The Buffalo Bills made a major move to upgrade their passing attack, acquiring wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, while also receiving a 2026 fifth-round pick in return.
The deal gives Buffalo a legitimate top receiving option for Josh Allen, while Chicago gains additional draft capital.
From a fantasy football perspective, the ripple effects could be significant.
D.J. Moore Traded to Bills
A big winner from this move is Josh Allen, who finally gets the closest player to a No. 1 wide receiver the Bills have lacked since the departure of Stefon Diggs.
Moore brings a skill set that fits perfectly within Joe Brady’s offense. The two already have history together from their time with the Carolina Panthers, when Brady called plays in 2020 and 2021. During those seasons, Moore finished as the WR22 and WR19 in half-PPR, posting nearly 1,200 receiving yards in both campaigns while averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game, which would have ranked WR17 in 2025 scoring.
Moore also commanded a career-high 163 targets in 2021, highlighting the type of volume he can handle when featured.
Despite finishing WR32 last season (WR43 in points per game), Moore’s production was quietly impressive given the context. Chicago’s new coaching staff, led by Ben Johnson, increasingly prioritized players drafted under their new regime, which led to Moore’s gradual phase-out of the offense. Even in that situation, Moore still scored eight touchdowns, including twice in the postseason. Moore also stepped up when Rome Odunze missed time with a foot injury. Also caught the game-winning TD in overtime versus the Green Bay Packers.
At 29 years old this April, Moore still profiles as a player with plenty left in the tank. For context, Stefon Diggs was also 29 during his final elite season with Buffalo before Brady took over play-calling duties.
Moore’s ability to win downfield, separate on boundary/intermediate routes, and generate yards after the catch gives the Bills something their receiver room lacked.
As The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia noted, “Moore has what the Bills lack in speed and intermediate to deep separation. He would immediately become the team’s No. 1 wide receiver — one who could flourish with an on-time thrower such as Allen as his quarterback. Moore’s skills also would not duplicate what the Bills have in Shakir or Coleman.”
DJM immediately projects as Buffalo’s 1A receiving option, though Brady’s offensive philosophy typically spreads targets around rather than funneling them to one player.
That dynamic creates an interesting fantasy profile. Moore likely won’t command an overwhelming target share, but the efficiency boost attached to Allen dramatically raises his weekly ceiling. Better in best ball? You bet.
Meanwhile, this trade creates some losers in Buffalo’s receiver room.
Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman both take hits to their target projections. Brady previously mentioned at the NFL Combine expanding Shakir’s role outside of the slot, though Moore primarily played on the perimeter during his time with Brady in Carolina.
Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Room Impact
On the Chicago side, the trade signals a clear commitment to the team’s young offensive core. Full disclosure: the expectation was that the team would move on from Moore, so I haven’t moved them much since the trade.
The biggest beneficiaries appear to be Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, two rookies who surged during the second half of the season.
Burden finished the year — including postseason play — ranked 7th in yards per route run (2.34), a strong indicator of future breakout potential.
Loveland was even more impressive.
The rookie tight end finished the regular season top five among tight ends in both PFF receiving grade and yards per route run (1.97). From Week 7 onward, Loveland ranked top five at the position in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, posting a 26% target rate and finishing TE4 in fantasy points per game (11.1) during that span. Only Trey McBride averaged more receiving yards per game at the position.
Loveland’s breakout culminated in a massive postseason performance against the Packers, when he recorded eight receptions for 137 yards on 15 targets. According to Next Gen Stats, the majority of that production came when Loveland created separation. He generated 111 yards on six receptions when wide open (3+ yards of separation) and added 94 yards on vertical routes.
The former Michigan standout also thrived against zone coverage, catching all eight of his receptions for 137 yards on 13 targets in those situations.
The Bears still have Cole Kmet under contract, though his deal includes a potential out. Chicago has heavily utilized two-tight-end sets, making it unlikely the team completely move on from Kmet given his value to the offense.
Chicago used 12 personnel on 32.5% of offensive snaps, the 7th-highest rate in the NFL, including a season-high 57.7% in Week 18. In those formations, the Bears averaged 5.6 yards per play with a 45.5% success rate, both top-eight marks in the league.
Still, Moore’s departure should create additional opportunities for both Burden and Loveland to command meaningful target shares in Year 2 as they open the year as locked-and-loaded starters.
Fantasy Winners and Losers
Winners
Losers
What This Means for Fantasy Football Drafts
Moore immediately becomes one of the more intriguing wide receivers and potential values heading into 2026 fantasy drafts if last year’s dip is held against him. The combination of elite quarterback play, offensive efficiency, and Moore’s versatile skill set creates a pathway for a bounce-back season. We know that everybody “eats” in Joe Brady’s offense, so Moore is more of a 1A than a true No. 1 WR – so there is a price where he could become too expensive.
But given his body of work, 6 of the last 7 seasons as WR22 or better…Moore projects like a draft-day value. Again, Moore has always been a fantasy WR2, even while constantly overcoming target competition and less-than-stellar QB play at times.
He is now playing with the best QB of his career. Sometimes it can just be that simple (see George Pickens from 2025).
At the same time, the Bears’ offense now becomes increasingly centered around its young weapons, particularly Burden and Loveland, both of whom flashed significant upside late in their rookie seasons.
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