Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, September 29th, 1:00 EST
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Network: FOX
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: Sit
Matthew Stafford should not be in fantasy lineups right now. The losses of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp make the path to success very narrow for a player like Stafford. He is a low-floor and low-ceiling option.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: Start, RB2
Kyren Williams had a strong week against the Niners in Week 3. His efficiency was still very poor (3.71 YPC) but improved from his abysmal start to the year. He was on the field for 90% of the snaps, and that trend can be expected to continue as the Rams look for playmakers to step up without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on the field. Expect Williams to be relied on heavily against a Bears defense that has been strong against the pass.
Wide Receiver
Sit Them All
The reality is that the Rams’ offense consists mainly of players you are avoiding. For now, they are better left on your bench as we wait for this situation to sort itself out. If you are really hurting from injuries and desperate for someone to fill a lineup spot, Demarcus Robinson is likely your best bet. He profiles as a risky FLEX option this week. The Bears’ defensive strength is in their secondary, and this game is not one to get cute hoping for a big game from one of the four different Rams wide receivers who saw five targets or fewer.
Tight End
Colby Parkinson: Sit, TE2
I like Colby Parkinson as a strong option in TE premium leagues, as he should see the target volume to get you over the hump without Nacua and Kupp (five targets in Week 3). In non-premium leagues, Parkinson hasn’t shown the efficiency to give your team much value this week. The Bears are stout against tight ends, only allowing 109 yards to the position thus far.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: Sit, QB2
Caleb Williams showed signs of life in Week 3, throwing for 363 yards and two touchdowns. He did continue his interception streak, though, throwing two, bringing his season total to four. The good news for Williams is that his schedule for the next five weeks is easy enough that the rookie signal-caller could flip the script on his early struggles. The Rams in Week 4 present as the second-friendliest matchup for opposing quarterbacks and has struggled in pass rush, one of the most significant factors in Williams’s struggles this season. He is my QB15 on the week, but I wouldn’t be afraid of starting him in deep 1QB leagues if you are in a pinch.
Running Back
Roschon Johnson: FLEX Option
D’Andre Swift: Sit
Khalil Herbert: Sit
The Bears backfield has been unproductive for most of the season. The running game is in desperate need of a facelift, and in Week 3 Johnson wasn’t an elite producer but he did compile 62 total yards and saw five targets. The personnel usage and playcalling by Shane Waldron has been questionable at best, but if they lean on the hot hand Roschon should lead the way this week. Expect him to be involved on the ground and through the air. He also benefits from facing one of the worst defenses against the run in the Rams. Swift will probably still get more touches than he should, as the Bears paid him a ton of money this offseason. Expect Roschon to be the only viable option because of his work on passing downs and scoring opportunities.
Wide Receiver
DJ Moore: Start, WR2
Rome Odunze: Start, WR3/FLEX
Keenan Allen: Sit
We still don’t have a definitive update on Keenan Allen’s status for Week 4, so make sure to monitor that, as he would lower the ceiling on all of the Bears’ pass catchers this week. As far as DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, they should both flirt with WR2 production in a matchup that looks to be more friendly on all fronts than what the Bears have faced during the first three weeks of the season. Volume should be down from Caleb Williams’s 52-attempt game, but both players should expect 8-12 targets, assuming Keenan misses another game. Rome has the early advantage on chemistry with Williams, but DJ Moore will continue to command targets at a high clip going forward.
Tight End
Cole Kmet: Start, TE1
Cole Kmet finds himself in the TE1 conversation for the first time this season. Kmet will be an interesting study as a favorite sleeper for many in the fantasy football world in years past. In the last two seasons, the shine began to fade in what looked to be a loaded offense. Since then, the Bears have struggled, and Kmet has emerged as a safety blanket and playmaker for the young Caleb Williams. The one thing that could slow Kmet down in Week 4 is if Keenan Allen suits up after missing the last two weeks due to injury. Monitor both player’s situations throughout the week.
i feel like only the thursday game should be posted on thursday and the rest of the games on friday.. after this is posted there is so much more player news with practice sits etc that a lot of what youre writing is no longer valid and the opinion is void.
for example: damien pierce was limited just today. so akers should be a viable start if he doesnt play.
Hey, thanks for reading and commenting! We try to get all of our recommendations out on Thursday so that you have all that information in case you’re on the fence between a guy that plays on Thursday vs. Sunday. We don’t always have all of the information because of the timing with practice reports, but we try to update things as we get more info. As for the Texans backfield, I’m still a bit hesitant to recommend Akers, but he could have an easier time this week against the Jags than he did last week against the Vikings.
This list used to be a lot more nuanced in the past. Talking about #3 / #4 players and ranking them as such. Now it seems like every player if they’re not a #1 or #2 at their position they are simply a sit. I don’t need to know to start my top players it’s the flex ones in the middle I need a write up on. Wish this list was as thorough as years past.
Thanks for this feedback! We try and do our best to cover as many fantasy-relevant players as possible, and you can check out our list of weekly rankings to see how everyone stacks up. Is there a player or two I can help provide a more detailed breakdown of for you?
Having Anthony Richardson as a Start and Sam Darnold as a Sit is fantasy malpractice.
Hey, thanks for reading. I personally think Richardson has the higher ceiling this week with his rushing upside and Darnold has a hostile environment this week heading into Green Bay. If you personally want to see more out of Richardson before giving him the start again, I completely understand!