Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Network: CBS
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: START, QB1
I’ve been a proponent of Caleb Williams and the flashes of brilliance he’s shown this season, but last week was a matchup he should have gone ballistic in. A season high 38 passing attempts was enough to get Williams his second highest passing total with 285, but he failed to throw a touchdown for the second straight game and has a 1 to 2 touchdown to interception ratio over his last three games (not including a rushing touchdown). It’s not like gamescript did him in; the Bears were still in this game going into the late fourth quarter. That is, until Williams threw a pick to Nate Wiggens deep in their own territory to set up the Ravens inside the 10. Which Baltimore would, in turn, go up 10 points two plays later. I still believe in the upside of Williams, but he’s closer to a matchup-based start than an every-week start for 1QB leagues. Cincinnati just allowed Justin Fields to throw for 244 yards, so yeah, I’d say they’re a good enough matchup to start him.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: START, RB1
Kyle Monangai: FLEX, RB3
D’Andre Swift also hadn’t practiced for the week at the time of writing, but it’s not surprising given he’s been battling a lingering groin injury for a few weeks. Outside of a setback, he’s fully expected to suit up against the Bengals. Cincinnati is the best fantasy matchup for running backs, joining Miami on that list I mentioned of defenses allowing over five yards per carry and giving up 10 rushing touchdowns. If Swift plays, he’s a top 10 option for Week 9. Admittedly a bit riskier of a play, but I like Kyle Monangai as a FLEX this week. The Bengals have allowed double-digit fantasy points to multiple running backs in 50% of their games this season.
Wide Receiver
Rome Odunze: START, WR1
DJ Moore: START, WR3
Luther Burden: SIT
Olamide Zaccheaus: SIT
After back-to-back games with barely over five fantasy points, Rome Odunze had his second-best game of the season, catching seven of 10 targets for 114 yards despite the struggles of Caleb Williams. It was refreshing to see and breathe new life into a potential top 12 finish for Odunze. But at the time of writing, Odunze, DJ Moore, Luther Burden, and Olamide Zaccheaus all missed practice. In a vacuum, Odunze is a weekly must-start, Moore is a WR3/FLEX play, and Burden and Zaccheaus can be started in a pinch. But so much changes depending on whether and who misses the game. Keep an eye on practice reports, and I’ll be sure to update his blurb on Friday or Saturday with any significant information. If Rome is out, Moore bumps to borderline WR2. If Moore is out, Burdern and Zaccheas bump to speculative FLEX plays. If Burden or Zaccheaus misses, it has the same amount of fantasy impact as if I miss the game.
Tight End
Colston Loveland: STREAMER, (SIT if Kmet Active)
Cole Kmet: SIT (If active)
There was a bit of unwarranted hype for Colston Lovleland last week with Cole Kmet out. To be fair, he did see a season high of five targets and 81% snap share. But he turned that into a measly 3 catches for 38 yards, good for 6.8 fantasy points. I’d consider Loveland a dart throw Streamer if Kmet were to miss, but that’s only because the Bengals allow the most fantasy points to the position. If Kmet is active, bench both.
Defense/Special Teams
Chicago Bears: START
The Bears’ defense has nine sacks and seven turnovers in their last three games, and may wind up facing Jake Browning if Flacco isn’t able to go. If Browning is under center, the Bears are a near must-start defense. But even against Flacco, they’re a solid streamer.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Flacco: START, Borderline QB1
The ageless Joe Flacco came out of the Jets game with a bit of a bum shoulder and had yet to practice at the time of writing. He’s listed as day-to-day, but the injury is indeed to his throwing shoulder, so there is a significant risk he could miss Sunday’s matchup with Chicago. Considering the matchup, if Flacco’s active, he’s a borderline QB1. The Bears have given up multiple passing touchdowns to —checks notes— J.J. McCarthy, Geno Smith, and Spencer Rattler this season.
Running Back
Chase Brown: START, RB1
Samaje Perine: BORDERLINE FLEX
Just when he was left for dead, Chase Brown has revived his fantasy value over the last few weeks. The historically inefficient runner has had his second straight game with a yards per carry over six, which is even more impressive considering it was against defenses allowing less than 4.5 ypc on the year (NYJ, PIT). Brown came into Week 8 with one touchdown on the season, but totaled two last week, and after failing to surpass 50 rushing yards in any of his first six games, Brown went for 70+ in two straight. With or without Flacco, Brown looks like a solid RB2 against Chi-town, who’s allowing 143.3 rushing yards per game. I’ve been a certified player hater towards Brown, but with a juicy rest of season schedule, I think I’d actually buy high on the Bengals back.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: START, WR1 (WR2 if Joe Flacco is OUT)
Tee Higgins: START, WR2 (WR3 if Joe Flacco is OUT)
Andrei Iosivas: SIT (SIT if Joe Flacco is OUT)
No quarterback has hyper-targeted a receiver like Flacco has over the last three games, pretty much ever. Per QBList Alum Ryan Health, Chase’s 53 targets over Joe’s first three Cincy starts are the most since the stat’s been tracked.
9. Ja’Marr Chase has 54 targets over the past 3 games (since Joe Flacco became the starter).
That’s the most targets a WR has ever commanded in a 3-game span since targets became a stat, breaking Isaac Bruce’s record (53) from 1995.
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) October 27, 2025
If Browning starts Sunday, both the ceiling and floor of Chase slip a tier or two. Don’t get me wrong, you’d be starting Ja’Marr Chase if Shane Falco were under center. No player’s fantasy value fluctuates more if Flacco is unable to go. Tee Higgins has seen an uptick in production with Flacco, but nowhere near that of Chase. He’d drop from a WR2 to a WR3 if Browning is the starter.
Tight End
Noah Fant: ThE gLoB
Noah Fant was given the honor of becoming the first official member of ThE gLoB last week, and his membership is in good standing. ThE gLoB is one of the many tight ends whose stat line you can expect to look something like this: 3-5 targets, 2-4 catches, 40ish yards, and double-digit fantasy points if they happen to fall into the endzone.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals: SIT
The Bengals gave up 39 points to the Garret Wilson-less Jets.