Howard solidified his spot as the Bears' feature back with a strong sophomore campaign, but there are reasons for at least a bit of concern heading into 2018. The 23-year-old appeared to wear down in the second half of the year, topping 4.0 YPC in only two of his final eight games, and despite his knack for letting holes develop in front of him before attacking the defense, his bruising running style could make it difficult for him to stay on the field as the bumps and nicks accumulate. That physical brand of football also makes him very tough to bring down, and for the second consecutive season Howard ranked in the top five for runs of 15 yards or more (4th, 14), even though he lacks a second gear. Tarik Cohen's emergence as Chicago's passing-down back should help keep Howard's touches to a manageable level, especially with Matt Nagy - a product of Andy Reid's coaching tree - taking over for John Fox and installing a more aggressive offense. Most of the Bears' offseason moves were designed to help Mitchell Trubisky's development, but a better passing game will take pressure off Howard, and if second-round pick James Daniels can adequately fill Josh Sitton's big shoes at left guard it will help the interior run blocking as much as it helps protect the team's young QB. Read Past Outlooks