In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Hall of Excellence:

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears running game is firing on all cylinders.

In Weeks 1-4, D’Andre Swift totaled only 187 yards on 42 carries (3.3 YPC). Over the past two weeks, though, he’s amassed 232 rushing yards on 33 attempts (7.03 YPC) and finished as the RB6 and RB5.

Swift isn’t the only beneficiary of the Bears new commitment to the run game. There’s a David Montgomery to his Jahmyr Gibbs, and it’s rookie Kyle Monangai.

As Dwain noted in his must-read Utilization piece, Monangai saw his biggest role of the season in Week 7:

• 46% of the snaps
• 34% of the rushing attempts
• 37% route participation

The usage bump (and a friendly matchup vs. the Saints) resulted in 13 carries for 81 yards and a TD.

Even if the standalone value fluctuates on a week-to-week basis (similar to Montgomery, to be fair), Monangai is emerging as a clear-cut RB2 and one of the premier handcuffs in fantasy.

He’s currently available in 93% of leagues, which should not be the case.

Next up for the Bears rushing attack? A date with the team giving up the fifth biggest boost to opposing RBs …

A Museum Featuring a Legendary Collection of the Most Iconic Artifacts in Sports

The Hall of Excellence brings together the rarest memorabilia from the world’s most celebrated icons. Curated by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and sportscasting legend Jim Gray, this museum experience reveals untold stories through extraordinary artifacts—from Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves to Oprah Winfrey’s Presidential Medal of Freedom and memorabilia celebrating Elvis Presley’s era-defining return to Las Vegas in 1969.

At the center of the experience is the Trophy Room—featuring the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the Heisman Trophy, the Claret Jug, Olympic Gold Medals, the MLB Commissioner’s Trophy and more. A visual reminder of what greatness looks like in every field.

Editors’ Picks

Did you survive the waiver wire? Hopefully you got what you needed, because Bye-Mageddon is here! And even if you’re left wanting, we have some great Fantasy Life content that you might have missed. Our Rankings and Xfinity Best Projections will also help with the prep for your next W …

After the Waiver Wire

Did you not get Devin Neal? Is he sitting on your free agent list? Kendall updated the waiver wire column, and there might be some options still available for you.

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Utilization Report for Week 8

Bye-Maggedon is here, and you’re likely staring at a hole or two … or three in your roster. John Laghezza breaks down the best streamers at each position.

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2026 NFL Draft Mailbag: Where’s the Love?

As in Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Thor Nystrom answered questions on some of the top players who may declare for next year’s draft.

• Quarterback
• Wide Receiver
• Tight End

Updated Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings

Believe it or not, we're closing in on the halfway portion of the fantasy football season. That means it's time to reflect on the current rookie class. Sam Wallace is here to re-rank them in dynasty leagues based on what we know right now and what we expect of them moving forward …

No. 2 - Emeka Egbuka - WR, Buccaneers

At first, I was a bit disappointed in the landing spot for Emeka Egbuka. The Buccaneers already have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and a handful of other viable options in the passing game, including RBs & TEs.

However, it's been good for me to be reminded that I shouldn't bet against talented players on great offenses.

Do I believe Egbuka is talented? Absolutely.

Do I believe Tampa Bay has a strong offense? You bet.

There should have been no reason to doubt that Egbuka could make an impact on this team, even in the short term.

Injuries have certainly afforded him a larger opportunity than initially expected, but that just goes to show how quickly the landscape can change in the NFL. He's scored five TDs in his first five games and shows no sign of slowing down.

He's an uber-talented player with a wide runway of opportunity in front of him. He's a cornerstone player for both the Bucs and dynasty rosters.

No. 3 - Tyler Warren - TE, Colts

I gotta say, it's been awesome having a rookie TE that's delivered on expectations and then some. Tyler Warren was part of a group of two at the top of this class (alongside Colston Loveland). While Loveland and the Bears have gone through some growing pains, Warren and the Colts are looking like one of the best teams in football.

The TE position remains one of the most scarce in the league. It's nice to have a good one, but if you have a great/elite option, make sure to hold onto that asset for as long as you can. It's often worth more to hold onto those types of players even if it means turning down a "fair" offer.

As for Warren, he's quickly become a key component of the Colts' passing attack. He has topped 60 receiving yards in five of seven games and has scored TDs in three straight contests. There are even bigger games coming.

Whether or not Daniel Jones is the long-term, franchise player that he appears to be, Warren is locked in as a premier target on a great offense.

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

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