Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, November 9th, 7:15 PM CDT
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
Betting Odds: CHI -1.5, 41.5 total via Odds Shark
Network: Prime Video
Writer: Steve Bradshaw (@SteveBradshawFF)
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young (Sit)
Unlike his rookie counterpart C. J. Stroud, Bryce Young has had a rough start to his inaugural season. Young has been so bad that he’s barely startable in a 2QB format since he’s averaging only 11.8 PPG. Just last week, Young scored nine fantasy points, and I don’t expect things to get better anytime this year.
The Chicago Bears have an average defense from a fantasy perspective, allowing the 13th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks at 16.11 PPG. The projected game script is solid for Young, but don’t expect him to be viable in a 1QB format anytime soon.
Running Backs
Chuba Hubbard (Start, FLEX RB), Miles Sanders (Sit)
After taking the starting job from Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard has shown he’s a JAG. Hubbard reminds me of Alexander Mattison in that we can project out 15 carries and two to three targets every week with poor efficiency. In the past two weeks, Hubbard has averaged 2.75 YPC and 8.7 PPG. The Bears have allowed the 7th most fantasy points to running backs with 25.53, which should help make him a viable flex.
After signing a lucrative deal with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, Miles Sanders has been a disaster. Sanders missed time in Weeks 6 and 7 and found himself primarily on the sidelines immediately after. Even though Sanders managed 9.1 fantasy points last week, he only had six carries. This horrible offense has no room for a backup running back to be fantasy-relevant.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Adam Thielen (Start, WR1), DJ Chark Jr. (Sit), Jonathan Mingo (Sit), Hayden Hurst (Sit)
Adam Thielen had one of his worst games of the year in Week 9, but I’m projecting him to be a WR1 in Week 10. This year, Thielen has been elite, drawing 76 targets that have propelled him to an 18.7 PPG season. Considering the Panthers are 1.5-point underdogs, they’ll be playing from behind at some points, which is a good game script for Thielen. On top of this, the Bears have allowed the 10th most fantasy points to wide receivers with 36.43 PPG.
Outside of Thielen, there isn’t another receiver worth starting in this Panthers offense. DJ Chark had 8.9 points last week, but this was only because he caught a touchdown. Outside of that, his usage has declined, and he has seen his target volume dip from six to four and three in the past two weeks.
Jonathan Mingo is and always has been the most overrated rookie in this 2023 class. There’s no way he’s startable in his rookie year given how bad Young has been, and don’t look for things to get better. At Ole Miss, Malik Heath, a UDFA, outproduced Mingo in the same number of games. Expectations for Mingo have been way too high in the fantasy football space.
Hayden Hurst had a 15-point Week 1 performance and then disappeared. This year, Hurst is averaging a meager 4.9 PPG, which isn’t surprising based on his past production and this offense. Of all positions, the Bears have been the best against the tight end, allowing the 20th most fantasy points (8.07 PPG).
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Tyson Bagent (Sit), Justin Fields (Sit, Doubtful)
It’s highly unlikely that Justin Fields plays this week; expect Tyson Bagent to be the starter. The Bears wisely won’t rush Fields back on a short week; they’re one of the worst teams in the NFL and have nothing to gain by doing so.
Bagent has filled in admirably for Fields, but he’s not fantasy-relevant. The rookie from Shepherd University did have a 15.8-point performance last week but that was mainly due to his 70 rushing yards. However, in the previous three weeks, Bagent ran for 27 yards in three games, so his rushing production isn’t something we can rely on.
Running Backs
D’Onta Foreman (Start, Flex), Roschon Johnson (Sit)
Not surprisingly, D’Onta Foreman has fallen back down to earth since his 33-point game in Week 7. Over the past two games, Foreman has scored 4.6 and 8.3 points, although he did carry the rock 20 times in Week 9. In a close game for the Bears, Foreman should see a ton of work once again. The Panthers have allowed the 18th-most fantasy points to running backs (21.27 PPG), but Foreman is still a fine flex play this week.
Roschon Johnson was a player I was very excited about coming out of Texas but hasn’t seen a large workload, in part due to an ill-timed concussion that turned out to be more serious than expected. Khalil Herbert will be soon coming off of Injured Reserve, and it’s not a good omen for Johnson that he only saw two carries last week. That lack of usage means Johnson needs to stay on fantasy benches until he proves worthy of a larger role in the Bears offense, one that showcases his many talents in the passing game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
D. J, Moore (Start, WR3), Darnell Mooney (Start, FLEX (WR), Tyler Scott (Sit), Cole Kmet (Start, TE1)
With Bagent under center, D. J. Moore has experienced a significant falloff these past two weeks. Over that span, Moore has scored 9.5 and 5.4 points as a byproduct of dwindling target volume. Aside from the fun “revenge game” narrative, the matchup is nothing special here, as the Panthers have allowed the 17th most fantasy points to wide receivers with 31.53 PPG. At this point, we still have to start Moore because of the talent, but he should be viewed as a mid-range WR3.
Darnell Mooney is only averaging 6.4 PPG on the season but has shown signs of life lately, as evidenced by an excellent 13.2-point game in Week 9. Mooney drew six targets last week, and it seems like he has a nice connection with Bagent. Even though Mooney isn’t the most exciting player to plug into lineups, it’s fair to pencil him in as a flex play for Week 10.
There isn’t much to say about Tyler Scott other than you should never be starting him. While Scott provides some value to the Bears with his speed, he’s a zero from a fantasy perspective. Scott ended last week with -0.5 points, which should tell you all you need to know regarding his fantasy outlook.
Cole Kmet has posted two monster weeks in a row and needs to be featured in starting lineups going forward. With Bagent, Kmet has drawn 8 and 10 targets to fuel his big 17.9 and 23.5-point performances. Considering that the Panthers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this year with 17.07, Kmet is in a spot to crush.