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Will Bears Receiver Keenan Allen play football for the Bears this season? Is he in danger of missing Week 1? John breaks down Keenan Allen's injury, what it means for his availability, and his Fantasy Outlook for the 2024 season.
New Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Keenan Allen is coming off a stellar year, having secured 108 catches for 1,243 yards and 7 TDs.
Allen was drafted in the vast majority of leagues with projections of finishing the year as a solid WR2/WR3 due to the target competition he now has in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
Naturally, when Allen was listed on the injury report for Week One, you could become concerned. Let's dive into Allen's injury.
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Will Keenan Allen Play This Season?
There is no question that Keenan Allen will play this season unless he picks up a devastating injury, which is highly improbable so close to the Week 1 games. Allen's injury was described as "minor". Allen had trouble with his cleats, which caused some "discomfort."
Will Keenan Allen Play In Week 1?
Allen is expected to play in Week 1, assuming no more setbacks occur. Allen and the Bears can work to address his cleats issue and have him ready for their matchup with the Titans. There is little doubt Allen will suit up and he has been practicing at full speed already this week.
Keenan Allen in 2023:
108 Catches
1243 Yards
7 Touchdowns
2.36 yards per route run (10th in nfl)Looks to be a veteran in the offense and help the young WR’s grow.
I’d never seen this catch he made in college he is a highlight machine!pic.twitter.com/tkMFCqNXGi— 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑵𝑾 🐻⬇️ (@NextWaveBears) September 3, 2024
Keenan Allen 2024 Fantasy Outlook
Allen finds himself in an unfamiliar situation. DJ Moore is coming off a monster season of his own with over 1,300 yards receiving and looks like all of an elite NFL WR. The Bears also drafted Rome Odunze with a top-10 pick, providing another weapon in the passing game.
Luckily for Allen owners, Bears OC Shane Waldron has had Allen and Moore on the field for 2-WR sets, leaving Odunze out when less than 3 receivers are on the field. This means Allen should play a high number of snaps. Allen is still an elite route runner, and his 2023 numbers proved it. He's enjoyed a steady career of high Fantasy production due to his polished skills.
Keenan Allen is one of the best in the business when it comes to route running. 💯 pic.twitter.com/EDvIG9Ysne
— NFL (@NFL) June 14, 2022
Allen should still enjoy a high volume of targets from new Bears QB Caleb Williams. He's no longer the clear no. 1 option, so expecting him to repeat his healthy 2023 numbers isn't reasonable, but he could still be excellent in PPR due to his consistency in beating both man and zone coverage. Allen should be a reliable chain mover that Williams can trust. The "Safety Valve" role he will likely inhabit is extremely valuable for Fantasy teams. If you drafted Allen, he should be locked into your lineup as a WR2 or FLEX, and he should enjoy another excellent season in 2024.
Update: 09/04/24
Keenan Allen is now limited at practice with a heel injury. This is an evolving situation. It is unclear if this is a concern for his Week 1 availability.
#Bears WR Keenan Allen was limited at practice today with a heel injury. pic.twitter.com/qJWhv1GFpq
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 4, 2024
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