Packers @ Bears
Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams combined masterfully once again to ensure the Green Bay Packers clinched the No.1 seed in the NFC by disposing of the Chicago Bears 35-16 at Soldier Field. The Packers will now enjoy the advantages of Lambeau Field through the playoffs after another MVP-calibre performance from Rodgers, who recorded his 12th game of the season with 3+ passing touchdowns, equaling Tom Brady’s single-season NFL record. His 4 touchdown passes were all beautifully executed and Rodgers finishes the season as the 4th best fantasy quarterback in 2020.
The Bears looked a stepped behind all night and badly missed their 2 starting cornerbacks. They were still in touching distance at the end of the 3rd quarter, trailing 21-16 and facing a 4th and 1 on the Packers 25-yard line. Instead of testing the Packers’ below-average run defense, Mitch Trubisky failed to connect with Allen Robinson and the Bears turned the ball over on downs. Rodgers then curated a brilliant 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that took 7:35 off the clock in the 4th quarter to take the game away from the Bears. Incisive!
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 19/24, 240 yards, 4 TD, 1 sack | 1 carry, 4 yards
MVP! Aaron Rodgers (26.00 fantasy points) was a perfect 11-of-11 with 3 passing touchdowns when he delivered a perfect bomb for Marques Valdes-Scantling at the start of the 3rd quarter with the Packers leading, 21-13. But, MVS dropped the pass! Rodgers looked away in disgust and MVS never saw another look all night. That is the level Rodgers operates at – perfection or go home. For much of this contest, he was in vintage form. He found breakout tight end Robert Tonyan with a perfectly placed cross-field slant early on.
.@AaronRodgers12 connects with @RobTonJr!
TOUCHDOWN! 🙌#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn https://t.co/9MFIfDfBf2— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 3, 2021
Rodgers then found MVS and undrafted rookie tight end Dominique Dafney on back-to-back drives to extend the Packers lead and solidify his claim for the MVP award. Dafney’s TD came on the back of a costly fumble from Bears rookie Cole Kmet and punishing turnovers from the opposition has been a strength of Rodgers this season.
.@AaronRodgers12 finds @DDafney24 for the TOUCHDOWN!#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn https://t.co/M6GQtWWdNZ— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 3, 2021
Rodgers finishes the season with 48 passing touchdowns and just 5 interceptions – the Packers have only punted 46 times this season. A remarkable effort and well worthy of MVP consideration. Despite the Packers drafting Jordan Love in the offseason, Rodgers looks cemented into the starting quarterback position in Green Bay for the foreseeable future. All that is left is for Rodgers to go out and win the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in his career.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones: 11 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 43 yards
Jamaal Williams: 5 carries, 26 yards
A.J. Dillon: 1 carry, 3 yards
After a breakout performance from A.J. Dillon last week, the rookie was given just 1 touch as Matt LaFleur gave veteran Aaron Jones (18.50 fantasy points) all the love in this tough matchup against the stout Bears defense. Jones juked in from 4 yards out at the start of the 4th quarter to put the game to bed for the Packers.
UP THE MIDDLE!
TOUCHDOWN, @Showtyme_33! 🙌#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn https://t.co/jhqTiKTs8j— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 4, 2021
Despite missing 2 games through injury in 2020, Jones finished 3rd in total yards rushing behind Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook. Jones is an impending free agent after being selected as a steal in the 5th round back in 2017. It is hard to see the Packers letting him walk in free agency, however, even with Dillon’s performance last week. He will be a top 5 RB in 2021 if he stays in this same offense.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Marques Valdes-Scantling: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD | 1 carry, 4 yards
Davante Adams: 6 targets, 6 receptions, 46 yards, 1 TD
Robert Tonyan: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 18 yards, 1 TD
Allen Lazard: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards
Dominique Dafney: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards, 1 TD
Marcedes Lewis: 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards
Tavon Austin: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards, 1 FUM lost
Equanimeous St. Brown: 1 target
Despite his costly drop, Marques Valdes-Scantling (17.10 fantasy points) led the Packers in yardage thanks to a 72-yard touchdown reception in the 2nd quarter, Rodgers taking advantage of Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan lining up in coverage on the speedster.
