Just a month ago, Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai was regarded as one of the most exciting players on the roster. He was expected to take on a major role in Ben Johnson's offense, even challenging D'Andre Swift for a starting spot.
As it turns out, it takes time for a seventh-round rookie to make an impact. Three weeks into his first season, the Rutgers product has seen minimal work. Swift is the clear leader in this backfield, and it doesn't look like that's changing any time soon.
Monangai's slow start has fans (and fantasy football managers) wishing they had never bought the preseason hype.
Kyle Monangai taking time to break into Bears' backfield
It was always a pipe dream, but it was so easy to buy into. After Johnson arrived in Chicago, fans were sure that he would be on the lookout for his next Jahmyr Gibbs or David Montgomery. Swift had been underwhelming in his first season with the Bears and seemed to have a loose grip on the starting job.
As free agency came and went without major additions to the backfield, fans looked to the NFL Draft for their running back of the future. They thought they found him in seventh-round selection Monangai, a back known for his downhill running style and unmatched ball security.
The excitement kept building as the rookie's impressive preseason stirred up speculation of a significant workload.
But, as the great Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast, my friend."
Monangai hasn't been involved in the offense as much as many fans expected, earning just 13 carries and three receptions over his first three games. In that limited sample size, he's averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and has yet to find the end zone. Swift is the workhorse in Chicago's rushing attack, and the rookie is little more than a change of pace at this point.
Of course, there's no reason to panic. It's still early in the season, and many NFL coaches bring rookies along slowly. There's still a chance that he makes a bigger impact as the year goes on. He seems to have already passed Roschon Johnson on the depth chart, showing that this coaching staff has some trust in him.
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But it seems like the speculation about an early breakout for the seventh-rounder was a bit premature. At least for now, this is Swift's backfield. The current starter is dealing with an injury going into Week 4, so the rookie may finally get his chance to shine. We'll see if Monangai can eat into the starter's carries as the season progresses.