Is Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, or D'Onta Foreman the Bears RB1? Fantasy Football Outlook

Who among Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, or D'Onta Foreman will be the starting running back for the Chicago Bears? Who among them offers the best upside in 2023 fantasy football?

The Chicago Bears are expected to be a run-first team once again in 2023, so there could be plenty of fantasy value for at least one of its running backs. Of course, Justin Fields will take up plenty of the rush share, but a running back will emerge as the lead receiver out of the backfield and/or goal line back.

There is still plenty of time before the 2023 NFL season begins, but fantasy gamers are already taking part in drafts, so it's never too early to take an early look at fantasy football values.

Is Roschon Johnson, Khalil Herbert, or D'Onta Foreman the Bears RB1? Who should you target in fantasy football? Let's dive in.

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The Case for Roschon Johnson

Johnson was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and has plenty of tread left on the tires since he backed up Bijan Robinson at Texas for most of his collegiate career. The 219-pound back has adequate size to be a between-the-tackles grinder, but he also flashed receiving upside during his freshman campaign before Robinson arrived.

Ultimately, his fourth-round draft capital means he won't be guaranteed a significant role early on, but he should have every opportunity to seize the No. 1 role. It's worth mentioning that he's viewed as a high-end pass-blocker. Khalil Herbert has struggled in that area thus far.

The Case for Khalil Herbert

Herbert has been the backup to David Montgomery over his first two NFL seasons, but when he's been given work, he's excelled. Herbert led all running backs in yards per carry last season (5.7) and posted a 157-yard rushing game with two touchdowns in Week 3.

He's still a fresh 25-year-old back and has the most experience in the Bears' offensive system among RBs. At 212 pounds, he's also big enough to carry a large load.

The Case for D'Onta Foreman

The 27-year-old Foreman had a slow start to his career after an unfortunate Achilles tear, but he has handled 336 carries for 1,480 yards with the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers over his last two seasons. He's proven to be a solid early-down runner in the late part of his career and brings a veteran presence to the Bears' RB room.

After years of injury concerns, he's proven to be durable and dependable, which never hurts a running back's chances to command a heavy workload.

Which Bears' Running Back Should I Draft?

In early Best Ball draft ADP, Herbert is coming off the board as the RB39, Johnson is being taken at the RB44 spot, and Foreman is lasting until the RB47 spot. Given their ADPs, taking a chance on any of the three isn't a bad idea. However, Foreman likely has the toughest path to fantasy success.

The Bears are a young rebuilding team and will likely opt to get the young guns involved before calling on the veteran.

Ultimately, this sets up to be a frustrating three-back committee, but the ADPs are appropriate at this point in time.

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