound predicted Roschon Johnson’s Underdog price is about to shoot from the mid-170s into the 140s once the remaining veteran free-agent backs (Nick Chubb in particular) officially land elsewhere. Pat noted that the new Bears coach Ben Johnson inherited D’Andre Swift but “never really loved him in Detroit,” so Johnson could still carve out a 20-25% change-of-pace role right away with room to grow if Swift struggles or gets dinged. Pat reminded viewers that the Bears ran the ball on 51% of neutral-situation snaps last year and kept the same mauling offensive line intact, creating plenty of touch volume for a No. 2 back. Because Chicago closes the BBM6 playoff weeks in back-to-back domes (Week 16 at San Francisco, Week 17 vs Jacksonville), Pat wants extra exposure before the market corrects, calling Roschon a perfect late-round anchor for Jefferson or Zero-RB builds.

Stuckey said he plans to fire on Chicago in the Week-1 opener against Minnesota, noting the market will likely price the Bears as small home dogs. The angle is a classic fade of a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start on the road—J.J. McCarthy has to debut at a loud Soldier Field against an upgraded Bears roster that now features Caleb Williams plus four new above-average offensive linemen. Stuckey already likes Chicago’s season-long upside and sees this single-game spot as an even cleaner way to capitalize: O’Connell’s offense historically starts slow, while Matt Eberflus will have spent an entire summer cooking up blitz looks for the rookie. Given McCarthy’s limited reps, Chicago’s continuity, and potential September wind swirling off Lake Michigan, Stuckey believes the Bears are live for the outright win and will grab any plus-money moneyline or anything better than +2.5 on the spread.

Stuckey—who admits he has never before bet a Chicago over—called the Bears his favorite worst-to-first candidate and grabbed +500 to win the NFC North, hedging with a +160 playoff-yes ticket. The case: • Ben Johnson takes over after first-year head coaches have gone 56-45-4 (55%) to the win-total over since 2002. • Chicago transformed the league’s most maligned offensive line by importing Joe Thuney (LG), Drew Dalman (C) and Austin Jackson (RG) and drafting tackle Ozzie Trapillo; every projected starter graded above-average at PFF in 2024. • Caleb Williams inherits an arsenal that now includes a Round-1 tight end, Round-2 slot burner Luther Burden and return ace Devin Duvernay. • On defense they added Brady Jarrett to a front that already features Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter, while Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon finished 12th and 13th in PFF corner grades. • Schedule is top-5 in difficulty but offers sneaky edges: mini-bye before Week 1 versus Minnesota, full bye ahead of Washington revenge spot, and an outdoor Jared Goff finale at Soldier Field. • Regression flags point up—Chicago is 5-13 in one-score games the past two years and NFL history shows 19 of the last 22 seasons featured a worst-to-first division jumper. Stuckey projects 8.0 wins but says the ceiling looks more like 10-11, making the division price the cleanest way to capture upside while sidestepping a win-total already juiced to the over.

JSU said that if he has to plant a flag on one unsigned veteran, it is Keenan Allen. His logic is simple: some contender will lose a starting wideout in camp and immediately ring Allen because the 12-year vet can still uncover at will and serve as a quarterback’s best friend in the middle of the field. Allen’s route-running remains elite—he ranked top-10 in target per route rate last season—and JSU thinks that in a new spot with a proven passer, Allen could step right back into a 22-25% target share. That short-area volume is gold in Best Ball half-PPR scoring, and Allen’s current free-agent ADP outside the top-120 picks bakes in all of the landing-spot risk.

JSU said Caleb Williams is his favorite late-round quarterback target in 2025 Best Ball. Williams’ current ADP sits well outside the top-120 picks, letting drafters load up elsewhere before completing a Bears stack. JSU likes that you can pair the rookie with Rome Odunze or D.J. Moore several rounds later and still grab Cole Kmet near the end of drafts, creating a full passing-game stack for minimal capital. He noted that with veteran Keenan Allen off the roster, Williams should funnel high-value targets to the young perimeter duo, giving him immediate spike-week potential without spending an early pick at the position.

