Khalil

Herbert

Pro Football Focus charted Herbert as playing only four snaps in Los Angeles on Sunday evening. So much for Herbert being ready for more work after getting the Bengals’ “mini bye” to catch up on the system. Herbert has contingency value behind Chase Brown, but not the kind that is worth a roster spot during the sprint to the fantasy playoffs.

Fournette’s missed almost two full years of regular season football. The veteran running back joined the Bills’ practice squad in October of last season but played in only two games. He rushed 12 times for 40 scoreless yards in those games and was not in training camp this offseason. The Colts met with Fournette before the start of the season but opted against signing him. The Bengals placed Zack Moss (neck) on injured reserve last week, and made a deadline trade with the Bears to acquire Khalil Herbert. Clearly still interested in upgrading their backfield, they’ll see if Fournette can find a way to fit on the roster, should they opt to sign him.

We say “official” because Herbert actually took a hand-off. He simply fumbled it, with the miscue going on Joe Burrow’s record. It made for a calamitous Bengals debut, but one they probably won’t hold against him for Week 11 against the Chargers. They badly need help behind Chase Brown, and Herbert will be far more acclimated to the system by next Sunday. He is still a dubious bench stash in 12-team re-draft leagues.

Herbert suiting up shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but how much he plays is the real question. The Bengals leaned heavily on Chase Brown in Week 9’s win over the Raiders and will continue to use him as the lead back on Thursday night, but there’s no telling how much of Brown’s workload Herbert could eat into in his Bengals’ debut. We wouldn’t expect much out of him this week, but his usage will be something to monitor for fantasy managers who may want to start him in Week 11 against the Chargers.

The Enquirer’s Charlie Goldsmith reported that Taylor would not take off the table the notion of Herbert playing Thursday against the Ravens. With Zack Moss (neck) likely out for the season, the Bengals need further depth behind Chase Brown, who saw a workhorse load in Week 9. It seems the Bengals like Herbert’s abilities as a runner and “willing protector” and did a lot of scouting on him leading up to the trade deadline. If Herbert is indeed active, fantasy managers should expect him to rotate in just to spell Brown on occasion. Herbert should be left on benches for Week 10 but has intriguing FLEX value the rest of the season.

The Bengals make the move for Herbert after losing Zack Moss (neck) for what seems like an extended period, perhaps the rest of the regular season. Chase Brown, who had 32 touches in Week 9 against the Raiders, will continue operating as the Bengals’ No. 1 back, though Herbert could mix in for a few touches a game. The efficient Herbert could find himself in the RB1 role if Brown misses time in the short term.

Herbert is a surprise healthy scratch, although he became somewhat expendable with Travis Homer expected back in the field. Guard Nate Davis is also a healthy scratch for the second-straight week. The Bears’ secondary will be challenged with both Gordon and Brisker sidelined, but they have all of their key offensive weapons intact for a fun Week 8 showdown against the Commanders.

“Chicago has struggled mightily to run the ball and turned to Johnson, more of a bruiser, for eight carries in Week 3 vs. the Colts,” Fowler said. “The Bears need to get downhill faster.” Fowler might be understating it. The Bears through Week 3 have 218 rushing yards, the second fewest in the NFL. D’Andre Swift has been downright miserable as the team’s lead back, averaging 1.7 yards per carry on 38 attempts. Johnson, meanwhile, showed some burst in Week 3 against the Colts. He had 30 yards on eight carries along with 32 yards on four receptions. If he gets lead back duties in Week 4, Johnson could exploit a plus matchup against a Rams defense allowing the league’s highest rushing success rate.

With Travis Homer (finger) inactive, Herbert somehow immediately got leapt by Roschon Johnson for No. 2 duties. With 10 touches through three games, Herbert has zero standalone value and wouldn’t even necessarily become an immediate FLEX option in a potential D’Andre Swift absence.

Herbert was not targeted. It was extremely poor usage with Roschon Johnson healthy scratched and the Bears spending most of the afternoon in comeback mode. D’Andre Swift was the first choice in every game situation, while Velus Jones got the gadget work. Herbert is merely a contingency back, and would be thrust into a committee even were Swift to go down with injury.