Kyle Monangai
Running Back
Kyle Monangai News
Kyle Monangai More Than Just a Handcuff Running Back
Chicago Bears 24-year-old running back Kyle Monangai enters his second full season as the RB2 in an elite Bears offense, and during his rookie season he rushed for 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries (4.63 YPC), and saw 30 targets for 164 yards. The Bears ranked fifth in the NFL last season in team run plays per game, and Monangai benefited greatly from that. He was 17th in the NFL in yards per touch. While he was successful on a per-touch basis, his explosiveness and efficiency left room for improvement. He was 31st in explosive rating and 34th in juke rate, to go along with 44th in yards created per touch, which accounts for all yards above and beyond what was blocked per carry and reception after the first evaded tackle. Backfield mate D'Andre Swift remains the clear No. 1 running back in this offense, but Monangai still carries fantasy appeal with Swift in the picture. RotoBaller ranks him as the RB35 off the board, and fantasy managers looking to stash a running back with some upside should look to target Monangai in redraft formats. Given his age, he is also a good dynasty option as well.
Aug 13, 2026 7:12 PM EST
Kyle Monangai Returns to Team Drills on Tuesday
The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain reports that Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (undisclosed) returned to team drills in training camp practice on Tuesday. Monangai recently missed some practices due to an undisclosed soft-tissue injury, but the Bears never seemed very concerned, and the second-year RB is now making his way back into team drills this week. Fantasy managers should have no concerns at this point regarding Monageng potentially missing the start of the 2026 regular season. The 24-year-old former seventh-round pick last year from Rutgers had a nice showing in his first NFL season in 2025 while sharing the backfield with RB1 D'Andre Swift, carrying the ball 169 times for 783 yards and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (one start). He wasn't very efficient as a pass-catcher, though, catching 18 of 30 targets for 164 yards as a receiver. Monangai is set to reprise his role as a backfield complement to Swift in 2026, limiting his weekly fantasy football upside as more of an RB3/flex play. He's a must-have as a handcuff if you draft Swift early on.
Aug 4, 2026 2:08 PM EST
Kyle Monangai Back on Field After Brief Absence
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai returned to the field Monday after missing three straight practices with what head coach Ben Johnson described as a soft-tissue issue, according to Chris Emma. Monangai was in full pads for warmups and drills, but it was not immediately clear how much team work he handled. The second-year back is coming off an impressive rookie season, rushing 169 times for 783 yards and five touchdowns while adding 18 catches for 164 yards across 17 games. He and D'Andre Swift became the only running back duo in the NFL to each top 750 rushing yards in 2025, helping Chicago finish third in the league with 2,456 rushing yards. Monday's return is encouraging after the short absence, though his practice workload will be worth watching over the next few days. Monangai remains an important part of Chicago's backfield and carries standalone fantasy appeal alongside Swift.
Aug 3, 2026 9:40 AM EST
Kyle Monangai's Injury "Status Quo"
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai has missed multiple training camp practices with an undisclosed ailment, but head coach Ben Johnson does not seem overly concerned, referring to the soft tissue injury as "status quo". Monangai has been tabbed as a popular breakout candidate after flashing whenever seeing an expanded role as a rookie, averaging 153 rushing yards in the two games in which he saw more than 20 carries. His recent absence has created an opportunity for veteran Salvon Ahmed to work behind starter D'Andre Swift, who led the team with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 2025. Still, with Monangai sounding as if he may soon return to practice, he'll look to force more of a committee in 2026. Monangai is RotoBaller's RB35, and on standalone value alone he should be able to meet ADP expectations, while his insurance upside is what makes him an attractive pick in the later rounds of drafts.
Aug 3, 2026 5:13 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Missing Another Practice on Saturday
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (undisclosed) is missing his second consecutive training camp practice on Saturday for undisclosed reasons, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. It's unclear why Monangai is absent, but for now we'll consider him day-to-day. With the 24-year-old missing practice on Friday, Salvon Ahmed stepped into RB2 duties behind D'Andre Swift, but Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown could compete for RB2 duties alongside Ahmed if Monangai misses more time this summer. Monangai had 169 carries for 783 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns in 17 regular-season games as a rookie in 2025 after being taken in the seventh round out of Rutgers. He added 18 receptions on 30 targets for 164 yards and zero touchdowns as Swift's primary complement out of the backfield. Monangai is expected to resume RB2 duties in 2026 as long as he's healthy, limiting his weekly fantasy upside as more of an RB3/flex option in standard-scoring leagues because of his limitations as a pass-catcher. RotoBaller currently has Monangai ranked as the No. 35 RB.