Greg Brainos argued that Roschon Johnson is the bear to bet on in the green zone despite Chicago signing DeAndre Swift. Brainos noted OC Ben Johnson’s data-driven approach and believes the staff will be quick to bench Swift if his short-yardage metrics mirror last year’s league-worst 38% success rate inside the five. Roschon, meanwhile, ranked top-12 among backs with at least 20 power runs in both yards after contact per attempt and conversion rate on 3rd- or 4th-and-1 plays. With Justin Fields traded away, the Bears are expected to lean less on QB sneaks, creating even more true goal-line carries. Brainos sees a scenario where Johnson carves out the Jamaal Williams "TD vulture" role—double-digit scores are in play—and still offers contingent RB2 upside if Swift’s durability issues resurface. That profile makes Roschon a priority Round-13 dart in Best Ball Mania, especially as a Week-17 bring-back opposite George Kittle.

Andy Holloway said grabbing D'Andre Swift in the late-eighth is the exact kind of upside swing you should be taking once RB2 territory dries up. Holloway reminded listeners that even in seasons where Swift has missed games he has NEVER finished lower than RB23, which is precisely where he is being drafted (23rd RB off the board in this mock). Reports out of Chicago claim Ben Johnson is preparing Swift for a bigger workload, and Holloway trusts Johnson’s scheming after watching him unlock Jahmyr Gibbs’ receiving chops in Detroit. Because the market has not ‘steamed’ Swift up yet, Holloway is happy to be “willing to be wrong” at this cost, betting that Johnson’s pass-heavy tendencies and Swift’s career 1.63 yards per route run keep the floor safe while offering weekly spike-week potential.

Andy Holloway said grabbing D'Andre Swift in the late-eighth is the exact kind of upside swing you should be taking once RB2 territory dries up. Holloway reminded listeners that even in seasons where Swift has missed games he has NEVER finished lower than RB23, which is precisely where he is being drafted (23rd RB off the board in this mock). Reports out of Chicago claim Ben Johnson is preparing Swift for a bigger workload, and Holloway trusts Johnson’s scheming after watching him unlock Jahmyr Gibbs’ receiving chops in Detroit. Because the market has not ‘steamed’ Swift up yet, Holloway is happy to be “willing to be wrong” at this cost, betting that Johnson’s pass-heavy tendencies and Swift’s career 1.63 yards per route run keep the floor safe while offering weekly spike-week potential.

Heath Cummings urged dynasty managers to scoop up Roschon Johnson while he is still priced as a throw-in. Cummings noted that Chicago’s depth chart is unsettled behind newly–signed D’Andre Swift, a back he described as "one injury away from missing time for the 16th time." If Swift’s durability issues resurface—or if the Bears simply decide they need a bigger back near the goal line—Johnson’s workload and trade value could jump quickly. Cummings expects Johnson to become the clear No. 2 by late August, at which point managers who got him for a third-round rookie pick or off waivers will be able to flip him for a 2025 second. He framed the move as a classic handcuff-to-value arbitrage that accelerates rebuilds without tying up meaningful capital.

Andrew Erickson told listeners to grab Keenan Allen shares now in case the veteran lands with Las Vegas. Erickson noted that new Raiders wide-receivers coach Chris Beatty has followed Allen from the Chargers to the Bears and would almost certainly scheme throws to his long-time pupil if the reunion happens. That familiarity, plus Chip Kelly’s no-huddle offense that could push 70 snaps per game, sets the stage for Allen to soak up double-digit targets even at age 32. Because best-ball ADP rarely bakes in hypothetical moves before they become official, Erickson believes Allen would still be available in the double-digit rounds when the news breaks—creating an immediate value spike for anyone who speculated early.

Davis Mattek said he is more bullish on Caleb Williams than current ADP reflects, calling the quarterback’s rough 2023 USC campaign a "Jaden Daniels at Arizona State"-style blip that should be disregarded. Mattek blamed last year’s struggles on Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus’ dysfunctional setup and believes new OC Ben Johnson will maximize Williams’ arm talent and improvisational chops. Even if Chicago eases him under center early, Mattek expects Johnson to lean on heavy play-action and DJ Moore-Keenan Allen yards-after-catch designs that align with Williams’ collegiate strengths. With rushing upside (over 400 yards in each of his final two NCAA seasons) and an elite pass-catcher trio, Mattek is comfortable selecting Williams ahead of veteran pocket passers in the same tier to chase league-winning upside in Weeks 15-17.

