Rams @ Bears
Final Score: Bears 24, Rams 18
Writer: Riley Blum
This was a close game with a strong showing from the Bears’ defense once again. Caleb Williams and the offense played well enough, and most importantly, did not turn the ball over. Matthew Stafford looked like the better QB for the majority of the game, but lost a fumble on a strip sack and threw a game-sealing interception while trailing the Bears by six points with about a minute remaining. The refs could have called roughing the passer for a high hit on Stafford, but the Bears got away with a potential roughing call for the second time in the game. However, that should not take away from the defense’s performance, and the Bears played their most complete game of the season. The Bears improve to 2-2, and they are 2-0 when Caleb does not commit a turnover.
Three Up
- D’Andre Swift – Swift had his best game as a Bear, leading the team in rushing and receiving and had the Bears’ two longest plays with a 36-yard touchdown run and a 27-yard catch and run. He looked explosive and did a better job following blocks and cutting out the negative run plays. This is what the Bears were hoping for from Swift when they signed him in the offseason.
- Roschon Johnson – It may be odd to see Roschon here, too, with D’Andre Swift dominating the backfield touches. The reason I feel the need to include Johnson is he was the only other Bears’ RB to record a touch, and the Bears look like they trust him in short-yardage situations. Johnson scored a goal-line TD, and picked up a key first down on a 3rd-and-1 run on the Bears final drive.
- Jordan Whittington – He may not have long before Cooper Kupp returns, but Whittington led the Rams in targets, getting the usage many expected out of him last week.
Three Down
- Blake Corum – Corum once again did not record an offensive snap.
- Khalil Herbert – Herbert saw no usage, and Roschon Johnson appears to have established himself as the goal line and short yardage RB.
- Tyler Johnson – Johnson had only 1 target in this game and seems like an afterthought.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: 20/29, 224 yards, 1 INT, 1 FL
Stafford was under pressure early and often from the Bears’ defense. He did well early in the game getting the ball out quickly from many different arm angles and finding the open spaces in the defense. The Rams’ banged-up offensive line did what they could, but Stafford ended up taking three sacks and losing a fumble on one, along with being hit numerous times after the pass. His interception on the first play of the Rams’ final possession sealed the game for the Bears. He surely misses his stud WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but even more so he is missing the starters on this offensive line.
Notes
- Stafford did have another interception overturned because the Bears’ defender stepped out of bounds and did not re-establish himself in the field of play prior to the pick.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: 19 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD, 4 targets, 4 receptions, 10 yards
Kyren turned in another strong performance for the Rams and fantasy managers alike. This is his seventh consecutive game scoring a touchdown. Kyren did most of his damage on the ground, displaying patience and burst like we’ve come to expect. He remains an RB1 for fantasy purposes.
Ronnie Rivers: 6 carries, 26 yards
Rivers remains the Rams’ RB2 but doesn’t offer much fantasy value as he is mostly used to spell his workhorse teammate, Kyren Williams.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Demarcus Robinson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 37 yards
This was a quiet game for Robinson, and he may not be the Rams’ WR1 while Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp miss time.
Tutu Atwell: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 82 yards
Atwell was once again used as the downfield threat, averaging 20.5 yards per reception. He was sent in motion often and clearly has plays designed where he is the first read. The undersized WR remains usable in fantasy as long as he retains this role in the Rams’ offense.
Tyler Johnson: 1 target
Johnson seems like an afterthought in this offense and is droppable.
Jordan Whittington: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 62 yards
Whittington was Matthew Stafford’s favorite target in this game, leading the Rams with 8 targets. He saw a lot of the dirty work with most of his receptions coming on throws to the middle of the field. He had a strong preseason showing, and this was the usage I expected to see from him last week. He is usable for fantasy – especially in PPR – as long as Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua remain sidelined.
