Rookie tight end Colston Loveland and rookie running back Kyle Monangai came through for the Chicago Bears on Sunday
A pair of new heroes emerged for the Chicago Bears in their 47-72 barnburner win over the Bengals in Cincinnati, taking center stage in a lineup chock full of star power.
Tight end Colston Loveland (10th overall) and running back Kyle Monangai (7th round) put on a show at Paycor Stadium against the hapless Cincinnati Bengals defense, who were powerless to stop Chicago’s dual-threat offensive attack.
Loveland, the first tight end selected in the 2025 draft (Michigan) burned the Bengals repeatedly over the middle after Cole Kmet temporarily exited the game upon aggravating a back injury. The 6-foot-6, 246-pounder reeled in six catches for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a galloping 59-yarder with 0:17 remaining that proved to be the game-winner.
Monangai powered through the Cincinnati front-seven, gashing them en route to a whopping 26-carry, 176-yard day (6.8 YPC) while adding a trio of catches. Monangai’s longest play from scrimmage was a 39-yard scamper. All told, he finished with an eye-popping 198 yards from scrimmage in his first career start.
Fantasy lowdown: Expect Loveland to maintain the starting tight end role going forward. While Monangai is at the mercy of a returning D’Andre Swift, he has more than earned the right to see his fair share of carries in Chicago’s backfield. Both players should remain on fantasy rosters for the rest of the season.
Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai (ankle) was...
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai continues ...
Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai (ankle) was...
The Chicago Bears starting running back D’Andre Swift will miss week nine with an injury, leaving rookie Kyle Monangai as the starter.
After dealing and playing with various injuries the Bears starting running back D’Andre Swift will be forced to sit out week nine with a groin injury. Roschon Johnson is also out, this leaves rookie Kyle Monangai as the sole back with any touches on the roster for the week. So it is officially MONANGAI SEASON! Monangai was already splitting snaps with Swift the last couple of weeks, now he gets the chance to showcase his bellcow ability.
Nothing about Kyle Monangai’s profile is real sexy, besides his College Dominater rating of 28.8%. Monangai clearly has the trust of head coach Ben Johnson and is sole back left standing. Based on the production of running backs in Johnson’s offense, Monangai is a must start in all formats. Hopefully you already had him stashed on your roster.
Author: Jesse Baldwin @J_Baldwin51
The Chicago Bears have selected running back Kyle Monangai from Rutgers University with the 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears have selected running back Kyle Monangai from Rutgers University with the 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Monangai, a standout in the Big Ten, brings a blend of power and vision to the Bears backfield. Over his collegiate career, Monangai amassed over 3,200 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024. His durability is notable, with zero fumbles on 707 touches. However, his 4.60-second 40-yard dash and 41st-percentile burst score at the NFL Combine have raised questions about his long-speed and explosiveness.
In fantasy football terms, Monangai is a candidate for a committee role, potentially excelling in short-yardage and goal-line situations. His consistent college performance suggests he could be a valuable depth piece, especially in dynasty formats. While immediate starting opportunities may be limited, his work ethic and ball security make him a player to monitor in training camp.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
The 2025 NFL Combine did not go as planned for RB Kyle Monangai, as he ran far too slow for his BMI.
Kyle Monangai was hoping for a faster 40-yard dash. The Rutgers product not only ran a 4.60-forty yard dash, but posted a lowly 41st-percentile burst score. Monangai’s 4.39 Relative Athletic Score indicates that there are better dart throws in this draft at the RB position.
Already on the undrafted bubble, per NFL Mockdraft Database, Monangai’s projected round continues to plummet. Lance Zierlein gave Monangai a 6.00 Prospect Grade, which indicates that he has the traits or talent to be an above-average backup in the NFL. Monangai showed that he was able to handle large workloads, earning 250 or more touches each of the last two seasons at Rutgers.
Author: Bradley Stalder (@FFStalder)