Aug 1, 2026 8:08 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Remains Out of Practice
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (undisclosed) remains out of training camp practice on Friday for a second straight day, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN. With Monangai out for undisclosed reasons, Salvon Ahmed is getting Monangai's reps behind starter D'Andre Swift. The 24-year-old Monangai should be considered day-to-day until we know more about his situation. Hopefully, he'll be able to get back on the practice field at some point this weekend. As a rookie in 2025, Monangai had 169 rushing attempts for 783 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and five touchdowns while adding 18 receptions on 30 targets for 164 yards as a receiver in 17 regular-season games (one start). He's expected to resume his role in 2026 as a complementary option to Swift in Chicago's backfield, limiting his overall fantasy upside. Monangai also isn't a particularly strong receiver, so his only real path to an improvement in Year 2 is to see more goal-line work and vulture touchdowns from Swift. Fantasy managers should consider the second-year back as a TD-dependent RB3/flex and a strong handcuff to Swift.
Jul 31, 2026 8:36 AM EST
Kyle Monangai's Dynasty Stock Surging Ahead of 2026
A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai recorded 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games as a rookie. Monangai entered the season firmly behind veteran Bears back D'Andre Swift on the depth chart, but Monangai worked his way into a more even playing time split by the end of the season. From Week 12 through the end of the regular season, neither Bears running back played more than 59% or fewer than 41% of the team's offensive snaps. In 2026, both backs will likely play significant roles in what should be a very strong Bears running game. However, Swift will be a free agent at season's end and may not be in Chicago's long-term plans. Given his production as a rookie and his pathway to RB1 duties in Chicago, Monangai profiles as a clear dynasty buy ahead of 2026.
Jul 20, 2026 7:18 AM EST
Kyle Monangai May Be Undervalued by Current Redraft ADP
A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai recorded 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Monangai split backfield work with Bears veteran D'Andre Swift in 2025, and both backs remain on Chicago's roster entering 2026. While Swift's presence could continue to limit Monangai's workload ceiling, Monangai profiles as the more physical downhill rusher of the two and may take on a larger early-down and goal-line role in his second NFL season. Even if the Bears continue to operate with a backfield split in the short term, 2026 is Swift's final season under contract with Chicago. If the competition between the two backs is close, it would not be surprising to see the Bears' coaching staff push more onto the plate of Monangai. Given Monangai's status as an up-and-coming back in a strong Chicago running game, he may be undervalued by redraft ADP as the RB33.
Jun 27, 2026 11:49 AM EST
Can Kyle Monangai Live Up to the Growing Dynasty Hype?
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai was a fantasy difference-maker whenever given volume as a seventh-round rookie in 2025. Twice in his debut season, he handled more than 15 carries in a game, and in those two outings, he averaged 153 rushing yards while scoring 22.2 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He still projects as the 1B to seventh-year veteran D'Andre Swift in what should again be a well-run Bears offense, providing him with a usable floor from the flex spot, while his proven ability to capitalize on an increased workload makes him one of the more attractive handcuffs in the league. That said, there's a chance he's now being overvalued in dynasty leagues, coming into 2026 as RotoBaller's RB27, ranking ahead of several current starters. His rookie season sample size was small, and his best game came against a Bengals defense that allowed a league-worst 2,500 rushing yards. While ultimately unsuccessful, the Bears have been active in trying to acquire top running back talent in each of the past two offseasons, and as a late-Day 3 pick, Monangai is by no means irreplaceable even if he does carve out a larger role in his second season. Monangai is fully capable of taking a sizable step forward in year two, but with his long-term viability less clear, rebuilding dynasty managers would be wise to sell on the back of any growing training camp hype or an early-season boom game.
Jun 4, 2026 6:19 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Remains a Dynasty Hold
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai finished his rookie season as the fantasy RB30, and his situation appears stable heading into Year 2. The 2025 seventh-round pick got off to a predictably slow start and spent most of the season in a change-of-pace role behind D'Andre Swift, but he flashed moments of fantasy dominance that could show up with more regularity in his second season. From Weeks 7 through 13, which included a Week 9 contest missed by Swift and in which Monangai ran for 176 yards, the rookie was the RB11, scoring five touchdowns over that stretch. The Bears made no changes to the position through either free agency or the draft, suggesting a comfort level with how things went last season. Monangai's ceiling will be limited as long as Swift is in the lineup, but he has already provided glimpses of what he can do with a full workload, and he saw more usage in the passing game down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. If that trend continues, RotoBaller's dynasty RB28 could add standalone value beyond what he offers as an insurance back.