Colby Parkinson: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 33 yards
Parkinson was second on the team in targets, but he did not have much yardage output. He was often a safety outlet and had a low aDOT. He did play a lot of snaps and was used in pre-snap motion, but he’s not someone I’d want to start at TE unless desperate.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: 17/23, 157 yards, 1 TD, 5 carries, 12 yards
Williams was more of a game manager in this one with the Bears getting the run game going, but that’s all they needed from him with their defense playing well. Williams threw his first touchdown at Soldier Field, finding DJ Moore in the back of the end zone towards the end of the third quarter. There were times Williams seemed hesitant and held the ball too long, but he played mistake-free for the most part and picked up the win at home.
WATCH: Caleb Williams’ First TD Pass at Soldier Fieldhttps://t.co/TfRCEXoV3D
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 29, 2024
Missed Opportunities
- On the final drive of the first half, Williams had two chances at a passing touchdown. On the first chance, Rome Odunze beat the defender, but Williams put a little too much on the pass. The second opportunity was a good throw, but DJ Moore slowed up on the route leading to an incompletion.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: 16 carries, 93 yards, 1 TD, 7 targets, 7 receptions, 72 yards
Swift basically was the Bears’ offense in this game. He led the team in rushing yards, receiving yards, and receptions. Swift did a much better job finding holes and cutting out the negative rushing plays. He was heavily involved in the passing game, catching a few screens and serving as Caleb Williams’ checkdown. He looked explosive, picking up chunk plays in the passing game, and scoring his first touchdown as a Bear on a beautiful 36-yard run. Hopefully, the Bears continue to use Swift like they did in this game, and we will have to see if he can turn in this type of performance against a better defense.
D'Andre Swift finds the end zone for his first Bears touchdown! 🔥 @Fedex pic.twitter.com/vbtPSxNH1C
— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Roschon Johnson: 7 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD
With D’Andre Swift turning in a monster game, Roschon did not see a ton of usage in this game. However, the Bears look like they prefer using Johnson at the goal line and in short-yardage situations. He scored his touchdown on a power run from the one-yard line and picked up a key first down late in the game on a 3rd-and-1 rush.
Missed Opportunities
- Johnson did have a 14-yard catch-and-run, but it was called back due to an illegal formation penalty.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
DJ Moore: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 22 yards, 1 TD
Moore salvaged this fantasy performance catching the Bears’ only passing touchdown on the day. He did have as many targets as Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze combined, so that is a positive sign. It’s going to be hard to produce big fantasy numbers when Caleb Williams only throws the ball 23 times. The Bears leaned on the run game and quick throws underneath, leading to a low yardage total.
Missed Opportunities
- Moore could have had a touchdown in the first half but slowed up on his route after getting the inside release.
- Moore had one carry that was negated by a penalty.
Keenan Allen: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 19 yards
A quiet day for Allen, but on the bright side, his heel did not seem to be an issue in this game. The targets and production may be inconsistent for the Bears’ receivers when they are healthy, especially when Caleb Williams is not asked to air it out.
Missed Opportunities
- Allen did have an end zone target that likely would have been a touchdown if not for defensive pass interference. He did draw the flag, setting up Roschon Johnson’s touchdown run.
Rome Odunze: 3 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards
Odunze was the least productive pass catcher for the Bears in this game. He did tie Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet with three targets, but fantasy managers have to be disappointed with his final stat line. I think he will be inconsistent when Keenan Allen is also active.
Missed Opportunities
- Odunze did have a target in the end zone, beating his man on the route, but Caleb Williams put a bit too much on the pass and sailed it too high.
Cole Kmet: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards
Kmet came back to Earth after a big game last week. He did catch all of his targets and was second on the team in receiving. He dominated the TE snaps and was the only TE targeted in the passing game for the Bears. Kmet also lined up at fullback for a couple of plays. With the Bears’ big three WRs healthy, Kmet won’t be the most consistent, but he is still usable in fantasy with the current TE landscape.