On March 10, 2023, the Carolina Panthers made a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears, sending their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as sixth-year wide receiver D.J. Moore, in exchange for a haul of draft picks. The move sets up the Panthers to go after their franchise quarterback, but the immediate fantasy impact is the acquisition of Moore by the Bears for his age-25 season.
D.J. Moore: Chicago Bears
Moore, a first-round pick by the Panthers in the 2018 NFL Draft, joined the team during a difficult time for a wide receiver, as the team was on the cusp of a quarterback transition that would last for the duration of his career in Carolina. Despite the challenging circumstances, Moore has become a target hog and has finished in the top 10 in target share over the last two seasons.
Although Moore has demonstrated above-average efficiency, he has yet to have a quarterback that can carry him to a WR1 season. He has had spikes in efficiency, but a lack of quarterback play has limited his fantasy production. The move to the Bears provides Moore with an opportunity to compile spike fantasy weeks, as he has a newfound ability to go deep, an attribute that his new team favors.
The Bears’ offense is run-heavy, much like the Panthers’ offense. However, the presence of Justin Fields, who has a propensity to run, sets up explosive plays when surrounded by the right weapons. Fields’ willingness to take deep shots, combined with the presence of Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, who both posted average target depths above 12 yards with the Bears last season, could help increase his efficiency and potentially his volume.
Moore is projected to remain comfortably above a 25% target share as the clear top receiver on the Bears. Assuming a baseline of 400 pass attempts, he should receive around 100 targets with a ceiling in the 125-130 range. Prior to the trade, Moore was projected as 4for4’s WR24, but this passing game will have to take significant leaps for him to be a comfortable WR2.
The big winner in this trade is Fields, who has a significant upside if the Bears’ passing game improves. His rushing ability propelled him to a QB6 finish in 2022 and is currently 4for4’s QB5. The trade to acquire Moore is a positive for Fields and could help him achieve a top-three fantasy season.
Conclusion:
Moore is a true number-one wide receiver who can handle a massive target share. Although the move to the Bears presents challenges, he has the potential to outperform his ADP. The acquisition of Moore by the Bears is a positive for Fields, and he has significant upside if the Bears’ passing game improves.