Apr 26, 2026 12:51 PM EST
Kyle Monangai Pushing for More Opportunities
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai had an impressive rookie season, and he's pushing to take on even more opportunities in his second pro campaign. A glaring Year 2 breakout candidate, Monangai finished last season with 783 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, and five touchdowns across 17 games, despite not carving out a significant role until Week 7. From Week 7-18, he ranked as the overall RB23 in PPR leagues. The 23-year-old was able to produce at such a high level despite operating as the backup to D'Andre Swift. Both backs had strong seasons, and Swift consistently served as the lead back over Monangai, other than the one game he missed in Week 9. This Ben Johnson-led Bears offense showed that it can support two fantasy-relevant running backs, and we don't expect that to change in 2026. Going forward, Monangai should carve out an even larger role in his second pro season. In fact, he's probably going to get a chance to prove that he deserves to be the Bears' every-down back after Swift's contract expires next offseason. Even after his strong season and RB30 finish, Monangai continues to be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues. He currently ranks #28 among running backs in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, but there's no disputing that he has top-12 upside long-term.
Apr 3, 2026 5:19 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Will Continue to Test Managers' Patience
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai took on a significant workload during his rookie campaign in 2025, but he remains the No. 2 option behind D'Andre Swift ahead of the 2026 season. Monangai finished his first year in the NFL with 783 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, and five touchdowns, ranking as the overall RB30 in full-PPR leagues. He produced double-digit fantasy points on six different occasions, and he averaged 12.7 carries per game over the final 10 weeks of the season. However, the presence of Swift -- who remained productive in his first year back with head coach Ben Johnson -- continues to be a thorn in Monangai's side. Swift will remain the lead back as long as he's effective, giving Monangai a low floor and high ceiling weekly. As a result, dynasty managers must exercise patience when assessing the Rutgers product's role on their roster. He has top-18 running back upside long-term, but that might not take effect until Swift's contract expires after the 2026 season. Monangai should be held in all leagues this offseason. He's valued too high to buy low, but his long-term potential is far too encouraging to sell after just one season in the league. The only scenario where managers might want to consider buying Monangai at his current cost is if they already have Swift on their roster and want his handcuff.
Mar 15, 2026 12:12 PM EST
Is Kyle Monangai the Future RB1 in Chicago?
A seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai entered his rookie season without much fanfare. However, the 23-year-old impressed in his first campaign, recording 947 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Monangai showcased impressive efficiency as a rusher, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. As the season progressed, Monangai was able to steal more and more work away from established Bears RB1 D'Andre Swift. Including the postseason, Monangai recorded at least 11 touches in eight out of his final 10 games. From Week 11 through the end of the regular season, neither Monangai nor Swift played more than 59% or fewer than 41% of Chicago's offensive snaps in any contest. In 2026, Swift will be playing on the final season of his current contract. While the two backs project to share backfield work in the short term, Monangai may have done enough as a rookie for the team to feel confident in him as its long-term answer at running back. Monangai's fantasy value in dynasty formats should be on the rise after his encouraging 2025 season.
Feb 6, 2026 10:20 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Trending Down Going into Divisional Round
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai had a strong first year in the NFL despite being a seventh-round selection out of Rutgers. Monangai had 169 rushing attempts for 783 yards and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games, adding 18 catches for 164 yards on 30 targets through the air. The 23-year-old was at his peak in 2025 from Weeks 9-13, going for 405 rushing yards and four TDs on 79 carries. Since then, though, Monangai has double-digit carries in just two of six contests, and he has had single-digit carries over the last four games. He had eight carries for only 27 yards in the Wild-Card win over the Green Bay Packers, and he had only six carries for 14 yards in Week 18 against Detroit. Monangai has been on the field for 40-45% of the offensive snaps the last six games, but he'll be a low-end RB option in fantasy playoff lineups this weekend against a Los Angeles Rams' defense that allowed the third-fewest rushing TDs (six) to RBs all year.
