Bears' Running Back Fantasy Football Breakdown | Stick with D'Onta Foreman or Add Roschon Johnson?
The Chicago Bears suffered another crushing defeat in week 6 of the NFL season. Not only did the team lose 19-13 to the Justin Jefferson-less Minnesota Vikings, but lost quarterback Justin Fields to a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand.
We’ll cover that injury more in depth when we know more details, but what I want to cover now regarding the Bears is their running back situation. Let’s dive in.
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Current Situation
Starting running back Khalil Herbert was placed on injured reserve before the team’s week 6 game, so he’ll be out for at least four weeks in total.
With Roschon Johnson, the No. 2 back on the depth chart, out in week 6 with a concussion, that turned the starting role over to D’Onta Foreman.
Foreman hadn’t played any snaps since week 1, but looked solid against Minnesota, tallying 65 rushing yards on 15 carries. He caught his only target for 2 yards.
Foreman played 40 snaps, while backup Darrynton Evans was on the field for 24 snaps. No other running back played for Chicago.
While Foreman was fairly effective against Minnesota, fantasy owners are wondering how the backfield might shake out when Johnson returns to the mix.
Running Back Fantasy Outlook
When Johnson was healthy, he was the clear No. 2 back on the Bears’ roster. Across weeks 1-5, Johnson rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. He also caught 11 of the 12 passes thrown his way for 58 yards.
Johnson played between 39-45% of the team’s offensive snaps in weeks 1-3 before dropping down to 22% in week 4. The drop in snaps had more to do with Herbert enjoying a strong game than it was anything Johnson did.
Johnson played just six snaps in week 5 before leaving with a concussion. Later in the game, Herbert went down with his injury.
If weeks 2-4 are any indication of how Chicago trusts in the backfield, one would guess that Johnson would take over the starting role and get a majority of the touches over Foreman. I believe that will happen, but after what Foreman showed in week 6, I also wouldn’t be surprised if he gets enough of the snaps and touches to make it fairly close to a 50/50 split workload between the backs.
With Herbert out at least the next three weeks, let’s take a look at who the Bears will be facing those weeks. Chicago will take on the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints. The Raiders’ defense has been average in slowing opposing running backs, allowing 21 fantasy points a contest. The Chargers allow 24 points, while the Saints allow only 14.
Which RB to Play Going Forward
Obviously, this is all dependent upon Johnson returning from his concussion this week, which I expect him to do. Seeing what the Bears have done to this point in the season, I believe two running backs will play, and I believe those backs will be Johnson and Foreman.
Figuring out how much each guy will play is where things get tricky. Past games this season suggest that Johnson will be the lead back, but after Foreman’s solid outing last week, I believe the workload will be split pretty much 50/50.
Using the defensive statistics now, we can determine which player you can consider starting going forward. The matchup with the Raiders is one I’d like to take advantage of, especially if Fields is out for that game, so if Las Vegas plays how they have all season and allows 21 points to Chicago backs - and it’s close to a 50/50 split workload - I’d say both Johnson and Foreman should be in the starting conversation.
If it truly is a split backfield, and both produce around double digit outings this week, then they can both be part of the starting conversation again against the Chargers. However, if things remain that way, I wouldn’t consider either guy against the tougher Saints’ defense.
As for the Bears’ back I’d want long term, it’s Johnson. When he and Herbert were healthy, Foreman wasn’t even active, and if Herbert returns later in the season, I expect things to shake out in a similar way. But for the time being, I’d roster Johnson and Foreman, and see how things shake out in the next week or two.
We’ll probably be talking about the Bears’ backfield later this week if Fields’ injury is one that forces him to miss some time. Otherwise, I’m sure the Chicago backs will be part of start/sit trending decisions before week 7, so keep checking back.
