Sit/Start Week 9: Reviewing All the Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Bears@Eagles

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, November 3rd at 1:00 pm EST

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Betting Odds: PHI -5, 43 Total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Dallas Goedert

 

Chicago Bears

 

Quarterback: 

• Mitch Trubisky (start, low-QB2)

 

Trubisky is the QB29 in fantasy this season and we know it isn’t a good sign when the head coach has to come out and say you will still start the following game. The matchup is good for Trubisky as the Eagles have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. The problem is that Trubisky has played so poorly so far. He is bottom-10 in average intended air yards on the season, right between Case Keenum and Eli Manning. The Eagles can generate a decent pass rush as they are top-10 in pressure and fourth in the league in QB hits so far. The Bears offensive line has kept Trubisky up for the most part as they are in the middle of the pack in terms of adjusted sack rate. It is hard to trust a guy averaging 182 yards per game through the air but the enticing matchup makes him a 2QB league play this week.

 

Running Backs:

• David Montgomery (sit, low-RB2/flex)
• Tarik Cohen (sit, desperate flex/bench)

 

Everyone knows that the way to beat the Eagles is through the air (bottom-10 in passing yards allowed and passing touchdowns allowed). The Eagles are top-ten in rush defense DVOA and rushing yards per carry. Combine that defense with the fact that the Bears are 29th in adjusted line yards and this sets us as a poor matchup on the ground. It is worth noting that the Bears committed to the run and Montgomery last week. He set a season-high in snap percentage (73%), carries (27), and receptions (four). Cohen meanwhile played a season-low 21% of the snaps last week. It will be nice to see if the Bears fully commit to Montgomery again. If he gets that usage consistently he will be an RB2 going forward.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

• Allen Robinson (start, low-WR1/2)
• Anthony Miller (sit, end of bench/wire)
• Taylor Gabriel (sit, end of bench/wire)
• Trey Burton (sit, wire)

 

The Eagles have allowed the third-most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers this season. Through eight games they have allowed nine top-18 receivers in PPR leagues. Robinson has the most or tied for the most targets on the team in every game this season. He is the WR10 in points per game right now and that is with the poor quarterback play he has gotten this season. Miller had 15 targets the previous two games but then had three in week eight. Gabriel popped up with six targets after being injured and ineffective recently. Neither guy should be in your lineups right now. Burton has exactly four targets in five straight games, without a prominent red-zone role. Robinson is the only guy to play in this passing game.

 

Philadelphia Eagles

 

Quarterback:

• Carson Wentz (sit, mid-QB2)

 

With a bye next week, we aren’t sure if the Eagles will rush back field-stretcher DeSean Jackson, blindside protector Jason Peters, or receiving back Miles Sanders from injuries. This isn’t a great matchup for Wentz as the Bears haven’t allowed a top-12 quarterback performance all season. The Bears’ defense is second in the league in pressure percentage on opposing quarterbacks and they are top-ten in pass defense DVOA. The Eagles offensive line has been a bit of a disappointment as they are only 15th in adjusted sack rate allowed when they were expected to be a top-five unit coming into the year. I would try to start other options in better matchups this week than Wentz.

 

Running Backs:

• Miles Sanders (sit, flex)
• Jordan Howard (start, low-RB2/flex)

 

Sanders is battling a shoulder injury and we don’t know if he will be playing yet. Darren Sproles is also questionable still after missing the last three games. Howard parlayed a Sanders injury into a season-high 73% of the running back snaps last week. Howard may also have a little extra motivation playing against his former team. The Bears run defense has been poor without stud defensive lineman Akeem Hicks. They’ve allowed 4.2 yards per carry and six rushing touchdowns in the three games he has missed. Compare that to allowing only five rushing touchdowns in the previous 20 games. The Eagles line has again disappointed, this time in run blocking as they are only 16th in adjusted line yards so far. The Bears defense is a middle of the pack 13th (and falling) in run defense DVOA. Howard set a season-high by far last week with 23 carries compared to his previous high of 15. If Sanders misses, this will be the Howard show in the backfield with a little Boston Scott mixed in on obvious passing downs. The Eagles line has again disappointed, this time in run blocking as they are only 16th in adjusted line yards so far. 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:

• Alshon Jeffrey (start, low-2/3)
• Nelson Agholor (sit, wire)
• Zach Ertz (start, mid-TE1)
• Dallas Goedert (start, low-TE1/2)

 

DeSean Jackson isn’t expected back this week and there is no reason to rush him with a bye next week. Jeffrey has led or tied for the lead in targets in each of the last five games he has played. He also has a large 30% red zone market share on his team. He has been a top-36 WR in 5 of 6 finished games this year and should provide a nice floor this week too. The Bears have allowed the sixth-lowest PPR points to receivers this year. It is troubling for Agholor as he has fallen to fourth on the team in targets over the last five games. He can’t be trusted in standard leagues as he doesn’t get red-zone work either when their main guys are healthy. Ertz and Goedert are interesting this week. They are second and third respectively in team targets the last three weeks, only separated by one. Goedert has outscored Ertz over the last four games in PPR formats by four points. Ertz still leads the position in targets so he gets the nod over Goedert but they both can be played in fantasy leagues. 

 

-Kevin Taylor(@ktbeast918)