Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 21, at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago Illinois
Betting Odds: CHI +6 , 45 Total on Vegas Insider
Network: CBS
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start)
You obviously don’t need me to tell you to start Lamar Jackson, so let’s just appreciate his fantasy greatness. He’s averaging a career-high 7.9 yards/pass attempt, is 8th in passing yards, and also leads the league in rushing. That’s absurd. In other words, Jackson is the top rusher on Baltimore and also happens to be a pretty darn good passer of the football. The real question is: would we consider Jackson THE QB1 moving forward. It’s close!
Running Backs
DeVonta Freeman (Start, FLEX), Ty’Som Williams (Sit)
We’ve been waiting for a running back to separate themselves in the Ravens’ backfield, and with Latavius Murray still sidelined due to injury, we’ve gotten that with DeVonta Freeman. He’s had 10+ PFF expected fantasy points in three straight games, and double-digit carries in back-to-back games. Add in his efficiency thanks to being a part of this dynamic rushing attack (5.2 yards/attempt) and touchdown upside, and he’s well worth a FLEX start this week.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Marquise Brown (Start, WR1), Rashod Bateman (Start, FLEX), Sammy Watkins (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start)
Who had Marquise Brown being the sixth-best receiver in terms of fantasy points through ten weeks? The 24-year-old hasn’t been phased by the insertion of Rashod Bateman in the lineup, receiving double-digit targets in three straight games. Facing a leaky Bears secondary, he’s certainly a WR1 heading into this week. Speaking of Bateman, his snaps did go down with Sammy Watkins back in the fold, but he still received eight targets. I’d consider him a FLEX play with upside at this point, while Watkins doesn’t hold much fantasy value. Also, Mark Andrews is the #2 tight end this year, so, like Jackson, is an easy start. Who knew that there would be three Ravens pass-catchers worth starting at any point this year, but here we are!
Chicago Bears
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields (Sit*)
*Good streaming option
While he might not be someone you’re starting with great confidence, Justin Fields is worth considering starting if you don’t have an elite top-12 option this week. Yes, the early returns for him were poor, but check out his PFF expected points in his past four games:
- Week 6: 18.2
- Week 7: 17.8
- Week 8: 23.6
- Week 9: 22.4
Fields has had eight+ rush attempts in three straight games, is coming off his best two performances as a passer, and was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback in Week 9 despite facing a tough Pittsburgh defense. He’s making clear progress and becoming the fantasy quarterback we thought he’d be, and it deserves more recognition.
Running Backs
David Montgomery (Start, RB2), Khalil Herbert (Sit), Damien Williams (Sit)
So much for David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert splitting carries. Prior to their bye week, Montgomery played 52 of the team’s 63 offensive snaps, demonstrating his status as the team’s workhorse back. Now, he’s going to be losing carries to Fields, which dings his fantasy value slightly from where it was prior to his injury. However, he’s still someone you’re starting in Week 11.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Darnell Mooney (Start, FLEX), Allen Robinson (Start, FLEX), Marquise Goodwin (Sit), Cole Kmet (Sit*), Jimmy Graham (Sit)
*Good streaming option
With Fields’ progression as a passer, the Bears are starting to open up their offense and be more efficient, and their pass-catchers are benefitting. Allen Robinson (68 receiving yards) and Darnell Mooney (19.1 fantasy points) are coming off of arguably their best games of the season, and look poised to be much more effective following their bye week. That being said, I’d consider them boom-or-bust FLEX plays at this point, which could work against a Ravens defense that ranks in the middle of the pack in PFF coverage grade. Also, keep a close eye on tight end Cole Kmet. The second-year player has received six+ targets in three straight games, and parlayed a season-high eight targets into a top-five finish in Week 9. Slowly but surely, he’s becoming a viable fantasy option. It might not come completely this year, but you can count on him being high on my radar for next year’s drafts heading into his third season, where tight ends tend to finally start to fully develop as players.
All Stats via Pro Football Focus