Chicago Bears vs. New York Giants Preview

This week, the 5-3 Chicago Bears will face off at home against the struggling 2-7 Giants, who are 4.5-point underdogs. D’Andre Swift, the starting running back, was sidelined last week due to a groin injury, allowing rookie Kyle Monangai to step up in the significant game against the Bengals. Although Swift might return, it’s still uncertain since he’s currently listed as questionable.

D’Andre Swift Injury Update

Swift had managed to play through a groin issue until last week, when he completely missed practice and was unable to contribute against a weak Bengals defense. It’s possible the team opted to give him a break to recover, especially since they were going up against one of the league’s least effective defenses. This week appeared to show improvement as Swift participated in limited practice on Wednesday and moved to full practice on Thursday. However, he then missed Friday’s practice for personal reasons, which led to him being marked as questionable with a “groin/non-injury related (personal)” designation.

While it seems his absence from practice was unrelated to his injury, the fact that he missed it certainly impacts his status. If Swift can overcome his personal matters, he seems ready to manage a full load.

Fantasy Football Analysis

I have a few questions about Swift heading into this matchup. First, will he actually play? If he does, will he be in good enough condition to take on a full workload? And how much will Monangai’s performance from last week affect Swift’s touches?

We should have clearer answers before kickoff, but if Swift is on the field, I believe he’ll be in a position to significantly contribute to the offense. Monangai certainly had a standout performance last week against the Bengals, racking up 176 rushing yards on 26 carries along with three receptions for 22 yards. However, it doesn’t diminish Swift’s achievements this season, as he ranks in the top-12 for average fantasy points among running backs.

Head coach Ben Johnson emphasized the strategy of going with “hot hands” at running back, and it was hard to imagine Swift not playing. The Giants are notably weak against the run, allowing the most yards per attempt in the league, which means both Swift and Monangai could potentially thrive in this game. Both players are worthy of starting in this matchup, so don’t hesitate to get them into your lineups.