It’s already May, so why in the name of LaDanian Tomlinson haven’t you drafted your fantasy football team yet?
I mean, there are only 100-plus days until the NFL opener, 100-plus days until the Chiefs and the Ravens tee it up GEHA Field, 100-plus days until I start making asinine in-game changes to my DFS lineups.
Fact is, we won’t be drafting our fantasy teams until deep into the summer, but we fantasy nerds, er, pundits need something to occupy our minds in the interim, so what say we discuss which Chicago Bear we should embrace for our fantasy squads each week, and which we should avoid.
Sure, this is an absurdist thought exercise — roles, schemes, and systems will change wildly between now and Opening Day — but at the very least, it’ll keep me off the streets.
Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Embrace: D.J. Moore
Last season, the Titans’ defense finished dead center in most every major category, but fantasy-wise, they had a scootch of trouble with wide receivers, ranking 24th in fantasy points allowed (FPA) per game. Moore — whose current ADP sits at or around WR14, which, frankly, is straight-up silly — is a safe bet.
Avoid: Caleb Williams
If we’re putting Williams on a C.J. Stroud-like trajectory, let’s recall that Stroud’s QBR in Weeks 1 and 2 of 2023 were, respectively, 32.0 and 48.8. Let Williams’ rookie jitters settle for a minute before you start him.
Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans
Date: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Embrace: D’Andre Swift
The 2023 Texans defense was scary, and with Danielle Hunter in the mix, it’ll be even scarier. After the previous week’s meh outing, the Bears sideline braintrust might give the passing attack some chill-out time, so we could be looking at a run-centric game script, a script of which Swift will take advantage.
Avoid: Caleb Williams
Patience, me pretties. One more week.
Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024
Embrace: Caleb Williams
Huzzah, it’s safe to stick the rookie into your lineup! The 2023 Colts finished 16th in FPA to quarterbacks, which is good (or bad) enough to take a flyer on the former Trojan.
Avoid: Rome Odunze
DFS peeps might be tempted to bust out a rookie stack, but, y’know, don’t. Last year’s Colts pass D was stingy, allowing just 21 receiving tuddies, 10th best in the league.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2024
Embrace: Gerald Everett
Let’s not mince words: Facing tight ends, the 2023 Rams were hot garbage, giving up an icky 12.99 fantasy points per game. The former Ram and first-year Bear will make hay, and lots of it.
Avoid: Bears defense
When Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams are simultaneously healthy, the Rams’ defensive opponent should be at the top of your sit ‘em list.
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Embrace: D.J. Moore
In last season’s Bears/Panthers tilt, Moore’s revenge game was a flop, as he caught just 5 of his 9 targets, racked up a pedestrian 58 yards, and couldn’t find the end zone. That won’t happen again.
Avoid: Nobody
The game is in Chicago. The Panthers lost Brian Burns. Williams is almost 100% comfy with the offense. The Panthers lost Brian Burns. Cole Kmet is itching for a breakout game. The Panthers lost Brian Burns. Oh, did I mention the Panthers lost Brian Burns?
Chicago Bears vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Date: Sunday, October 13, 2024
Embrace: Keenan Allen
This one is all about jet lag. Allen spent his entire pro career in California, so he’s used to drastic time zone shifts. Greenwich Mean Time won’t faze him one bit.
Avoid: Caleb Williams
Quietly, the 2023 Jags were tied for fourth in interceptions, so when he’s not throwing to the un-jet-lagged Allen, Williams might have a problematic trip to London.
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024
Embrace: Caleb Williams
Y’all, it’s Caleb’s coming out party! Last season, Justin Fields carved up the Washington D to the tune of 4 passing TDs and 57 rushing yards. Yeah, the Commanders’ defense will likely be improved — Bobby Wagner and Dante Fowler Jr. will be a huge help — but the Bears’ O-line should also take a step forward.
Avoid: Cole Kmet
Turns out the justifiably maligned 2023 Commanders D didn’t stink against tight ends, finishing 11th in FPA. Whoda thunk?
Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals
Date: Sunday, November 3, 2024
Embrace: Rome Odunze
Last week was Caleb’s coming out party. Now it’s Rome’s turn. The numbers don’t back this one up, admittedly, but sometimes we fantasy nerds, er, pundits have to follow our guts.
Avoid: Cole Kmet
For the second consecutive week, the Notre Dame product stares down a defense that takes no guff from tight ends.
Date: Sunday, November 10, 2024
Embrace: Khalil Herbert
A few times a season, Herbert goes off — last year, for instance, he posted three games of 18-plus fantasy points. During the first cold-weather home game of the year, Chicago keeps it on the ground, and the fourth-year back takes advantage.
Avoid: D.J. Moore
A run-heavy game script means fading WR1s. Moore is a WR1. Fade him.
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
Embrace: Caleb Williams
If there’s a time for a Chicago rookie QB to prove his mettle, it’s during his first game against the Cheeseheads. Plant your flag, Caleb. Plant your flag.
Avoid: Nobody
If there’s a time for a Chicago team to prove their mettle, it’s during their first game against the Cheeseheads. Plant your flags, Bears. Plant your flags.
Date: November 24, 2024
Embrace: Any wide receiver
The 2023 Vikings were allergic to defending wide receivers, giving up the fourth most fantasy points to the position, so Moore, Allen, and Odunze — and, hell, maybe even Tyler Scott — will all be fantastic additions to your DFS lineups.
Avoid: D’Andre Swift
This’ll be a pass-happy game, so you know the drill. Sure, Swift might make some noise catching balls out of the backfield, but not enough noise to merit lineup consideration.
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
Date: Thursday, November 28, 2024
Embrace: Caleb Williams
One: This’ll be a high-octane track meet. Two: The rook will want to entertain a Thanksgiving viewing audience. Three: See one and two.
Avoid: D’Andre Swift
Same deal as the previous week’s Vikes game. Lots of passes = not a lot of runs.
Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Embrace: Nobody
Last season, the Niners racked up the seventh most sacks in the league, finished second in interceptions, and allowed the second fewest fantasy points per contest to running backs. Yeah, the Bears are coming off of a mini-bye, but the game is in San Fran, and the Niners are probably still pissed about 2022’s Opening Day L in Chicago, so avert your eyes.
Avoid: Everybody
See above.
Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024
Embrace: Any wide receiver
The Vikings D won’t make any jumps between November 24 and December 16, so it’s safe to once again roll with Moore and/or Allen and/or Odunze.
Avoid: Cole Kmet
If Williams is feeding the receivers, poor Cole will get crumbs. One of those crumbs might be found in the end zone, but still.
Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
Embrace: D’Andre Swift
Revenge game, baby. After getting stifled in their previous meeting, Swift punishes the Lions on the ground, in the air, and at the concession stand.
Avoid: Rome Odunze
When the ball gets spread around, the WR3 generally gets hosed. The ball will get spread around. Odunze will get hosed.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Chicago Bears
Date: Thursday, December 26
Embrace: D.J. Moore
Former ‘Hawks and current Bears OC Shane Waldron will want to demonstrate that he did better things with D.J. than he did with D.K., so he’ll have Williams seeking out his WR1 early and often.
Avoid: Keenan Allen
Moore will get like 38 targets. Allen will get like 2.
Date: Saturday, January 4, 2025 or Sunday, January 5, 2025
Embrace: Caleb Williams
Number 18 will want to head into the playoffs on a high — that’s right, playoffs, I said it — so he’ll use his arms and legs to put up some cray-cray numbers.
Avoid: Any and all running backs
Waldron rolls into a cold and snowy Lambeau Field with a counterintuitive game plan, that plan being to pass, and pass, and pass some more. The backfield is bummed about their lack of touches in the final game of the year — that is, until they realize they’ll get a shot at redemption in the Wild Card game. That’s right, playoffs, I said it.
