After a real scare, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams avoided a serious injury to his hamstring. But he is in line to miss some time, which would leave Tyson Bagent to start in his place.
Not so fast. Tuesday brought news that Bagent is in the league's concussion protocol. An extra day before next Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles should be helpful in potentially clearing the protocol, but now Case Keenum has a legit chance to start in Week 3.
In his second season with the Bears, Keenum is a quintessential journeyman veteran backup. He has not thrown a regular season pass since 2023 with the Houston Texans. He hasn't had more than 72 pass attempts in a season since 2019, when he started eight games for Washington- two nicknames ago for that franchise and pre-pandemic.
Keenum has value to a quarterback room and an offense, just not if he has to play at this point in his career.
A look at Bagent's four starts as a rookie in 2023 opened the door to a fantasy revival for the Bears' pass catchers. In particular, the target share Cole Kmet had in three of those four games could've brought Colston Loveland back into better standing with his managers.
Bagent also targeted Luther Burden four times after replacing Williams in Week 2, so there was a glimmer of hope there too.
Case Keenum is a step too far to bring fantasy hope for Bears' pass catchers
Keenum's last significant sample of play is so long ago it's irrelevant when it comes to what the possibility of him starting means for Bears' pass catchers now. He may keenly know where his proverbial bread will be buttered by targeting Loveland, Burden and Rome Odunze aplenty, but the unknown element is as thick as it can be.
Given how many games Williams will miss, Keenum will make just one start before Bagent clears concussion protocol and can play. So a revival for Loveland, Burden and/or Odunze as fantasy assets may come in Week 4, but the chances of it happening in Week 3 have dwindled by the day since ,the game against the Vikings.
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Fantasy managers with Loveland, Burden, and Odunze have to hang on for now. But in Week 3, if the trend toward Keenum starting holds, all three are bench material for anyone with (or who can find on the waiver wire) a better option.
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