Khalil Herbert - Fantasy Points Outlook

What You Need to Know:

• A Kansas transfer, Herbert (5’9, 210) excelled in Virginia Tech’s zone-heavy rushing scheme.
• He posted 155-1,183-8 as a 5th-year senior. He added just 10 catches, albeit for 179 yards and 1 score.
• Chicago selected him in Round 6 of the ’21 draft.
• When David Montgomery missed Week 5 through Week 8, Herbert posted 75, 97, 100 and 72 rushing yards.
• He averaged 22 opportunities (carries + targets) over the 4-game stretch, showing a physical style of ball.
• When Montgomery returned in Week 9, Herbert totaled only 22 carries over the final 9 games.
• As we saw in college, Herbert garnered limited pass-game opportunities. He caught 14 of 16 targets for only 96 yards.
• The Bears canned HC Matt Nagy and brought in HC Matt Eberflus and OC Luke Getsy.
• Getsy has never been an NFL play-caller. The Athletic’s Adam Jahns wrote in May that the team is “transitioning to a run-heavy team with outside-zone.” Chicago’s likely to roster a FB (Khari Blasingame).
• Montgomery enters the summer as the clear favorite for early-down work. But with a new staff, Herbert gets a clean slate to try and carve out a secondary role.
• Chicago’s O-line and supporting cast just doesn’t look ripe for fantasy production.
• The O-line projects as a bottom-10 unit; QB Justin Fields is an asset but scoring figures to be inconsistent with a lack of pass-catching depth.
• Adam Jahns of The Athletic writes that RB Khalil Herbert “looks poised for a larger role” in year 2.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Herbert was impressive in spot-start action as a rookie. But barring a David Montgomery injury, he’ll likely remain a lightly-used #2 behind the veteran.

Consider Herbert one of the few clear-cut handcuffs league-wide, though, and a potential RB1 if given the opportunity.