The Chicago Bears secured a thrilling victory over Washington on Monday Night Football, but the celebration was dampened by concerning news regarding one of their veteran receivers. DJ Moore was transported to a local hospital following the game for precautionary medical attention. Should fantasy football managers expect the WR to miss time?
DJ Moore Injury Update
Moore was observed keeled over on the sideline during Monday night’s 25-24 victory over the Washington Commanders, requiring medical attention from team staff throughout the contest. Despite taking several hard hits during the game, he remained on the field and played until the final whistle, even executing crucial blocks during the Bears’ game-winning drive.​
Following the victory, Moore left the stadium in an ambulance rather than returning with the team. Beat reporter Herb Howard confirmed that Bears wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El accompanied Moore to the hospital. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reported that Moore would stay overnight in the Washington area for “precautionary medical attention”.​
Head coach Ben Johnson provided clarity on Tuesday, revealing that Moore’s hospital stay was related to a groin injury. “It was precautionary. I think we got some good news on that,” Johnson explained, adding that Moore “should be coming back today, here, and I think he’ll be day-to-day going forward. It was a groin deal that he was dealing with and I think we’re going to be OK”.​
Moore returned to Chicago on Tuesday and was initially considered day-to-day for Week 7’s matchup against New Orleans. However, Wednesday brought less encouraging news when Moore did not participate in the Bears’ practice session.​
While it’s still early in the week and the Bears only held a walkthrough on Wednesday, Moore’s absence is not a great start given that he was hospitalized a mere two days ago. The fact that he cannot participate even in limited fashion suggests the groin injury may be more problematic than initially hoped.
Johnson declined to provide additional details about Moore’s condition, describing it as “a little bit more of a personal story there”. Moore’s practice participation over the next two days will be crucial in determining his availability for Sunday’s contest.
Update:Â Moore returned to a limited practice on Thursday. This is a welcome development, which puts him on track to play on Sunday. A full practice on Friday would go a long way, but even a second limited session would further the belief that Moore will be ready to go.
Moore Fantasy Outlook
Moore’s declining fantasy production has become a significant concern for managers who drafted him expecting WR2 numbers. The veteran receiver is averaging just 9.7 fantasy points per game this season, representing the worst stretch of his career.​
The most alarming aspect of Moore’s struggles is his diminished role within the Bears’ passing attack. He currently commands just a 16% target share and is targeted on only 15.8% of his routes run, ranking outside the top 80 receivers in that crucial metric. These numbers represent a dramatic drop from his previous production levels.​
Rome Odunze has clearly emerged as Caleb Williams’ preferred target, creating a concerning hierarchy shift for Moore’s fantasy value.
The statistics tell a troubling story for Moore’s outlook. Through five games, he has managed just 19 receptions for 215 yards and one touchdown on 26 targets, while Odunze has posted 22 catches for 328 yards on 40 targets despite running fewer routes. Williams maintains a significantly higher passer rating when targeting Odunze compared to Moore.​
Moore will probably never reach droppable status given his track record, but he certainly cannot be considered startable unless the target distribution changes dramatically. His current usage suggests he has fallen into a complementary role behind Odunze in the Bears’ offensive hierarchy.
Fantasy managers should continue monitoring Moore’s health status while also considering that his production issues extend far beyond any injury concerns. Even at full health, his current role limits his weekly upside to desperate flex consideration in deeper leagues.
