The Bears are entering the 2024 NFL season with a new projected starter at running back for a third consecutive season.
In 2022, David Montgomery headlined the Chicago backfield for the last time before joining the Lions in free agency. Last season, Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman were entrusted in that role, with Herbert drawing early-season consideration and Foreman getting more chances in the middle of the year.
The 2024 season will see the Bears entrust their marquee free-agent acquisition as the team's top running back. That would be D'Andre Swift, who is coming off the best season of his NFL career with the Eagles.
Swift isn't the only notable player in Chicago's backfield. The Bears have a few recognizable faces and a long-time special teams ace on their roster to begin the 2024 NFL season.
Here's what to know about Chicago's running back depth chart for the 2024 NFL — and fantasy football — season.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
Bears RB depth chart
The Bears kept four running backs on their 53-man roster to start the 2024 NFL season. They are as follows:
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | D'Andre Swift |
| 2 | Khalil Herbert |
| 3 | Roschon Johnson |
| 4 | Travis Homer |
| 5 | Velus Jones |
1. D'Andre Swift
Swift is joining the Bears after enjoying the best season of his career with the Eagles. The 2020 second-round pick logged a career-high 229 carries and eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time of his career with 1,049.
Swift's biggest issue as a pro has been staying healthy, but he played in 16 games last season with 15 starts. So long as he stays on the field, he should get more chances at goal-line touches than he did in Philadelphia, where Jalen Hurts and the "Tush Push" took away some of his scoring chances.
That will make Swift an appealing RB2 for fantasy owners to trust, while Bears fans will enjoy watching his three-down skillset in action.
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
2. Khalil Herbert
Herbert shared the lead running back role in Chicago's offense last season with D'Onta Foreman. This year, he appears to be more of a clear-cut No. 2 back behind Swift, but he could become a key cog in Chicago's offense given that Swift has missed at least three games in three of his four NFL seasons.
Herbert has averaged 121.3 carries per season for the Bears since they selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The results have been solid, as he has averaged an impressive 4.9 yards per carry during his career.
It's worth noting that Herbert benefitted from playing with a mobile quarterback in Justin Fields, so it will be interesting to see if he has the same success with Caleb Williams. Even so, he seems like the top backup runner behind Swift and can be treated as a top-tier handcuff in fantasy.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
3. Roschon Johnson
The one issue with Herbert is that he doesn't do a lot as a receiver. He has averaged just 6.7 yards per reception during his career and has made 43 catches across his three seasons.
Comparatively, Johnson had 34 catches as a rookie alone. Sure, he had just 209 yards (6.1 yards per reception) on those, but his usage shows the Bears believe in him more as a receiver than Herbert. That could allow Johnson to emerge as a key third-down back if the coaching staff wants to spell Swift throughout the 2024 season. It also may explain why he was given equal standing on Chicago's first unofficial depth chart on July 26.
Johnson racked up 352 yards and two touchdowns on 81 carries as a rookie for a respectable 4.3 yards per carry. The 23-year-old is still developing, so he may have the upside needed to overtake Herbert, even if the veteran is the more proven commodity. That could make Johnson a nice sleeper in deep leagues or a great value in best ball drafts.
MORE: Top fantasy football sleepers for all 32 teams in 2024
4. Travis Homer
Homer has 135 career offensive touches over five seasons, but his greater value comes on special teams. He had seven tackles last season during his first year with the Bears and had 26 across his four season with the Seahawks.
Homer will probably be active most game days, but he won't be a legitimate threat to see the field on offense barring an injury.
The only question is whether Homer will be included on the game-day roster. If he is, the team would either have to carry four running backs on their game day roster or render one of its other backs inactive.
The Bears would face a difficult decision about demoting either Herbert or Johnson if the latter scenario unfolds.
5. Velus Jones Jr.
Yes, Jones is technically still listed as a receiver on Chicago's roster, but the Bears used him at running back extensively during the preseason. He finished fourth in the NFL with 158 rushing yards in those contests, and he had some nice runs that showcase his potential at the position.
Jones probably won't get many carries for the Bears — if any — early in the season. His primary role will be as a kick returner and versatile depth at receiver and running back, much like his fellow Tennessee product, Cordarrelle Patterson.
That said, if neither Herbert nor Johnson shows enough juice as a receiver to justify spelling Swift on third downs, Jones could get a crack at doing so. That would give him a chance to blend his best skills and provide the Bears with a key role player.
Jones' presence may also allow the Bears to more comfortably dress Homer, as the 27-year-old could provide depth at both receiver and running back in one punch. As such, his game-day status in Week 1 will need to be monitored closely, as it could significantly impact how this depth chart looks.