The blockbuster trade that landed the Chicago Bears the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft also, as we know, landed them wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Carolina Panthers. Moore delivered big in his first season as a Bear, with career-highs across the board (96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns).
All three of those numbers were top-15 in Bears history for a season (h/t to Bryan Perez of SI.com), with the catches and yards top-10 marks for a single season in franchise history.
After the Bears gave him a four-year, $110 million contract, Moore followed up with 98 catches last year. But literally everything else was worse compared to the previous year. He set career-lows in yards per catch (9.9), yards per route run (1.45), air yards per target (7.5) and yards per target (6.9). So it's no surprise he lapped the field with 41 designed targets last year (via Fantasy Points).
D.J. Moore posted career lows in YPR (9.9), YPRR (1.45), and air yards per target (7.5) in 2024
— Sharp Football Analysis (@SharpFBAnalysis) June 21, 2025
He caught 98 passes—but played small
If Ben Johnson can unlock him, there’s still explosive YAC upside
Full WR rankings: https://t.co/jFoLJ7Raoo pic.twitter.com/nIIB7BCmY2
The entire Bears' offense was a frustrating watch last year, but Moore too often let his frustration show in his on-field body language. A refreshed situation with Ben Johnson as head coach will benefit everyone on that side of the ball, with Moore near the top of the list.
D.J. Moore tabbed as bounce-back candidate in fantasy for 2025
Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus put Moore on a fresh list of five fantasy bounce-back candidates for this year.
"Moore is usually a safe WR2 option, but many variables could influence his fantasy value in 2025. He could play the slot role in Ben Johnson’s offense with an improved Caleb Williams, giving him top-10 potential."
Jahnke suggested that Moore, with a similar build and skill set, could be Johnson's new Amon-Ra St. Brown if his role expands to include more time in the slot. With an ADP outside the top-20 wide receivers as we cross into July, Moore lands as a bargain for optimistic fantasy managers. Based on his career history, as Jahnke noted, that WR2 ADP range is his bankable floor.
Jahnke also mentioned a remarkable thing about Moore's career as he enters his eighth season.
"Assuming Caleb Williams doesn’t suffer an injury that costs him most of the season, this will be the first time in Moore’s NFL career with a quarterback who plays at least 400 snaps in back-to-back years."
Read more: Bears get an ideal fit for Ben Johnson's offense in very early 2026 mock draft
Williams and Moore seemed to have some level of rapport last year, as Moore's drop-off in overall production was rooted in his usage pattern more than his quarterback's struggles. If Johnson fixes that usage pattern in the expected fashion and Moore has year-to-year quarterback continuity he has literally never had, a big season (and a huge fantasy rebound) appears to be in-store for 2025.