4 Chicago Bears players to ‘buy high’ in fantasy football this season
By Dakota Wayne
Chicago Bears Running Back: Damien Williams
2021 Ranking: RB57 (Overall ADP: 198.3)
While I wanted to put David Montgomery in this spot due to the comments made by head coach Matt Nagy on Montgomery getting ‘around 20 touches per game,’ however, with Tarik Cohen taking longer than expected to return from an ACL tear last season, Damien Williams seems to be the clear-cut WR2 for this Chicago Bears offense.
Something to note, too, is Cohen’s higher 168.4 overall ADP compared to Williams’ 198.3 overall ADP.
Along with Damien Williams likely getting the RB2 snaps early in the season, Williams is a reliable pass-catching running back, as he has 138 receptions, over 1-thousand yards receiving, and 10 touchdowns on his career as a receiver.
Damien Williams’ 2019 stats (opted out of the 2020 season):
11 games, 111 rushes, 498 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs
30 receptions, 213 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs
Those numbers might not blow the common NFL fan away, however, in fantasy, PPR leagues specifically, pass-catching running backs are a nice piece to have, especially if you can get them for a cheap price.
While it’s risky at times to pick RB2s in fantasy, pick-198 isn’t necessarily where you get the studs at.
Similar players you can get in Damien Williams’ ADP range:
- James White (RB50, overall ADP: 175.0)2020 Season:
14 games, 35 rushes, 121 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 49 receptions, 375 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD - Tarik Cohen (RB53, overall ADP: 168.4)2019 Season*:
16 games, 64 rushes, 213 rushing yards, 0 rushing TDs, 79 receptions, 456 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs *Out for most of 2020 Season - Giovani Bernard (RB55, overall ADP: 185.8)2020 Season:
16 games, 124 rushes, 416 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, 47 receptions, 355 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs - Tevin Coleman (RB56, overall ADP: 190.8)2019 Season:
14 games, 137 rushes, 544 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs, 21 receptions, 180 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD *Out for most of 2020 Season
I think it’s easy to buy “high” on someone like Damien Williams, who should have an impactful 2021 season behind the Bears’ workhorse David Montgomery — especially while Tarik Cohen continues his journey recovering from last year’s torn ACL.