Buzz-worthy expanded role for DJ Moore could be supplemental gold in fantasy

Training camp is a time for NFL teams to experiment with new strategies. In this era of rampant social media videos, posted by the team and others, it can be challenging to discern what will ultimately be meaningful when the season begins.

If we know nothing else about Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, based on his time as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, we can infer that he is willing to try just about anything with play-calling and how offensive players are utilized. There's an argument he can do more creatively with the Bears' skill position talent than he did with what he had in Detroit, which is a scary thought for opponents.

During the first padded practice of Bears' training camp, reporters noted how wide receiver DJ Moore lined up some as a running back. Time would tell if it was anything, or just a little ado about what would ultimately become nothing.

The Bears had their "Family Fest" at Soldier Field on Sunday. Even taking into account that still-casual setting, this happened.

Of course that's Moore lined up next to Caleb Williams in the backfield, then taking a typical shotgun handoff like a running back would and running it in for a touchdown.

D.J. Moore's expanded role could become fantasy gold

In his notes from a visit to Bears' training camp last week, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler had a "key fantasy note" about how Moore's utilization this year.

"(Ben) Johnson will add wrinkles to the offense as camp progresses. The Bears will likely manufacture touches for Moore out of the backfield as well as a receiver -- or both. Moore can line up in the backfield and still end up deep downfield for his targets."

"Last season, Moore was relegated to hopeless screen plays and looked disengaged at times. The Bears will try to maximize his opportunities in a thoughtful way."

To some extent, as Fowler alluded to, Moore had touches manufactured for him in the Bears' offense last season. I was just done ineffectively/inefficiently by three offensive coordinators, which brought frustration Moore could not hide.

Moore had a clear league-high 41 designed targets last season, according to Fantasy Points, which help yield career-lows in all the related metrics (yards per route run, yards per target, air yards per target, yards per catch). He also had a career-high 14 rushing attempts last year, as he lined up in the backfield for 10 snaps (according to Pro Football Focus).

The idea of Moore lining up as a running back is within the simple idea of finding ways to get the ball in his hands. If he gets notable work out of the backfield when the games count, it could be a nice supplement to his fantasy production. He had a rushing touchdown in 2023, his first season as a Bear.

A high-end and unique example of a wide receiver seeing noteworthy usage as a running back is Deebo Samuel. He had at least 37 carries in each of the last four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, with at least three rushing touchdowns in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The two seasons he had at least five rushing scores, 2021 and 2023, he was a top-10 fantasy wide receiver.

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Moore is probably not going to see a lot of work as a traditional running back, in terms of carries. Lining him up in the backfield should primarily be a way to dictate favorable matchups for him in the passing game. But the idea of a stray rushing touchdown or two, in the natural course of a more effectively expanded and diverse role, is a small cheat code fantasy managers should be aware of as they make draft decisions in the range of wide receivers Moore lands in.