Chicago Bears Week 7: Some players rising, others falling badly
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears stock up going into Week 7
Running Back Khalil Herbert
Who would have thought that the Bears would have found a gem of a running back in the sixth round? Rookie Khalil Herbert has been nothing short of excellent in his work the last couple of weeks. Because David Montgomery and Damien Williams were both out against Green Bay, it was Herbert who saw 19 carries — and he took them for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Herbert has given the Bears a legitimate reason to feel confident in their running back depth going into future seasons. He has run quick, strong and always looked for extra yardage instead of going out of bounds. Herbert has gone from someone the league hadn’t seen much of for the first few weeks, to putting himself on the map, in a matter of two games.
Linebacker Roquan Smith
It’s somewhat funny stating Roquan Smith’s stock is rising when he’s been one of the most consistent players all season, but he continues to get better. Smith has had double-digit tackles in all but just one game this season, and is coming off a season-high 12 tackles against the Packers.
To top it off, Smith is allowing an opposing quarterback rating of just 68.6 when targeted. He’s a true do-it-all linebacker who continues to get better each game. It’s safe to say that, without Smith, the Bears’ defense would look a whole lot different — and not in a good way.