Fantasy Football: Week 14 Chicago Bears to Start and Sit
By Mark Hespen
The Chicago Bears are back on Sunday Night Football at home taking on the NFC leading Rams. Your fantasy football playoffs are in full swing! Which Bears players will help you get that win?
The Rams defense is filled with big names who can make big plays. Can the Bears offense put on a show? And are you starting the number 1 ranked defense against Todd Gurley? Im your Bears fantasy football expert.
Start
Tarik Cohen: He was on fire last week with Chase Daniel. Cohen had a crazy stat line that included a td pass, 12 receptions on 14 targets, and 156 yards receiving! Obviously Cohen benefitted from Daniel’s inability to effectively attack defense with the deep ball. But if Mitchell Trubisky gets the start he certainly wont be 100% healthy, that means Cohen will still find himself with plenty of targets. Cohen is always a threat to break a big run as well. Definitely a RB 2 or Flex starter in PPR leagues.
Allen Robinson: Not great that the Rams now have Aqib Talib back, but I still like Robinson’s upside in this matchup. Robinson made a couple spectacular catches against the Giants, he also had 9 targets. The Bears will have to score points to compete with LA which means plenty of targets and red zone opportunities for Robinson. He has an ability to create yards after the catch, definitely a WR2 or Flex starter in PPR leagues.
Sit
Defense/Special Teams: This Bears defense is great, but is the Rams offense better? Either way this is not a good matchup for the defense. I believe the defense will get a couple of sacks due to Jared Goff’s lack of mobility. I also expect Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald to try and one up each other. But the Rams will put up points and if you have another option to start on your fantasy team; do it.
Taylor Gabriel: Gabriel had a costly fumble against the Giants and a couple drops over the past two weeks. If Trubisky comes back I like his connection with Anthony Miller more in this game. Gabriel at this stage of the fantasy season hasn’t found the end zone enough to have the upside to crack my line up this week.
Play’em at your own Risk
Jordan Howard: Howard showed some real signs of life against the Giants, 16 carries for 76 yards. Howard is the best blocking RB the Bears have, with Trubisky’s bum shoulder they will want to keep his jersey clean, I believe that means Howard will be used about the same as last week if not more. If Howard can find the end zone he may be the difference in your fantasy football playoff game this week, if not he may cost you the game… Definitely a RB2 option in deeper leagues.
Trey Burton: A big old goose egg for Burton against the Giants certainly killed my team last week. 8 receptions for 78 yards the past 4 weeks for Burton, is absolutely brutal. He is the ultimate boom or bust, this week I lean him more towards boom. If the Rams have a week spot on defense its their LBs, Burton and Cohen will be used to exploit those match ups. Plus Burton has red zone upside, definitely a TE 1 in deeper leagues.
This matchup on SNF is a huge chance to once again prove the Bears are for real. It will be nice an cold Sunday night, and I think Trubisky is going to show up big, I like the Bears in this game 34-27. As always add me on Twitter @MarkHespen so we can debate!