Team news: Chicago Bears | Page 9

Head coach John Harbaugh said that Rashod Bateman, who sustained a season-ending foot injury last year that required surgery, got a cortisone shot recently, and the goal for him is to continue his rehab and be ready for training camp.

Related Players: Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, Devin Duvernay

The Ravens are set up with probably the best receiving group Lamar Jackson has ever seen at the professional level if everybody is fully healthy. Bateman is currently ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in fantasy terms, but that still only makes him a modest WR41. If he can prove that he is fully healthy well ahead of the regular season, we could see him sneak up the rankings a little bit.

Though Khalil Herbert is taking first-team reps during OTAs, the competition for the RB1 with the Bears includes D'Onta Foreman, Travis Homer, and fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson.

In the article, running backs coach David Walker was quoted as saying, “No one has earned a seat in that room yet, and they’re all going to earn their seats from what we do now until August whatever, whenever that third preseason game is,” Walker said. “So that’s the good thing and they know it. That’s been communicated to them.”

This makes the presumed "backups" more intriguing in fantasy drafts, as they are basically free at the moment. Roschon Johnson is coming off the board as the RB46 in the 13th round, while D'Onta Foreman is the RB51, in the 14th.

Rashod Bateman took another step in his recovery from foot surgery, joining the Ravens on the field Monday for the first practice of OTAs.

While Bateman will likely be eased back into action this summer, it's a good sign for an integral part of the Ravens' offense in 2023.

Related Players: Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, Devin Duvernay

If Bateman is on the field throughout the Summer to learn new Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken's system, there's no reason to believe he won't be the team's WR1. Bateman is a good target in best ball leagues, where his big-play potential has been flashed in the past. He is currently ranked as the WR41 at 4for4, but could be moving up if we continue to get positive reports on his health.

The #Dolphins have signed TE Tyler Kroft to a one-year deal, per agent
Mike McCartney.

Related Players: Durham Smythe, Eric Saubert, Elijah Higgins

The Dolphins let Mike Gesicki walk this offseason but didn't do anything to replace the passing game specialist outside of sixth-rounder Elijah Higgins, who will likely be transitioning from the wide receiver position. Kroft has been bouncing around the last few seasons and hasn't produced much since his breakout 42-404-7 2017 season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

This situation is almost assuredly going to be rotational, with Durham Smythe being the de facto TE1. His previous career highs (34-357-0) came during the 2021 season.

The Lions are receiving a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-rounder (No. 219) this year, while the Eagles get D'Andre Swift and Detroit's seventh-round pick (No. 249).

Related Players: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott

Swift has had quite the Draft weekend after Detroit snagged Gibbs incredibly early in the proceedings. The writing was on the wall, and now he joins a moderately crowded backfield in Philadelphia. The move doesn't necessarily kill the value of Penny, because the team was practically guaranteed to add someone due to Penny's extensive injury history.

Scott and Gainwell, on the other hand, will once again be on the outside looking in, in terms of fantasy viability.

Former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki is signing a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.

Related Players: Hunter Henry, Durham Smythe

With Miami passing on re-signing the tight end/slot receiver, they now have a huge need to attack the position in the NFL Draft. For the Patriots, Gesicki essentially fills in for Jonnu Smith, who they shipped off earlier in free agency. Hunter Henry's fantasy stock has been an entire roller coaster in the span of one week.

Saints and former Lions’ RB Jamaal Williams have agreed on a 3-year deal for $12 million, including $8 million fully guaranteed.

Related Players: D'Andre Swift, David Montgomery, Alvin Kamara

The writing was on the wall after the Lions signed David Montgomery, so Williams is off to New Orleans. Considering the Saints' current depth chart and the likely discipline that Alvin Kamara is facing, Jamaal has a great shot at carving out a large role with the Saints.

Lions and former Bears’ RB David Montgomery reached an agreement on a three-year, $18 million deal, including $11 million guaranteed.

Related Players: D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert

Per the 4for4 Free Agent tracker, the $11M guaranteed cash is the fourth-most among free-agent running backs since 2020. He should take on the Jamaal Williams role, which resulted in 17 touchdowns in 2022. Chicago has a load of draft picks, so look for them to address their RB needs with a rookie.

Sources say the Bears are trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Panthers in exchange for big-time compensation including multiple 1st rounders. Chicago loads up and lands at No. 9, while Carolina can draft its QB of the future.

Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:

-pick No. 9
-pick No. 61
-a first-round pick in 2024
-a second-round pick in 2025
-WR D.J. Moore

Moore finally cracked the four-touchdown mark in 2022, but he only gained 888 yards receiving after three straight 1157+ yard seasons. In theory, Justin Fields represents an upgrade from the quarterbacks that have been throwing to Moore in recent years. His arrival is a downgrade for Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet, though it was expected that the Bears would address the receiver position in a major way this offseason.