Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 1 at 4:25 PM ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
Betting Odds: NO -4, 43.5 Total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Drew Brees (Sit, QB2)
Saints quarterback Drew Brees is coming off of a solid three score game against the Panthers, but things will be tougher against the Bears who are second in the NFL in least points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Michael Thomas could return this week, but that is yet to be seen. If he does, it is safe to assume a higher floor for Brees, but against the Bears, there have to be better options available for managers. As usual, we should get a heavy dose of Alvin Kamara this week with Brees refusing to push the ball downfield at all. In favorable matchups, Brees is a good start, but keep him on the bench for this one.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara (Start, RB1), Latavius Murray (Sit)
The unquestioned top running back in fantasy football with Christian McCaffery being injured for a majority of the year, Alvin Kamara is looking to keep it going against the Bears. For any normal human, this would be a tough task, but with the usage of Kamara in the absence of Michael Thomas, he should prevail even if MT returns this week. Kamara hasn’t scored less than 20 PPR points all season and is averaging upwards of 8-9 targets per game. A true RB1/WR1 hybrid as we saw with CmC last season, Kamara should get his usual eight targets and give you enough floor to continue being an every-week RB1. Latavius Murray was stopped at the 1-foot line in Week 7, allowing Brees to get a leaping 1-yard score on a sneak. He is getting touches, but they are not qualified enough to warrant starting, especially against the Bears. Keep him on the bench as a high upside stash in the case that Kamara gets hurt.
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas (Start, WR1 if active), Tre’quan Smith (Sit, Flex play if Thomas and Callaway are out), Marquez Callaway (Start, Flex if Thomas is inactive), Jared Cook (Start, low-end TE1)
Could this be the week we see the return of Michael Thomas? The very true answer is we don’t know and we probably won’t know until long after this article is written. Regardless, if he starts, you are playing him with no questions asked. Chances are, you invested a top 7 pick in MT and so you want to finally get some production out of him. Hopefully, you are still in the hunt at this point and not 1-6 or worse. Even if he only catches slant routes, he set the record for receptions in a season last year and you will welcome him with open arms. If he is inactive, the only guys worth starting for me are up and coming Marquez Callaway who picked up ten targets, connecting on 8/75. He is currently missing practice on Wednesday, so check to see if he ends up playing. He looked like a safety blanket for Brees as he was constantly getting open while sitting down in open zones of the defense. Tre’quan Smith burned owners who trusted him last week and is not someone you should be looking at this week, even if MT sits. Jared Cook caught a touchdown last week, but that is about all he did. He settles in as a low-end TE1, especially if MT is out.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Nick Foles (Sit)
Ever since taking over the starting role for the Bears, Nick Foles has been on the decline from a fantasy point perspective. His best game actually came in a shortened game against Atlanta when Mitchell Trubisky was benched. He is coming off a 261-yard scoreless performance with two interceptions. He gets a nice matchup with the Saints who just gave up 250+ yards and 2 touchdowns to Teddy Bridgewater. While this is a good paper matchup, he could be without Allen Robinson which lowers his ceiling significantly. Keep Foles on the waiver wire going forward.
Running Back
David Montgomery (Start, Flex)
Bears’ running back David Montgomery topped out two weeks ago at 23 touches against a terrible Carolina run defense and didn’t do much. He has been a middling flex play with a ton of upside that hasn’t come to fruition since Tarik Cohen went down. Now facing a stout Saints run defense, this may not be the week he gets it going either. Last week against a similarly tough run defense he put up 69 scoreless yards on 19 touches. Still, he is a suggested flex moving forward based on pure volume alone. He has a dream payoff stretch schedule so he could be a buy as we head towards the fantasy trade deadline.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Allen Robinson (Start, WR2 if active – Currently in concussion protocol), Darnell Mooney (Sit), Anthony Miller (Sit), Jimmy Graham (Start, low-end TE1)
Allen Robinson has been a stud this season already putting up 44/544/2 on 70 targets. Unfortunately, he is now in the league concussion protocol and is facing an uphill climb heading into Week 8. Truly questionable, there is a good chance he does not play against the Saints. If he doesn’t play, Darnell Mooney could be a last gasp flex play, but I won’t suggest that to you with the current state of the offense. Anthony Miller has basically been non-existent since Week 1 and isn’t a suggested start. Jimmy Graham has turned into a solid low-end TE1 and could push higher than that if Robinson were to miss. This is shaping up to be a Saints blow-out game so lots of potential for playing catchup here.
-Matt Dean (@MattDeanQBList on Twitter, mdean8 on Reddit)