Bandwagon Riding - Week 11

As is always the case, the NFL regular season is filled with players who surprised the experts by how well  they played.

So how should you respond to these surprising performances? Should you jump on the bandwagon or allow the opportunity to pick up these players pass you by.

Our fantasy coaches, Trip Smith and Bryce Johnson, share their thoughts below.

Week 11 Bandwagon Riding: Are the Bears Back (Sort of)?

It’s Bandwagon Riding time, and we’ve got a whirlwind of intrigue coming out of Chicago this week. The Bears are making moves—or at least trying to. Let’s dive in.

The Chicago Bears: Change Is in the Air

The Bears made a major shake-up by showing Shane Waldron the door. Stepping in as offensive coordinator is Thomas Brown, who previously honed his craft with the Panthers. The immediate results were… promising? Sure, their loss to Green Bay was a gut punch, but the offense looked better.

Who’s Worth Riding?

• DeAndre Swift & Roschon Johnson: This one-two punch in the backfield has the potential to keep the offense humming. Johnson, in particular, looked spry and ready for more work.

• DJ Moore: A perennial talent, Moore’s usage in this revamped system is worth sticking with—though he might get buried under some head-scratching coaching decisions (more on that later).

• Cole Kmet: It’s frustrating to imagine what Kmet could do if he had just one more play at the goal line. But he remains a viable fantasy option, especially in tight-end premium leagues.

That being said, while the players seem to be trending up, the team’s head coach, Matt Eberflus, continues to leave Bears fans—and fantasy managers—shaking their heads.

The Eberflus Effect

Let’s talk clock management—or the lack thereof. At the end of the first half against the Packers, the Bears found themselves at the 1-yard line with 25 seconds and one timeout. Instead of taking a quick shot at the end zone, they let the clock bleed down to 10 seconds before calling timeout. The result? No touchdown, and a wasted opportunity to cash in. Then, at the end of the game, Cairo Santos—known for being more of a precision kicker than a long-range bomber—was tasked with a field goal on third down, despite having enough time and a timeout to try to gain 10 more yards. The kick was blocked, and the Bears squandered another chance. This is the kind of decision-making that will have you screaming at your TV while simultaneously questioning every lineup decision involving Bears players.

The Bandwagon Verdict

• On the Bears Players: Proceed with optimism. The offense under Thomas Brown shows flashes of competence, and players like Moore, Johnson, and Kmet could see increased production.

• On the Bears as a Team: Pump the brakes. Eberflus remains a wildcard, capable of sabotaging even the best-laid plans. With a tough schedule and a brutal division, wins will be hard to come by—but fantasy points could still trickle in.

Other Bandwagon Notes

While we’re riding—or debating—the Bears’ bandwagon, here are a few additional names to consider for Week 11:

• Cam Akers (MIN): With Aaron Jones banged up, Akers could step into a more prominent role.

• Keaton Mitchell (BAL): The Ravens continue to talk about getting Mitchell more involved. Don’t sleep on him as a stash.

• Tajee Spears (TEN): The Titans are distributing the workload. Spears could be a sneaky pickup as the team looks ahead to the future.

As always, Bandwagon Riding is about the thrill of discovery. Whether you’re jumping aboard the Bears train—or simply watching from the safety of the platform—it’s all about finding those hidden gems to power your fantasy team to victory. Let’s ride!