The arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach was naturally a great thing for the Chicago Bears' offense. Fantasy managers who bought into the key assets on that front were, at least for some stretch of the season, happy to have done so.
Ultimately, the Bears had a top-10 fantasy quarterback (Caleb Williams), two top-30 running backs (D'Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai), and a top-14 tight end (Colston Loveland) last season. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, early and late, respectively, were significant factors for fantasy managers.
Looking ahead, with more time in Johnson's offense and youth on their side, there's significant fantasy upside for many of those aforementioned Bears players.
Bears have several significant fantasy football assets in 2026 (and beyond)
Ellis Bryn Johnson of Fantasy Pros has named nine "must-have" targets in startup dynasty league drafts this year, with their current ADP (Average Draft Position) as the core basis to make the list. Two Bears made the cut, with the first landing in the "Undervalued Cornerstones" category.
"We’re only two years removed from Rome Odunze being selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Touted as one of the big three receivers in that draft class, alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, Odunze has the size and skill to be a dominant outside receiver on an up-and-coming Bears team."
When it came down to it, Johnson couldn't ignore a couple others Bears' pass catchers while he highlighted Odunze.
"With Ben Johnson calling the shots for the uber-talented Caleb Williams, it’s no surprise you want pieces of this passing game. Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, who are going six and 10 picks behind Odunze, respectively, are also worthy investments. However, Odunze should be further ahead of his teammates as he enters his third season."
"Another offseason learning Johnson’s offense means the rubber meets the road for the young wideout. If you can get a talented young receiver on a promising team in the fifth round, that just sounds like a good investment. Don’t be surprised if Odunze becomes a second-round startup pick entering 2027."
Down in the "Upside Shots" group, with a current dynasty ADP in the 10th round, is Bears running back Kyle Monangai.
"Kyle Monangai worked his way into a committee role at the end of last season. Splitting work with veteran , Monangai flashed as an aggressive downhill runner who can gain the tough yards. Swift only has one more year on his current contract, potentially leaving Monangai as the Bears’ top back."
"Unfortunately, it’s rare to see a seventh-round draft pick have that kind of role; however, it’s not unheard of (Isiah Pacheco is a good example). Whether Monangai gets this backfield to himself in the future or not, he has value as a weekly FLEX play and a clear backup to the undersized Swift."
Read more: How Drew Dalman's retirement impacts the Bears' salary cap in 2026 (and beyond?)
From Odunze as an undervalued asset coming off a down year, to Monangai as a low-risk flier with upside, to Burden, Loveland, and even Williams in between, the Bears have become an oasis for fantasy managers in any format, and they're not going away anytime soon.