Caleb Williams flashed late-game mastery, connecting with Rome Odunze for a crucial TD as Chicago erased a 17-point deficit to beat Kansas City 29-27 in the preseason finale. Williams and Bagent spearheaded a resilient attack that finished strong, while the defense buckled early but tightened in spots. Cairo Santos had a shaky night, and the coaching staff earned praise for timely adjustments that sparked the rally. The result adds immediate fantasy intrigue around Williams, Odunze, and the Bears’ evolving offense.

Kansas City rests a handful of veterans in Week 3 preseason against Chicago, with several depth pieces not slated to play. Chiefs inactive list includes Nazeeh Johnson, Jake Briningstool, Jack Cochrane, Omarr Norman-Lott, Ethan Driskell, plus Jaylen Royals and Mike Edwards. Chicago mirrors that approach, keeping Deion Hankins, Jaylon Johnson, Terell Smith, Shaun Wade, Kyler Gordon, Austin Booker and Dominique Robinson sidelined. Inactives emphasize rest and evaluation over injury, and rosters must disclose who sits about 90 minutes before kickoff. Fantasy takeaway: this is the weekend to watch untested backups seize reps and potentially carve roles behind the top units.

Expect Briningstool and Cochrane to get looks that could foreshadow later usage, while Norman-Lott and Driskell bubble up opportunities on the Chiefs’ interior line and depth chart. For Chicago, the absence of the starting DBs sharpens the spotlight on reserve corners and versatile linemen, which can tilt snap shares for those chasing late-round DFS angles. In other words, Week 3 becomes a stage for rookies and depth players to prove themselves and potentially alter late-season fantasy plans.

Overall, the matchup serves as a practical lab for evaluating depth and future rotation shifts, with inactives signaling thoughtful rest rather than injury. Both franchises leverage the game to test cohesion and identify hidden value among backups, a reminder that preseason results often illuminate future fantasy opportunities more than box-score highlights.

Chicago rolled to a 38-0 win over Buffalo in a dominant preseason showing. Caleb Williams sparked the offense with a seven-play, 92-yard drive that ended in a 36-yard TD to Olamide Zaccheaus, signaling comfort in Ben Johnson’s system. Tyson Bagent followed with three straight scoring drives across two quarters, flashing accuracy (13-of-22, 196 yards, 1 TD) and leadership. Ian Wheeler carved out a prominent role with 80 rushing yards on 19 carries and two scores, while Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Zaccheaus supplied reliable targets. The defense stifled Buffalo, forcing sacks and takeaways behind Chicago’s aggressive front.

Terell Smith exited Chicago’s preseason game with a left-leg injury, wiping out a key early-season depth piece. The Bears already wrestle with Jaylon Johnson’s lingering absence and Kyler Gordon’s hamstring, leaving the outside cornerback rotation thinner than anticipated. Smith had surged in camp, pushing for the second outside cornerback job against Tyrique Stevenson and Nahshon Wright. With Smith’s health uncertain, Stevenson and Wright could gain real opportunities to claim outside snaps, while Johnson’s Week 1 status looms large. Fantasy implications center on defensive back rotations and opportunistic streaming options if Smith misses time, especially once Johnson returns and Stevenson/Wright press for roles. Stay tuned to practice reports for confirmation on Week 1 corner assignments against the Vikings.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson returned to the field with a noticeable stride, buoying optimism for Week 1 after a leg injury kept him out through training camp and the preseason. A Sunday night session at Soldier Field showed Johnson moving with improved mobility, fueling hope that his presence could anchor a top secondary alongside Kyler Gordon, who is dealing with a hamstring issue and remains week-to-week.

The Bears’ defensive backfield looks poised to be among the league’s most talented if Johnson and Gordon are healthy. Johnson’s Pro Bowl pedigree and recent All-Pro recognition anchor a unit that has to prove itself early, especially in a season-opening bout vs Minnesota. His status could shift Chicago’s defensive ceiling and directly impact fantasy outlooks for Bears’ corners and the pass defense as a whole.

With Gordon also in the mix, Chicago fans and fantasy managers are watching how quickly Johnson can rejoin a revamped secondary that faces a demanding schedule. If Johnson plays Week 1, expect a tighter perimeter and more aggressive coverage, which could translate into fewer big plays for opposing receivers and more opportunities for Chicago to generate turnovers and pass deflections. Even if limited, Johnson’s presence alone changes the Bears’ defensive dynamic early in the season.