Start’em or Sit’em in Fantasy Football: Bears vs. Patriots |
Right now, the Chicago Bears are not helping anyone in fantasy football. Even running back D’Andre Swift did not put up adequate fantasy points last week after only having 82 scrimmage yards. In points per reception (PPR) leagues, he was better since he had six receptions. Swift is the best player fantasy-wise right now. Will the Bears turn things around against the New England Patriots at home this Sunday (Noon / FOX)?
Caleb Williams - Sit With how rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has performed the last two weeks, he is not reliable enough to start. The Patriots only allow 15.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, which does not give Williams a lot of upside. While they do not get as many sacks as some teams, New England does blitz a good deal with a 24.5 blitz percentage rate. Chicago has struggled against the blitz and with a banged up offensive line, Williams does not have much of a chance. This game will probably be a defense-dominated game, which means few fantasy points for Williams. DJ Moore - Sit Unless in a 10-or-12-team League With Little WR Depth A defense-dominated game does not bode well for Moore. Frustrated fantasy owners have been starting him for weeks with little production besides his revenge game against the Carolina Panthers. There is a clear lack of chemistry between Moore and Williams, which also does not bode well for his production. Therefore, Moore should be a sit this week. Until he and his quarterback can get back on the same page, Chicago’s top receiver who was ultra-reliable a season ago will now have to be relegated to the bench. If you are in a 10- or 12-team league where you are lacking wide receiver depth, then Moore is appropriate to go into your starting lineup. But, with him averaging 46.8 yards per game, he will not have much upside except in a PPR league. D’Andre Swift - Start Swift had a bad game last week, but his action in the receiving game boosted his fantasy value in PPR leagues. Whether you are in a PPR league or not, Swift is a start this week. New England is one of the best matchups for a fantasy running back so far this season as they are giving up an average of 22.5 points per game to opposing running backs. Swift has four touchdowns in the past five games and had over 100 scrimmage yards in all of those performances. Going against the Patriots, he seems poised for a breakout game. Keenan Allen - Sit Six-time Pro-Bowler Keenan Allen has been getting the targets to put up elite numbers, but the balls thrown his way are generally not catchable. In the last two games, he has been targeted 17 times but only has six receptions for 75 yards. This is an average statline for one game. But for two combined, it is not. With 17 targets, he should have upside in PPR leagues, but Allen does not even offer that. No matter the league you are in, Allen should be on your bench until the offense can get back to scoring and Williams can develop some chemistry with him. Cole Kmet - Sit There has been a lot of talk about Kmet getting a lack of targets since Chicago came back from their bye. He only has one target in the past two games. Could the increased attention on his lack of targets lead to an increase in receptions for Kmet? Maybe, but this is not a great fantasy matchup, especially for a tight end with such dismal fantasy production over the past two weeks. New England allows an average of 6.9 points per game to opposing tight ends. That is too low to consider starting Kmet this week.
