Monday Night Football Matchups and Starts/Sits (Week 2)

Six quarterbacks have put up 30-plus fantasy points thus far in Week 2 (prior to Sunday Night’s game), Ryan Fitzpatrick is on pace for 6,552 passing yards (Peyton Manning owns the all-time record with 5,477), Patrick Mahomes has tossed more touchdown passes (10) than any QB in NFL history through the first two weeks, cancer defeater James Conner has taken a starting job and ran with it, the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals are both 2-0, and we’ve already seen two games end in a tie. I could probably go on all day, but suffice it to say, it's been a wild two weeks in the NFL.

Don’t be surprised to see the madness continue Monday night as the Seattle Seahawks (0-1) travel to Chicago to face the Bears (0-1) in a matchup of two teams seemingly heading in opposite directions. Seattle has one of the biggest home-field advantages in the NFL, but have gone just 32-32-1 on the road since 2010 (47-17 at home over that stretch). They’ll also be without leading wide receiver, Doug Baldwin, linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner, and as you might have heard, Richard Sherman now dons the red and gold in San Francisco. This Seahawks team is merely a shell of the squad we’ve seen take home four of the last eight NFC West Championships, represent the NFC in two Super Bowls, and hoist the Lombardi in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Meanwhile, things to appear to be on the upswing in Chicago with new head coach, Matt Nagy, a young dynamic QB in Mitch Trubisky, an offseason acquisition list that turned their roster around almost overnight, and a trade which brought a future Hall of Famer to what was an already solid defense. Reminds me a bit of Canelo/GGG. The young and hungry Bears (Canelo) versus the veteran Seahawks with all of the championship pedigree (GGG). Buckle up.

Seattle Seahawks @ Chicago Bears

Date and Start Time: Monday, September 17th at 8:15 p.m. EST
Game Spread: Bears -5
Over/Under: 43
Notable Injuries and Status:

• Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA) – Knee – Out
• Ed Dickson (TE, SEA) – Groin – Out
• Bobby Wagner (MLB, SEA) – Groin – Out
• K.J. Wright (OLB, SEA) – Knee – Out
• Byron Maxwell (CB, SEA) – Hip – Out
• D.J. Fluker (G, SEA) – Hamstring - Doubtful

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (Week 1):

Must Starts

Top Players That You Should Have In Your Lineup

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)

Russell Wilson is a wizard. The guy has practically no offensive line, his receivers (sans Baldwin) are average at best, as is his running game, but the man still finds a way to put up fantasy points week-in and week-out. He comes in a bit lower in the rankings this week -- due to the tough road matchup -- but we all saw how Aaron Rodgers dissected this Bears defense in Week 1 (20 for 30, 286 yards, three touchdowns, and 24.94 fantasy points)… on one leg.

Jordan Howard (RB, CHI)

Ezekiel Elliott and Le’Veon Bell are the only two running backs with more rushing yards than Jordan Howard since Howard entered the league in 2016 and his 78.7 rushing yards per game rank fifth over that same time frame. Quietly, he’s one of the best backs the game has to offer, and this week, against these Seahawks which allowed Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman to pick up 4.7 yards per carry on their way to 142 yards (and will be without linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner), those talents are likely to be on full display.

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)

Trust me, Russell Wilson is not about to cry and take his ball home because he’ll be without his top receiver, Doug Baldwin. He’s still going to throw the rock, and Lockett should see plenty of opportunities to produce.

Rodgers connected with his receivers on several deep balls in Week 1, and all told, Chicago allowed the fifth-highest yard per reception average to opposing WRs last week at 15.74. Lockett averaged 19.7 yards/reception and 14.8 yards per target Sunday against the Broncos, and I’m assuming Seattle’s backs/tight ends won’t combine to see 18 of Wilson’s 33 passes head their way again here. So, let’s say he sees 8 targets on Monday night at 14.8 yards per target - 14.8 x 8 = 118.4 yards. From another angle, we could take his 15.74 yards/reception from Week 1 combined with his 75 percent catch rate (he caught 3 of 4 targets) to come up with six catches (.75 x 8 targets) and 6 x 15.74 = 94.44.

If my third-grade level math serves us justice, Lockett should be in for a big evening in the Windy City.

Allen Robinson (WR, CHI)

Robinson brought in four of seven targets for 61 yards against the Packers. Solid debut, but here’s the kicker, only the Saints allowed more receiving yards to opposing receivers than the 299 surrendered by Seattle in Week 1.

Trey Burton (TE, CHI)

Burton saw six targets in Week 1 (second-most on the Bears), and you have to figure he’ll be in for a nice game if he matches that number again Monday night. Sure, he underwhelmed in his Bears debut -- picking up just 15 yards on one reception -- but the Packers were one of the best at defending the tight end position a season ago and look to be a contender again in 2018. Don’t put too much weight in that performance. I know, the same could be said for a healthy Seahawks team (eighth-fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing TEs in 2017) but as I just mentioned, this isn't a healthy Seahawks team.

Must Sits

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup

Chris Carson (RB, SEA)

Carson picked up 7.3 yards per carry against the Broncos in Week 1 (seven carries, 51 yards) and figures to get the first crack at carries in this Seattle offense. Considering those two factors alone, one could easily conclude that he’s worthy of flex consideration. The problem with that conclusion is the fact that the Bears limited the Packers backs to just 3.2 yards per carry in Week 1 (fifth-lowest), and the already porous Seahawks offensive line could be without guard D.J. Fluker (listed as doubtful). Carson’s night will likely be made or broken by touchdown production, and honestly, the risk just doesn’t justify the potential reward.

Will Dissly (TE, SEA)

Dissly burst on the fantasy scene on the strength of a three catch, 105-yard, one TD performance in Week 1, but I wouldn’t rush to throw him in my lineup just yet. For starters, Chicago held Jimmy Graham and Lance Kendricks to three catches and 21 yards. And we’ve actually heard of them. That’s all I’ve got. Not sure why I prefaced that with “For starters…”

Solid Options/Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option – Brandon Marshall (WR, SEA)

I favor Lockett in this one simply on upside. But, don’t get it twisted, Marshall should put up some solid numbers as well. His six targets paced all Seahawks receivers in Week 1 and he saw two red zone targets to boot. He’ll be busy again, by default, with Baldwin out.

Sleeper – Mitch Trubisky (QB, CHI)

Trubisky wasn’t overly impressive through the air in Week 1 -- 23 for 35, 171 yards -- but he did pick up nearly an additional 10 fantasy points on his 32 yards rushing and rushing TD. Not only should he find room to run again in this one, but the fact that he put up 35 pass attempts out the gates is encouraging (he had just three games of at least 35 attempts in 2017).  Oh, and he's a five-point favorite, at home, this week.

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