Rich Cooling warned that Caleb Williams is priced at his fantasy ceiling in startups. Cooling does not see a path for Williams to join the Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, or Jayden Daniels tier because the rookie lacks a top-end rushing profile. He cited Williams’ 28.2% pressure-to-sack rate as a fundamental pocket-awareness flaw that Ben Johnson will not fix overnight, and argued that if the Bears’ upgraded line and weaponry don’t lead to an immediate QB1 season, Williams’ market value could crash. Cooling would rather take Dak Prescott two rounds later for similar production security or swing on higher-ceiling bets like Kyler Murray or Jordan Love. Until Williams slips into the fourth round, Cooling is passing.

Ryan McDowell said Caleb Williams is being overdrafted at 19th overall (QB9) in current Superflex dynasty startups. McDowell prefers the rookie in the mid-third round, noting that Williams is coming off the board ahead of established producers like Kyler Murray and several elite young wide receivers such as Brian Thomas, Nico Collins, and Drake London. He argued the depth at quarterback makes it unnecessary to pay a second-round price unless you believe Williams possesses legitimate top-three overall upside, which McDowell does not. If managers open a draft with a quarterback in round one, he recommends pivoting to wide receiver in round two and waiting for cheaper QB2 options later. In short, Williams’ current ADP bakes in near-ceiling expectations without the resume to justify it.

Davis Mattek called DJ Giddens a “super jam” for the Bears and one of his favorite deep-bench darts. Mattek argued Khalil Herbert has already cycled through multiple chances to seize a meaningful NFL role, so Giddens only needs to leapfrog an underwhelming veteran to become Chicago’s early-down hammer. He contrasted Giddens with Devin Neal, noting Giddens’ path to touches is clearer because the Bears refused to lean on Herbert even when the Bengals were forced to feed Chase Brown on every snap late last year. In super-flex and Pug rooms where Giddens’ draft rate is below 20 %, Mattek believes a modest 150-carry season would provide tournament-winning leverage at his current 16th-round cost.

Davis Mattek selected Keenan Allen at pick 180 strictly to follow the exercise’s ADP rules, but cautioned that drafting 31-year-old receivers is always a "razor’s edge" move. Allen closed 2024 with an ADP of 68.7—sandwiched next to Brian Thomas Jr.—yet fell off the cliff in 2025 drafts despite posting productive stretches. Mattek used the plunge to highlight how quickly a single "black-marble" season can torpedo aging wideouts’ fantasy value, advising managers not to mistake a cheap price tag for safety when drafting receivers on the wrong side of 30.

Sigmund Bloom called Roschon Johnson the perfect late bench back, stressing that Chicago’s own brass admitted the rookie was ‘misused’ in 2023. GM Ryan Poles said the staff must do better, and new coordinator Ben Johnson already labeled turnovers and passing EPA as priorities—an indictment of DeAndre Swift’s league-worst short-yardage success rate. Bloom expects camp to reveal Johnson as the most complete option, opening the door to the old David Montgomery role (12–13 TDs the previous two years). Even a part-time workload yields weekly touchdown leverage in half-PPR best-ball, and the Bears’ Week 17 matchup with San Francisco provides correlation with George Kittle shares. Bloom argued Johnson’s size suggests he could immediately command goal-line carries; trimming five pounds, as Bloom hopes, would unlock enough burst to threaten breakaway runs and tilt playoff pods.

Pat Fantasy Dog Pound warned drafters to keep their D'Andre Swift shares modest—around 6 percent of portfolios—because he remains "a little nervous about Ben Johnson’s history with Swift." Despite initially scooping Swift when his ADP was in the 100s, Pat now finds the Bears back “a little shaky” at his current price as RB3 depth. He worries that Johnson, who routinely limited Swift’s touches in Detroit, could deploy a similar committee in Chicago, capping week-winning upside. Pat still mixes Swift occasionally for exposure balance but has stopped clicking him recently and suggested using the pick on higher-volume backs or quarterbacks instead.