Kyle

Monangai

Monangai led the Bears’ backfield in total yards this weekend, with a large portion of those coming on a 34-yard pass early in the third quarter. Monangai continues to split backfield work with D’Andre Swift, and appeared on just 10 fewer snaps than Swift. Monangai is a touchdown-dependent option who hasn’t scored since Week 13. Fantasy managers shouldn’t view him as anything more than low-end RB2 in Week 17 against the 49ers.

Swift was not on the injury report yesterday. The veteran runner has been dealing with the groin issue for a while. He appeared to be over it in recent weeks, but a mid-week addition now puts him at risk of missing Saturday’s game. Kyle Monangai would be in line for a massive workload and an RB1 ranking if Swift cannot suit up.

Monangai had led the Bears in rushes in three consecutive games, but the 23-year-old rookie running back took a backseat to D’Andre Swift in Week 15 against the Browns. He had 11 carries and just 33 yards while being held without a catch on two targets. Monangai managers had to watch while Swift exploded for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be more of an RB3 in a tough matchup against the Packers in Week 16.

Monangai led the Bears in carries but was out-touched by D’Andre Swift 16-15. Swift caught three balls while operating as the team’s top option on passing downs. The rookie also added two points to his fantasy bottom line by punching in a two-point conversion in the second half. Monangai has now out-carried Swift in three straight and the Bears are running the ball enough to keep both backs involved. As home favorites over the Browns in Week 15, the Bears should be able to establish their run-first approach the next time we see them. Monangai will sit on the RB2/3 border.

Monangai increased his practice participation on Thursday and Friday after sitting out on Wednesday. The productive rookie is ready to roll. Bears RB D’Andre Swift will, of course, handle a significant workload, but Monangai is more than capable of returning RB2/3 value alongside him. Both players handled 19-plus touches in Week 13 against the Eagles.

Monangai is coming off a Week 13 showing in which he entered the game listed with a knee injury before rushing 22 times for 130 yards and one touchdown. Seeing the Bears ease him into practice with a new ankle injury is unsurprising. We expect Monangai to play in Week 14, ideally with a full practice session on Friday.

The Bears’ first practice of the week was a walk-through, meaning the DNP designation is simply an estimation by the team. Ben Johnson has done a good job this year of resting his players throughout the week to get them ready by Sunday. That, however, makes it hard to tell the severity of any Bears injury. Thursday’s practice report will be more revealing for Monangai. His absence would push D’Andre Swift to the top of the RB2 ranks for Week 14.

Monangai was questionable with a knee injury, but looked plenty healthy during Friday’s affair. He and D’andre Swift helped the Bears rush for a whopping 281 yards against the Eagles’ front seven, and he found the end zone from four yards out to give the Bears a 17-9 lead. Even with Swift also playing well, the Bears clearly like what they see from Monangai, and he should be involved again in Week 14 against the tough Green Bay defense.

Monangai was listed as a full participant on Tuesday’s injury report and continued to be listed as a full participant throughout the week. The rookie was removed from the injury report on Thursday, meaning he’ll be good to go against a matchup between 8-3 teams hoping to keep pace with the Rams for the top spot in the NFC. Monangai enters Week 13 with a three-game touchdown streak, but shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a boom-or-bust RB3 given his low receiving totals and rushing outputs.

Monangai did so yesterday as well, as did backup RB Travis Homer (hamstring/knee). Monangai out-touched and out-snapped RB D’Andre Swift last week and can be treated as a reasonable-floor, limited-ceiling FLEX option against the Eagles on Friday.