Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Kyle Monangai

Friday, April 3, 5:19 AM

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.