It feels as if Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore has been around forever, but this is just his age-28 season, and it could be his best, given this franchise’s recent commitment to offense.
Some will argue that the distribution of targets could hurt Moore’s bottom line more than an increase in quality of look helps him. Others will salivate at the idea of drafting the WR1 in a top-10 offense at a discount.
Where do the numbers suggest you should land in terms of that conversation?
DJ Moore’s Fantasy Outlook
Moore spent the first five years of his career buried in Carolina and the past two in Chicago with a team trying to find its direction, so it’s possible you’re not fully aware of just how productive of a fantasy asset he’s been.
Let me help.
- He’s one of five players with at least 95 catches in the past two seasons.
- He’s one of three players (Travis Kelce and Davante Adams being the others) with at least 115 targets earned in each of the past six seasons
YAC Monsters 😱
2024 WR/TE Leaders by Total Yards After The Catch
1. Ja’Marr Chase (797)
2. Khalil Shakir (615)
3. DJ Moore (603)
4. Brock Bowers (599)
5. Brian Thomas Jr. (572)
6. CeeDee Lamb (545)
7. Trey McBride (543) pic.twitter.com/bA0HlFlhbQ— Fantasy Points Data (@FantasyPtsData) July 2, 2025
Moore is a rock-solid player, and while he may not come with league-winning upside, his floor is superior to just about any player at the position that isn’t going in the first two rounds.
Raw volume aided a viable finish a season ago while Caleb Williams took his lumps (second-worst season in terms of fantasy production relative to target expectation of his career) and created low floors for his WR1 (Weeks 8-10, zero top-55 finishes and a total of 80 scoreless yards on 18 targets across three favorable matchups).
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Even in an uneven season, Moore gave his managers three top-10 finishes in 2024 and has averaged 138 targets since joining the Bears. Does he get to that total in 2025 with reinforcements (rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III) on the way?
Probably not, but I have no qualms in penciling him in for 80+ catches and 1,000+ yards. He averaged just 9.9 yards per catch a season ago, something that I envision bouncing back closer to his career average of 13.5 due to the gravity a better supporting cast will provide and the development under center.
You can swing big on a highly variant receiver in this Round 3-4 range if you’d like.
Maybe you hit big and it carries your team to high levels.
But maybe not. And if you get burned by a pick this early, making the playoffs is now an uphill battle. I’m thrilled to avoid that risk with a player like Moore. I’ll roll the dice in the second half of the draft, and the risk/reward equation swings more in my favor.
Cameron Sheath‘s DJ Moore Fantasy Projection
If there is a 2024 season that you can throw away in terms of fantasy relevance, it’s the Bears’. Hapless play calling, player mismanagement, and a rookie quarterback who was sacked a league-high 68 times made for an at-times-embarrassing display from the NFC North strugglers.
A new head coach, new play calling, an almost-completely new offensive line, and some new offensive weapons have gotten people excited about Chicago this year. That, in theory, should spread to DJ Moore, the team’s leading receiver.
He was the overall WR16 last season despite the unproductive environment. He was the WR6 the year before, so the upside is there, but Ben Johnson’s Bears offense will be something we learn along the way. Moore should start as the favorite to lead the team in targets and has even been getting reps at running back throughout the preseason, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in Chicago.
Moore’s stable fantasy floor has been provided by his health. The receiver hasn’t missed a game in four years and has been a top-24 receiver in each of the last six. The potential for WRs Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, and TE Colston Loveland to steal targets is a concern, but there is also potential for Moore to go to another level with better play-calling. Currently being drafted as the WR21, the Bears receiver has an intriguing range of outcomes in 2025 and has earned the trust of fantasy managers as a stable WR2.
