Which of these Chicago Bears 2022 midseason superlatives are accurate?

Chicago Bears Breakout Player of the Year: Khalil Herbert, RB

Justin Fields may be well on his way to being one of the most significant breakout players in the entire NFL, but it is impossible to disregard what his backfield mate Khalil Herbert has done thus far. The second-year man ranks ninth with 563 yards on the ground and is tied for the highest yards-per-carry (6.2) amongst backs with double-digit attempts.

The Chicago Bears have already put up over 1,500 yards on the ground and have one of the league’s most potent three-headed attacks in Herbert, David Montgomery, and Fields. Even in times of doubt and offensive disarray, they have been able to lean on a punishing ground attack, and Herbert deserves considerable praise for that fact. He always seems to break off a big run whenever the offense needs a spark and plays much bigger than his size might suggest.

The second-year man is on pace for over 1,000 yards on the ground, and he has not gotten them the easy way, as he consistently drags defenders for extra yards. Ryan Pace has received significant criticism for the way he ran the Bears during his six-year tenure with the team, but there is no denying that he hit the ball out of the park in his final draft, as Fields, Herbert, and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins look like vital pieces on the offensive side of the ball.

Herbert’s breakout season has made Montgomery, who is also one of the top backs in the league, expendable in a contract year. It would not be surprising to see Herbert leading the backfield in 2023 and beyond, as he has shown to be a perfect fit for the outside zone attack.