The Chicago Bears pulled out their second straight win after they defeated the New York Giants 24-20 in Week 10. They rallied from a 10-point 4th quarter deficit to secure the win, which also provided the Bears with some clarity in the backfield.
There were questions going into the game about which running back would get the lion's share of the carries. And that answer seems to be D'Andre Swift. JJ Zachariason of Late-Round Fantasy Football pointed out that Swift outsnapped rookie RB Kyle Monangai 42 to 26. Swift got 65% of Chicago's rushing attempts and a season-best 22% of the target shares.
D’Andre Swift Solidified Bears' RB1 Role in Week 10
Swift was questionable going into this game after missing Week 9 against the Bengals. In his absence, Monangai broke out and posted 176 rushing yards. Still, the Bears went back to Swift as their RB1 on Sunday, and it clearly worked out in their favor.
In the win over the Giants, Swift had 80 rushing yards, averaging 6.2 yards on his 13 carries. As a pass-catcher, he saw eight targets, which turned into five receptions for 18 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Monangai had seven rushes for 28 rushing yards and one touchdown while only being targeted once through the air, which is a noticeable decrease from last game's five looks.
Although the Rutgers product showed promise in his increased workload, the Bears are still rolling with Swift as their lead back. He has been highly productive for them and has the trust of the coaching staff to have the bulk of the carries. The Georgia product has gone over 80 rushing yards in three of his last four games, including a season-high 176 in Week 9, highlighting his ability to produce in this system.
Monangai will still get carries in the backfield, but the Bears will lean on Swift for the majority of the snaps when he's active. The veteran runner leads the team in rushing yards (544) and rushing touchdowns (4). Having quarterback Caleb Williams be able to run the ball as well adds another dynamic to their rushing attack, but the plan appears to be that Swift is the top backfield threat in the Windy City, and fans can expect to see more of him moving forward.
As solid as Monangai is, the Bears' rushing attack starts with Swift, and his continuing to capitalize on his opportunities will only make that clearer as time goes on.