Bears' Week 3 Fantasy Calls: Start Swift and Burden, Sit Odunze and Loveland
The short version
- Caleb Williams (hamstring) is officially out; Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum is in line to start at quarterback against Philadelphia.
- D'Andre Swift and Luther Burden III are the recommended starts; the Chicago quarterback, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland are sits.
- Swift led the Bears in receiving in Week 2 with five catches for 54 yards despite losing a fumble in the loss to Minnesota.
- Kalif Raymond leads Chicago in receiving through two weeks and is a desperation option in leagues of 12-plus teams.
- No inclement weather is forecast for Monday night's game in Chicago.
Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury, leaving D'Andre Swift and Luther Burden III as the recommended fantasy plays ahead of Monday night's game against Philadelphia.
The Chicago Bears will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night without quarterback Caleb Williams, officially ruled out by the hamstring injury that ended his day early in last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum are the candidates to take the first snap. Forecasters see no inclement weather for the game in Chicago.
Williams produced little before exiting in Week 2, and his absence adds to a run of quarterback injuries that includes a season-ending loss of Jaxson Dart and an elbow issue for Jayden Daniels. A Yahoo Sports fantasy preview recommends passing on Chicago's starter altogether, pointing to stronger options on the waiver wire than either Bagent or Keenum.
Running back D'Andre Swift is the strongest recommended start on the Chicago side. He ran for 45 yards and caught five passes for another 54 against Minnesota, leading the team in receiving even though he lost a fumble. With the passing game in flux, the Bears are expected to lean on the run, and Swift's volume as both a runner and a receiver makes him especially useful in PPR leagues.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze is a sit despite expectations that he would head the position group. He drew three targets in the opener, when the Bears put up 59 points, then four more in a Week 2 game that produced just three. Kalif Raymond, Luther Burden III and Swift have each drawn more targets through two games, and the guidance is to keep Odunze reserved even had Williams been available.
Luther Burden III earns a start recommendation at wide receiver. He saw seven targets against Minnesota, and all three of his catches came with Bagent at quarterback, a link that would carry over if Bagent gets the call against the Eagles. With Puka Nacua, Nico Collins and Zay Flowers having sat out last week and at risk of missing another game, Burden carries added appeal in PPR formats, and Philadelphia rates as a workable matchup for receivers.
Tight end Colston Loveland lands on the sit list. His only reception of the season went for three yards against the Vikings, and he has drawn five targets in two games. Cole Kmet and rookie Sam Roush have more receiving yards than Loveland, and backup running back Kyle Monangai has more catches and receiving yards as well.
Kalif Raymond is a consideration only for managers in deep leagues of 12 or more teams who need a fill-in. He leads the Bears in receiving through two weeks and caught all five of his targets for 40 yards against Minnesota, outscoring Odunze and Burden in PPR formats. The expectation is a modest floor in the six-to-eight point range rather than a role that lasts.
The Eagles visit the Bears on Monday, September 28, at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. EDT, with coverage on ESPN and ABC.