Jan 16, 2026 10:15 PM EST
Kyle Monangai Is a Great Waiver Wire Option if Available
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai is still getting plenty of work in the backfield, and he's a strong grab if he's on the waiver wire as the Bears continue to push for the second seed in the NFC. Monangai had eight carries and three catches against the 49ers, totaling 38 rushing yards and nine receiving yards. D'Andre Swift had nine carries and two catches but was more productive with two rushing touchdowns. Monangai could get a little more work if the Bears look to get Swift some rest before the playoffs, and the matchup against the Lions should be a solid one, since Detroit's defense has struggled down the stretch, giving up seven running back touchdowns in the last three weeks.
Dec 30, 2025 9:43 AM EST
Kyle Monangai a Risky RB3 in Week 17
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai was efficient in the 22-16 overtime victory over the division rival Green Bay Packers. Monangai had nine carries for 50 yards and added 43 receiving yards on three catches, his best receiving output of the 2025 season. Monangai has had double-digit attempts in six straight games and has earned a consistent role alongside D'Andre Swift. He faces a San Francisco 49ers defense that has been average against running backs this season. The Bears are looking to clinch the NFC North and are expected to rely on the ground game in Weeks 17 and 18. Monangai offers FLEX value against the 49ers, depending on whether he finds the end zone.
Dec 27, 2025 4:46 PM EST
Kyle Monangai Holds Standalone Value Despite RBBC
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai has emerged as an integral part of the team's offensive attack and presents as a solid flex play despite splitting time with backfield mate D'Andre Swift. The 23-year-old began the season minimally involved in the Bears' offense, averaging just seven carries a game through the campaign's first eight weeks. However, following a 176-yard eruption in Week 9 in Swift's stead, Monangai has been much more heavily utilized, picking up double-digit rush totals in six of eight appearances. Swift's presence will keep the rookie on the back burner for as long as he's healthy, capping his upside. Still, fantasy managers can comfortably slot the latter into their lineups for low-end flex production at worst. Moreover, Monangai holds massive built-in upside if his teammate is ever forced to miss time. The duo will get a formidable San Francisco 49ers' rush defense this weekend on Sunday Night Football.
Dec 25, 2025 2:27 PM EST
Kyle Monangai is a Must-Add Running Back Heading into Week 17
Dating back to Week 10, Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai has recorded double-digit touches in six straight games. While the 23-year-old remains stuck in a backfield time share with veteran running back D'Andre Swift, the Bears have shown a willingness to force-feed the ball to both players every week. Monangai has rewarded his team with efficient rushing as well. Across 15 games this season, he's logged 731 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 155 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per rush attempt. Swift remains the lead back in Chicago, but just barely. Monangai has played at least 41% of his team's offensive snaps in five straight games. In that five-game stretch, Swift has recorded 70 carries while Monangai has logged 68. As long as the split between the two backs remains close to even, the Bears' rushing offense is powerful enough to support production from two players. In fantasy leagues where he remains available, Monangai is a priority waiver wire target heading into his Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Dec 22, 2025 10:30 AM EST
Kyle Monangai Efficient in Win Over Packers
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai was efficient in Week 16, carrying the ball nine times for 50 yards and adding three catches for 43 yards in the 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. After struggling to produce in the previous two outings, Monangai was a freight train on Saturday, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and moving the chains five times on his 12 total attempts. Monangai is averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game this season and is just 99 rushing yards away from passing Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco for most rushing yards by a seventh-rounder in their rookie season. He faces the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 and should be considered a FLEX play moving forward.
Dec 21, 2025 11:46 AM EST
Kyle Monangai's Fantasy Value Dependent on Swift' Status
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai struggled in Week 15, totaling just 33 yards on 11 carries against the Cleveland Browns. The 2025 seventh-round pick has been a pleasant surprise this season, forming an elite committee with D'Andre Swift. Both backs are the only two on a team with over 650 rushing yards, leading Chicago to the NFL's second-best rushing attack behind only the Buffalo Bills. With Swift (groin) listed as questionable for Week 16, Monangai could see a significantly increased workload against the Green Bay Packers. However, the Packers have one of the league's strongest run defenses, ranking sixth against running backs this season. Monangai's fantasy value this week will depend on Swift's status, potentially rising from a risky FLEX option to a low-end RB1 if Swift is inactive.
Dec 19, 2025 9:51 PM EST
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