Jeff Pratt breaks down which fantasy football players you should start or sit in Monday’s Bears-Vikings game.
Finally, the NFL season has arrived! Monday Night Football has the potential to make or break your week as the last game of the slate. Let’s highlight my start/sit fantasy football picks for Bears vs. Vikings on MNF.
Check out my full Week 1 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
MNF Must-Starts
- Justin Jefferson
- T.J. Hockenson
- DJ Moore
Start ‘Em: Rome Odunze
Odunze enters the 2025 season with high boom-or-bust potential. The second-year receiver dazzled on occasion in his rookie campaign and finished with a respectable 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns, but everyone agrees plenty of meat was left on the bone.
If all goes to plan following the addition of offensive mastermind Ben Johnson, Odunze should be the beneficiary of a greatly improved Chicago passing attack. Caleb Williams has also looked much more poised in the pocket throughout preseason, sparking optimism for serious upside within this unit.
The Vikings bring the house a LOT under Brian Flores, but that can leave them vulnerable if pressure doesn’t get home in time. Last year, Minnesota allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers, setting Odunze up with a tantilizing opportunity to start his second season.
Sit ‘Em: D’Andre Swift
While I do like Swift’s full-season fantasy outlook, this isn’t the ideal matchup right off the bat. Brian Flores has made a living by selling out to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, and the Vikings found plenty of success doing so last year. Minnesota allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game at 93.2.
Swift is in a prime position to retain his role as the clear top running back in Chicago, and the Bears appear to have improved on that side of the ball, but this is by no means a finished product. Ben Johnson still has his work cut out for him, and it could take weeks before Caleb Williams and company are fully up to speed against starting-caliber NFL defenses. There are better fantasy options at RB in Week 1.
Check out my full Week 1 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Aaron Jones
Jones threw any “washed” concerns out the window last season after a change of scenery, racking up an impresive 1,138 rushing yards (on a career-high 255 carries) and 51 receptions, good for a PPR RB14 finish.
Newly acquired backup Jordan Mason is expected to cut into the veteran’s workload this year, but that shouldn’t prevent Jones from producing weekly RB2 numbers. He draws a prime matchup in the opening contest of the season to do just that, as the Bears allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs in 2024.
Fire Jones up with the expectation of 14-20 touches and RB1 upside.
Those are my start ’em, sit ’em MNF fantasy picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice next week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.