Tonight's contest features the NFL's oldest rivalry and eight guys (and a DST) with weekly fantasy potential. Let's take a closer look:
(1) The always-reliable Aaron Rodgers is the third-highest-scoring QB thru three weeks, right behind Tom Brady and, um, Alex Smith. While the Bears are coming off their best defensive effort of the season against the Steelers, that's not the new norm. I'm expecting 30+ points for the Packers and 3+ TDs for Rodgers.
(2) While I maintain Ty Montgomery is a major sell-high guy, I can't argue with his top 4 RB production thus far. Three of the next four games will be markedly tougher. He has to be viewed as a must-start tonight.
(3) Jordy Nelson looked great in his return from a quad injury last weekend. I've been asked a few times these past few days about trading for him. If you can get him for anything less than top 8 WR value, go for it. As long as he's healthy, Jordy is one of fantasy's few weekly WR1 threats.
(4) Is the gap closing between the 32-year-old Jordy and the 24-year-old Davante Adams? Not yet. This summer I had thought Adams would take another step forward at the veteran's expense. Instead, Adams has one great game and two three-catch efforts. That won't cut it for last season's surprise back-end WR1. Adams is a WR2/3 with a WR1 ceiling and WR4 floor. You want to start him every week in very deep leagues, but he's a tossup in shallow leagues.
(5) Randall Cobb is reportedly optimistic that he'll play tonight. Signed through the end of the 2018 season, it's entirely fair to wonder whether Cobb's impressive start (15 catches for 145 yards in two games) is a mirage. In deep leagues, I'd trade him because he's become more injury-prone than the average receiver. In shallow leagues, he isn't worth the risk unless Jordy or Adams gets hurt.
(6) When an NFL starter's playing on his fifth team in seven seasons, it could be a sign he's not the player we think he is. Yet Martellus Bennett has been a top 10 fantasy TE in four of the past five years. So of course he was expected to shine in Green Bay. But are his career stats better than his on-field play? So far he's converted 11 of 19 targets for 102 yards and no scores and failed to step up last weekend when Jordy and Cobb were sidelined. Two dropped passes Week 3 didn't help. That said, he's an obvious buy-low target in deep leagues. Essentially, he has nowhere to go but up, and his generous signing this offseason suggests the Packers are (more or less) fully invested.
(7) Packers DST -- One of my favorite DST plays of the week. Mike Glennon is a mistake waiting to happen. And given how far down they'll be by halftime, he'll be forced to throw the ball far more than he should.
(8) Speaking of Glennon, he's not worth starting in two-QB leagues. Heck, if you're in a 10-team, three-QB league, he's not worth starting. I'd rather start Jimmy Garappolo in case he's called on for mop-up duty in New England, or Matt Moore if Jay Cutler self-destructs in a winnable Miami game against New Orleans.
(9) We'll know by the end of the first quarter if Jordan Howard was worth starting. If Chicago somehow can keep the game close for 30 minutes, Howard should get 70+ yards. Otherwise, he could be game-planned out by halftime. He's a must-start RB3, but I wouldn't push it if you're expecting RB2+ numbers.
(10) Tarik Cohen's versatility in the passing game will keep him active regardless of the score. So ironically, his floor tonight is higher despite being lower on the depth chart. I'd start him with a fair amount of confidence.
(11) Finally, based on the aggregate of 28 fantasy experts compiled by Fantasy Pros, no Bears wideouts are ranked in the top 50. In fact, aside from Kendall Wright at #58, no other Bear WR is in the top 80. That sound about right.
(1) The always-reliable Aaron Rodgers is the third-highest-scoring QB thru three weeks, right behind Tom Brady and, um, Alex Smith. While the Bears are coming off their best defensive effort of the season against the Steelers, that's not the new norm. I'm expecting 30+ points for the Packers and 3+ TDs for Rodgers.
(2) While I maintain Ty Montgomery is a major sell-high guy, I can't argue with his top 4 RB production thus far. Three of the next four games will be markedly tougher. He has to be viewed as a must-start tonight.
(3) Jordy Nelson looked great in his return from a quad injury last weekend. I've been asked a few times these past few days about trading for him. If you can get him for anything less than top 8 WR value, go for it. As long as he's healthy, Jordy is one of fantasy's few weekly WR1 threats.
(4) Is the gap closing between the 32-year-old Jordy and the 24-year-old Davante Adams? Not yet. This summer I had thought Adams would take another step forward at the veteran's expense. Instead, Adams has one great game and two three-catch efforts. That won't cut it for last season's surprise back-end WR1. Adams is a WR2/3 with a WR1 ceiling and WR4 floor. You want to start him every week in very deep leagues, but he's a tossup in shallow leagues.
(5) Randall Cobb is reportedly optimistic that he'll play tonight. Signed through the end of the 2018 season, it's entirely fair to wonder whether Cobb's impressive start (15 catches for 145 yards in two games) is a mirage. In deep leagues, I'd trade him because he's become more injury-prone than the average receiver. In shallow leagues, he isn't worth the risk unless Jordy or Adams gets hurt.
(6) When an NFL starter's playing on his fifth team in seven seasons, it could be a sign he's not the player we think he is. Yet Martellus Bennett has been a top 10 fantasy TE in four of the past five years. So of course he was expected to shine in Green Bay. But are his career stats better than his on-field play? So far he's converted 11 of 19 targets for 102 yards and no scores and failed to step up last weekend when Jordy and Cobb were sidelined. Two dropped passes Week 3 didn't help. That said, he's an obvious buy-low target in deep leagues. Essentially, he has nowhere to go but up, and his generous signing this offseason suggests the Packers are (more or less) fully invested.
(7) Packers DST -- One of my favorite DST plays of the week. Mike Glennon is a mistake waiting to happen. And given how far down they'll be by halftime, he'll be forced to throw the ball far more than he should.
(8) Speaking of Glennon, he's not worth starting in two-QB leagues. Heck, if you're in a 10-team, three-QB league, he's not worth starting. I'd rather start Jimmy Garappolo in case he's called on for mop-up duty in New England, or Matt Moore if Jay Cutler self-destructs in a winnable Miami game against New Orleans.
(9) We'll know by the end of the first quarter if Jordan Howard was worth starting. If Chicago somehow can keep the game close for 30 minutes, Howard should get 70+ yards. Otherwise, he could be game-planned out by halftime. He's a must-start RB3, but I wouldn't push it if you're expecting RB2+ numbers.
(10) Tarik Cohen's versatility in the passing game will keep him active regardless of the score. So ironically, his floor tonight is higher despite being lower on the depth chart. I'd start him with a fair amount of confidence.
(11) Finally, based on the aggregate of 28 fantasy experts compiled by Fantasy Pros, no Bears wideouts are ranked in the top 50. In fact, aside from Kendall Wright at #58, no other Bear WR is in the top 80. That sound about right.