The Caleb Williams era in Chicago is not off to the start that many had anticipated. Given the depth and weaponry surrounding Williams, it was expected that he would begin his NFL career firing on all cylinders. Sure, the Bears still have a "zero" in the loss column, but Williams looked very much like a rookie quarterback last week.
Considering Williams was struggling in Week 1, it shouldn't come as a shock that his receivers were held to modest stat lines. Longtime Charger Keenan Allen was no exception. He was held to just four receptions for 29 yards in his debut with the Bears.
Allen may not have a chance to redeem himself in Week 2. He is in danger of missing the Bears' primetime matchup with C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans due to a heel injury.
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Will Keenan Allen play this week? Injury update on Bears' WR
UPDATE: Keenan Allen is officially inactive for SNF.
The Bears' official injury report lists Allen as "questionable" with a heel injury. This comes after Allen failed to practice at any point this week. The three straight DNPs are particularly concerning for his availability on Sunday night.
Bears' head coach Matt Eberflus has been quite clear about what the outlook is for Allen. In a press conference on Friday, Eberflus indicated that he is a game-time decision, going on to say that the Bears will, "Take it all the way up to the game."
Recent reports indicate that even if Allen is able to suit up, he will be used in a limited fashion. This is an injury that has plagued Allen since last season, so the Bears will likely err on the side of caution with their veteran receiver.
Inactives are due 90 minutes before kickoff (6:50 PM EST) and it seems realistic that there will be no information on Allen's availability until then. Considering Allen was unable to practice at any point this week, the odds don't seem to be in his favor.
Bears' WR Depth Chart: Who is Keenan Allen's Backup?
The Bears are in a tough spot at wide receiver this week. If Allen is unable to play, the Bears would typically lean on rookie Rome Odunze to pick up the slack. Unfortunately, Odunze is also questionable and is considered to be a game-time decision.
Behind Allen and the rookie, the Bears have second-year receiver Tyler Scott who they drafted out of the University of Cincinnati in the 4th round of last year's draft. If one, or both, of Allen and Odunze are unable to play, Scott will be asked to play a larger role in the offense than he has been accustomed to.
Outside of Scott, Chicago has DeAndre Carter and Velus Jones Jr. on the roster at receiver. Between these two veterans, Carter is likely to take a larger role and could realistically play the WR2 if Allen and Odunze are out. Chicago also elevated Collin Johnson from the practice squad on Saturday, a sign that they anticipate being without at least one of their starters on Sunday night.
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Keenan Allen fantasy outlook Week 2
Things are setting up for Allen to be a weaker option at receiver this week. First off, it seems that Allen is trending in the direction of being unable to suit up. In that case, he would clearly need to be left on benches. But even if Allen is able to play, his effectiveness and playing time are both likely to be limited due to the injury. He is also playing with a quarterback who is still getting adjusted to the NFL.
Better days are ahead for Allen. He was targeted on 35 percent of his routes last week and will be a steady part of this offense throughout the year. Once Williams gets his legs under him, Allen should be in weekly WR3 consideration. Allen is currently the WR50 in the Sporting News rankings and should be left on benches if possible.
If it's not possible to leave Allen on your bench, managers should be prepared with a backup plan. The Bears play on Sunday Night Football and it would create a sticky situation if his availability is unclear until 90 minutes before kickoff. A strong candidate for an emergency option is Falcons WR Ray-Ray McCloud. He plays on Monday and led Atlanta in targets last week. McCloud is by no means someone you want to be starting, but he should be available in the majority of leagues and can be started in a worst-case scenario.
