Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

NFL Week 13 fantasy football takeaways: Buy Bears backfield

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Dec 2, 2025 5:37 PM ET

After a busy Week 13 in the NFL, it's time for fantasy football owners to finalize their rosters before the playoffs start. Here are the four biggest fantasy takeaways from Week 13.

The Chicago Bears have two starting running backs

The fantasy football community has spent all season debating D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. The answer might just be both. In Week 13, Swift and Monangai combined for 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and each scored at least 19 PPR points.

The RB duo has essentially split Chicago's backfield 50-50 for the past three weeks, and Bears head coach Ben Johnson won't back away from that plan as long as it's working. Swift and Monangai are both RB2s in fantasy.

Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin is trending up at the right time

If you stayed patient with Godwin, he could be a valuable fantasy football asset in the playoffs. After missing six straight games with a leg injury and playing just 25 snaps in his return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the veteran wide receiver played 40 snaps and made three catches for 78 yards on five targets against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13.

Chris Godwin on feeling like his old self in today’s win over the Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/4IiUe9xo8o
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 1, 2025

Godwin looked much more explosive than he had previously this season, and that should only improve with more time on the field.

Be careful with Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson

Henderson is the RB18 in total PPR points this season, but most of that production came with Rhamondre Stevenson out of the lineup. Stevenson returned from a three-game, injury-related absence (toe) in Week 12, playing only 31 percent of New England's offensive snaps. However, he outsnapped Henderson 38-32 in Week 13 against the New York Giants.

The Patriots have a bye week before the fantasy football playoffs begin, but this might be a timeshare for the rest of the season.

Panthers RB Rico Dowdle isn't the league-winner we thought

Dowdle has three games this season with at least 28 PPR points, but the supposed league-winner has fallen back into a timeshare with Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard outsnapped Dowdle 38-27 in Week 13, marking the first time Dowdle played fewer than 50 percent of the Carolina offensive snaps since Week 8.

The Panthers have two capable running backs they trust, and head coach Dave Canales will ride the hot hand every week. But Dowdle will be a risky start in the fantasy football playoffs.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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