🚨 BIG PLAY ALERT 🚨
7️⃣2️⃣-yard TD catch for @MVS__11 💪 #GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn https://t.co/KriCuvvNPG— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 3, 2021
Davante Adams (16.60 fantasy points) added to his stellar season with a perfect 6 catches on 6 targets for 46 yards and a touchdown. Adams finishes the season by far and away the fantasy WR1, a full 30 points ahead of Tyreek Hill. Adams has an extraordinary 115 catches for 1,374 yards and 18 TDs on the season, breaking the franchise record for most receptions (Sterling Sharpe, 112) and tieing for the franchise record for receiving touchdowns (again Sharpe, 18). Adams looks set to shine for years to come with Rodgers under center. He is as matchup-proof as they come at the position.
Tight end Robert Tonyan (9.80 fantasy points) hit paydirt for the 6th time in 7 games to finish as the fantasy TE4, an unlikely scenario at the start of the year. Tonyan will be a popular TE pick after the big 4 go off the board next year.
Chicago Bears
Quarterback
Mitch Trubisky: 33/42, 252 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack | 4 carries, 22 yards
The terrible defensive gameplan from Matt Nagy had Mitch Trubisky (11.28 fantasy points) in ultra-conservative mode with a heap of intermediate throws into coverage and checking down as the 1st read on many drives. It was tough to watch and Trubisky looks worse when he is asked to do something he is not comfortable with. As the game floated away in the 4th quarter, Nagy finally asked his quarterback to take some risks. It quickly unraveled. Trubisky struggles mightily with his vision across the field. Never more so evident than on this throw for the INT.
.@_SmashAmos31 with the INT!#GBvsCHI | #GoPackGo
📺 FOX
📱 https://t.co/2UxGSiVlvn https://t.co/LcUgHVD28h— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 4, 2021
With his contract up at the end of the season, there is no clear indication of where the former 1st-round pick will end up. He is not a recommended fantasy quarterback wherever he catches on.
Running Backs
David Montgomery: 22 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD | 9 targets, 9 receptions, 63 yards
Artavius Pierce: 1 carry, -1 yard
After a new lease of life in the 2nd half of the season, David Montgomery (28.20 fantasy points) scored for the 5th straight game and has over 100+ scrimmage yards in each of the last 6 games since the Bears returned from the bye. It has taken a while but Montgomery has finally been given the keys to this backfield and he is showing the hierarchy that he can be a 3-down back week in, week out. His production in the passing game is exactly what he needed to become a genuine RB1, however, Tarik Cohen will likely assume that role once he returns from injury. He should be considered a high-RB2 for fantasy in 2021.
You can't keep @MontgomerDavid down! Opening drive SCORE!
📺: FOX
GBvsCHI | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/rGEbI30sUR— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 3, 2021
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Darnell Mooney: 13 targets, 11 receptions, 93 yards
Cole Kmet: 8 targets, 7 reception, 41 yards, 1 fumble lost
Allen Robinson: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 37 yards
Anthony Miller: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards
Jimmy Graham: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
Cordarrelle Patterson: 4 carries, 18 yards
Javon Wims: 2 targets
The Darnell Mooney (20.30 fantasy points) emergence has been a nice story in Chicago this year and played his ass off today trying to make plays for his team. Worryingly he left the game with an ankle injury and did not return late in the 4th quarter. His speed and competitiveness was on show all day and caused numerous issues for a strong Packers secondary unit. Mooney will be a popular fantasy WR2 in 2021 and an upgrade at quarterback would be a welcome development.
.@Mtrubisky10 ➡️ @Darnell_M1! BIG PLAY! 🎯
📺: FOX #GBvsCHI | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/0oslzB6iIq
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 3, 2021
Mooney was the focus of this offense today after Allen Robinson (5.70 fantasy points) was well marshaled by Jaire Alexander. Mooney worked well out of short passes and tried to catch and run his way downfield for most of the contest. It was a bad strategy in real-life football but productive for fantasy purposes. Robinson goes into the playoffs in the shop window as he is due to enter free agency this offseason. He is likely the star prize for any contending team for 2021 and should be a clear WR1 next year.
Rookie tight end Cole Kmet (9.10 fantasy points) saw a season-high in targets and catches thanks to a conservative gameplan and outplayed Jimmy Graham once again. He will be a breakout candidate at the position in 2021 with Graham likely out of the picture.
— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)