Monitoring the trends of player participation in practice throughout the week can help give fantasy football managers time to formulate a contingency plan for alternative starting options if big-name players are trending in the wrong direction heading into their upcoming game.
The Chicago Bears backfield is particularly interesting, with injuries to Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson grabbing the headlines. Let’s take a look at the latest update for both of the Bears’ RBs.
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Latest News and Injury Updates Impacting Fantasy
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears offense has been a fascinating study throughout the 2023 season.
Others would likely label the Bears’ offense a roller coaster ride through the five games of the NFL season.
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After scoring just 47 points through the first three games, the Chicago offense has caught fire and put up 68 points over the last two weeks.
While quarterback Justin Fields has certainly been a huge reason why the offense has been firing on all cylinders, the running game was quietly starting to show signs of life.
Khalil Herbert logged his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season against the Denver Broncos in Week 4 and was averaging 7.6 yards per carry over his 10 touches against the Washington Commanders before suffering an ankle injury that prematurely ended his productive night.
Unfortunately, he was listed as a non-participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, which put his status against the Minnesota Vikings in serious jeopardy. On Friday, it was confirmed that Herbert would miss Week 6.
Herbert was beginning to look like a potentially reliable RB2 in this improved offense over the past two weeks, but his ankle injury certainly makes him feel like a long shot to get back on the field in Week 6.
So, which Bears RB would benefit the most if Herbert is unavailable against the Vikings?
Well, unfortunately, the next guy on this list would be an intriguing fantasy play if he can manage to get on the field.
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson has been working in tandem with Herbert almost exclusively since Week 2 and was off to a great start in Week 5 until suffering a concussion in the team’s game against the Commanders.
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Johnson is currently in concussion protocol, and it was not an encouraging sign that he missed the first two practices of the week heading into their matchup against the Vikings. On Friday, Johnson was also ruled out for Week 6, but hopefully, should have a chance to return for Week 7.
Johnson has been pretty efficient with his 25 carries this season, producing 122 yards and a score while averaging 4.88 yards per carry. If Johnson were to be available for Week 6, he would likely be first in line for an extended role in the Chicago backfield.
However, his absence from practice has him trending in the wrong direction for Week 6, which would likely open the door for D’Onta Foreman to see the bulk of the carries for the Bears against the Vikings.
Foreman would be a fringe top-24 option at the running back position this week if both Herbert and Johnson are inactive.