Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 5th, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Network: FOX
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: Sit, QB2
It’s been an up-and-down rookie season for the #1 overall pick. Caleb Williams is looking to finish his campaign on a high note against the Packers in Week 18, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points to QBs. After a truly dismal performance on Thursday Night Football against the Seahawks, it’s hard to trust Williams in this spot, as the Packers are still playing to maintain a higher seed than the Commanders. He’s somewhere around QB18 for me this week.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: Start, Low-end RB2
D’Andre Swift‘s start designation this week is mostly a product of several other running backs sitting this week. To his credit, in the last matchup against Green Bay, Swift ran for 71 yards and a touchdown, so a track record of success is at least there. Still, Swift has been too inefficient in the back half of the season to really trust him in this spot. Start him if you must, but don’t expect fireworks.
Wide Receiver
Keenan Allen: FLEX Option, WR3
D.J. Moore: FLEX Option, WR3
Rome Odunze: FLEX Option, WR4
While none of the Bears’ WRs feel like options we can truly trust this week, Keenan Allen feels like the option with the highest floor and ceiling heading into the season’s final week. The veteran has developed a connection with Williams in the second half of the season that has led to a handful of boom performances, and he has the best chance to deliver again this week. D.J. Moore may be the alpha receiver in this offense, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations this year. He remains a middling FLEX option in the season finale, while Rome Odunze would be a risky start, even if he does play after dealing with an illness.
Tight End
Cole Kmet: Sit, TE2
Cole Kmet‘s usage has been too limited and inconsistent this season to trust him in Week 18. Leave him on waivers.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Jordan Love: Start, QB1/2 Borderline
Jordan Love also hasn’t quite been the prolific gunslinger we’ve been hoping to see this season, but he and the Packers are playing to maintain both their 6th seed position and certified ownership of the Bears in Week 18. Love hasn’t hit 300 yards or 3 TD passes since before the BYE week, and that’s unlikely to change against a tough Bears passing defense. Still, enough QBs are sitting this week to consider Love as an option on the QB1/2 borderline.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: Start, RB1*
Emanuel Wilson: FLEX Option, RB3*
One storyline to watch this week is Josh Jacobs‘ projected workload for a Week 18 game. On Thursday, Jacobs indicated that he likely won’t take a full workload in Sunday’s game, meaning we could see a decent amount of Emanuel Wilson against the Bears. Keep an eye on these reports throughout the weekend–if it looks like Jacobs may get a full workload after all, he would be a locked-in RB1. If there’s an indication Wilson will lead the way, he will be a solid RB2/FLEX, while Jacobs would be a riskier play.
Wide Receiver
Romeo Doubs: FLEX Option, WR3
Jayden Reed: FLEX Option, WR3
Dontayvion Wicks: FLEX Option, WR4
Much like the Bears’ WR room, the outcomes for this positional group are incredibly difficult to predict. Romeo Doubs feels like the safest option, given Jayden Reed has only one finish higher than WR35 since Green Bay’s Week 10 BYE. If possible, I’m avoiding this group altogether, given the incredibly low floors and the unpredictable usage. This includes Dontayvion Wicks, who would theoretically receive a higher workload if Christian Watson misses this game, which looks likely.
Tight End
Tucker Kraft: Start, TE1
Tucker Kraft jumps from being a top-tier streamer to a top-12 TE this week, with several studs taking the week off. He hasn’t scored since Week 14, but there’s no way he drops another 0 like he did in the first matchup against the Bears. He should see decent involvement this week and resides at the back end of our TE1 ranks around TE10 or TE11 to close out the season.