Bears-Bills drew 5.1 million viewers in a primetime tune-in that set a record for preseason audiences this decade. The Chicago game day narrative centered on the Bears’ quarterback development under new coach Ben Johnson and the unfolding competition at signal-caller, fueling fantasy chatter about upside in Chicago’s offense.
The Bears rolled to a 38-0 win, and a 6-of-10, 107-yard, first-quarter showing with a touchdown spotlighted the potential spark in the passing game. While it’s only a dress rehearsal, the performance offered a blueprint for how Chicago might structure its air attack and how fantasy managers could weigh a late-round dart in dynasty formats if Williams earns a bigger role.
Buffalo rested Josh Allen and most starters, yet the matchup remained must-see TV because Williams’ night carried national intrigue. The absence of Allen and the Bills’ depth-chart questions could ripple into in-season planning for Bills’ pass-catchers and backfield options, especially for those monitoring secondary options in fantasy leagues.
The Chiefs game next Friday will cap the preseason and help clarify Williams’ trajectory. If Chicago unleashes more of the offense and Williams continues to flash, fantasy managers in dynasty and keeper leagues may start weighing Williams as a wild-card backup with real upside, while redraft interest will hinge on how quickly he earns meaningful reps in the season’s early weeks.
