Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 8:20 PM ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Network: NBC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
Baker Mayfield‘s Week 8 stat line looks like a typo. Three pass attempts, zero completions, zero yards, zero touchdowns, four rush attempts for 14 yards. Granted, the weather was gross, and the Bucs were able to run all over Atlanta, but Mayfield attempted just 11 passes the week prior. Chicago has been a top 10 matchup for quarterbacks this season, so he’s probably worth the risk as a Superflex start. But Mayfield hasn’t scored multiple touchdowns in a game this season, and his season high in pass yards is 217. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if he disappoints once again.
Running Back
Bucky Irving: START, RB2
Kenny Gainwell: SIT
Sean Tucker: SIT
Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell combined for 52 rushing attempts and 310 rushing yards against the Falcons in that much-talked-about sloppy rain game of a week ago. It was Bucky’s second game this season with 165+ and a score, and he’s locked in as a weekly starter. The problem for his status as an RB1 this week and Gainwell’s startability is the fact that the Bears are a bottom-three matchup, haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since Week 2, or a rushing touchdown since Week 3. Irving’s volume keeps him in your lineup, but don’t make this mistake of starting last week’s production with Gainwell.
Wide Receiver
Emeka Egbuka: FLEX, WR4
Chris Godwin Jr: SIT
Ted Hurst III: SIT
Emeka Egbuka had yet to practice at the time of writing, and his status for Sunday is in question despite Egbuka passing concussion protocol last week. Hopefully he’s able to practice in some form on Thursday and/or Friday, because the Bears have allowed 15 completions of 20+ air yards this season, third most in the NFL. Chris Godwin Jr. hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 17 of last season and should be on more waiver wires than he is starting lineups.
Tight End
Cade Otton: tHe gLoB
Ask the tool yourself.
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SIT
They’ve had some solid performances this season, including the four picks last week against the Falcons, but the Bears offense is too good, and I think Caleb will get a power boost in Movember (see below). Sit for me this week.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Caleb Williams: START, QB1
Caleb Williams is darn near close to officially getting must-start status in all matchups, and he was able to throw for nearly 250 yards and leave turnover-free in Seattle. But the Bucs are another bottom-five matchup, leading the league with 12 interceptions, and allow the eighth-fewest points and seventh-fewest yards per game. If you roster Williams, you’re starting him in 99.9% of scenarios. But a ceiling game is unlikely to come to fruition.
Running Back
D’Andre Swift: START, RB2
Kyle Monangai: OUT
Roschon Johnson: SIT
Kyle Monangai will likely miss another game and set up D’Andre Swift for another heavy workload. But the Bucs defense is just as stout on the ground as it is through the air. Bijan Robinson is the only running back to run for at least 60 yards against them, and he was only able to pick up 76. They’ve only given up three rushing touchdowns to backs all season and allow less than 17 points per game to the position. You’re not sitting Swift unless you have an embarrassment of RB riches, but like his quarterback, there isn’t much room for upside this week.
Wide Receiver
Luther Burden III: START, WR2
Rome Odunze: FLEX, WR4
Kalif Raymond: SIT
Luther Burden III has three straight games of at least 17 fantasy points and is the WR8 in points per game over that span. He leads all Bears receivers with seven targets per game, and his 2.68 yards per route run ranks 11th at the position. Rome Odunze is averaging about five targets per game but has yet to get into the end zone or tally over 100 yards in a game. Both are startable in a game expected to push 50 points, but Burden is the belle of the ball for the Bears.
Tight End
Colston Loveland: START, TE1
I really hope you didn’t drop Colston Loveland after his 3.9-point dud against the Packers in Week 5. Since that game, Loveland is the TE4, averaging nearly seven catches per game over that span and over 18 points in two of three games. It’s a middle-of-the-road matchup, but Loveland is back as a weekly TE1.
Defense/Special Teams
Chicago Bears: START
Too bad this game isn’t being played on the seventh. Chicago is tied for the seventh-most sacks per game, and Tampa is tied for the seventh-most sacks taken.