This week, RBs coach David Walker was fired by the Chicago Bears, allegedly for inappropriate behavior at work. This has changed the scenario for the running backs on the team. It remains to be seen if this will work out well for Chicago, but for your fantasy football team in Week 9, the Bears have choices when it comes to running backs.
Should You Start D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson, or Darrynton Evans This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that D’Onta Foreman is the player to start. His projected 9.9 points include 68 rushing yards, one reception, and three receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms the consensus projections for Roschon Johnson (7.9 points) and Darrynton Evans (4.0 points).
My ranking for the three running backs aligns with the consensus, with Foreman proven to be the more productive of the three when on the field.
Fantasy Outlook for Foreman This Week
Two weeks ago, Foreman turned in an outstanding performance in a win over the Raiders, rushing for 89 yards and two touchdowns while also catching three passes for 31 yards and another score. It was the kind of effort that usually separates a player from a group when you have a running back-by-committee situation.
But Foreman’s reward for his Week 8 performance: 21 snaps, nine carries, and 34 rushing yards vs. the Chargers. Clearly, the Bears view any production coming from this position as a group effort.
While, on paper, a matchup with a tough Saints defense isn’t the best situation for any opponent, remember that New Orleans allowed a season-high 164 rushing yards against the Colts last week. In addition, Foreman faced the Saints in Week 18 last season — back when he was with Carolina — and ran for 68 yards on just 12 carries.
Fantasy Outlook for Johnson This Week
Of these three, Johnson was on the field the longest, playing in 24 offensive snaps for the Bears. But that also resulted in just six carries for 21 yards (3.5 yards per carry), and although he caught three passes (good), those three receptions were for only 10 yards (bad).
Johnson has scored just one touchdown all season, and that came in Week 1 vs. the Packers, so it’s not as if he has that value going for him. The best case for Johnson could be the fact that last week was his first game after being inactive the previous two contests, and with more games and time on the field, more carries will follow.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Johnson to finish with 41 yards and catch one pass for eight yards.
Fantasy Outlook for Evans This Week
Two weeks ago, Evans’ chances of being more of a featured back in the Bears offense looked promising. He was on the field for 34 offensive snaps and finished with 14 carries and 48 rushing yards.
However, he only saw 18 snaps on the field last week and finished with four carries for 18 yards. Evans is at least one of the three to consider for this week because to his worth as a pass receiver (he had three receptions for 22 yards last week) and the fact that he was the only one of the three to score last week.
Evans is expected to finish with 23 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards according to the PFN Start/Sit Optimizer.
