When the Commanders and Bears face each other in Chicago to begin Week 6 on “Thursday Night Football” (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video), there is much concern for both offenses. The total of 39 points is lower than last week’s TNF in a pick ’em, but with two shaky defenses, there are still plenty of start ’em, sit ’em questions for fantasy football owners.
For Washington, rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson (hamstring) is set to miss a second game and tight end Logan Thomas (calf) is also out after missing Week 5. Commanders QB Carson Wentz has a shoulder issue but will play through it, as will Dotson’s young replacement, Dyami Brown (groin), who had two TDs last week.
Chicago, meanwhile, other than having wide receiver Byron Pringle (calf) on short-term injured reserve, is fully healthy at the key offensive positions.
With all that in mind, here’s breaking down the entire start ’em sit ’em picture for Thursday night, including a couple of DFS lineup suggestions for FanDuel and DraftKings:
MORE COMMANDERS-BEARS: FD lineup | DK lineup
Commanders: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Sit: QB Carson Wentz
Wentz has put up some big fantasy weeks early, but they are matchup and situation based. He tends to put up safer numbers at home, but his offensive line has been suspect and it’s become easier to run on the Bears vs. pass on them, despite some secondary weaknesses. Wentz is a low-upside play this week with a scary downside because of turnovers and sacks.
WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em
Start: RB Brian Robinson Jr. and J.D. McKissic | Sit: RB Antonio Gibson
The Bears are the second-worst run defense in the NFL behind the Seahawks, but the Commanders are the highest-volume passing team and their backfield is in flux. In theory, this should be the game to get rookie Robinson going after getting his feet wet against the Titans last week. There’s a good chance the power back from Alabama scores, making him a fair flex. McKissic should provide cheap PPR points as a flex in deeper leagues as the dedicated receiving back. Gibson is just all-around risky.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Start: WR Terry McLaurin
With no Jahan Dotson (hamstring) and Dyami Brown (groin) banged up, McLaurin can light up the Bears’ cornerbacks. Jaylon Johnson is back, but rookie Kyler Gordon and Kindle Victor have been shaky. McLaurin should have a nice reception and yardage night.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Start: WR Curtis Samuel
Samuel has been a healthy and active safety valve a la McKissic for Wentz. He can also take advantage of a juicy backend matchup with something like a seven-catch, 70-yard showing. While McLaurin is a WR2 play based on upside, Samuel is more of a WR3 this week because of his floor.
WEEK 6 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Sit: WR Dyami Brown
You can’t spell dynamic without the name of the North Carolina product, who was a fine Dotson proxy for Wentz. Unless you’re desperate and looking for a big-play dart throw again, he can’t be used based on limited usage and a nagging groin injury.
WEEK 6 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Sit: TE John Bates
He’s literally a Downton Abbey character.
Sit: Commanders defense/special teams
Rumor has it Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio field a defense every week even without Chase Young (knee), but we have yet to see it show up. Don’t get cute and try to play it vs. Fields.
Sit: K Joey Slye
If you didn’t know who the Commanders kicker was before this, you should know now.
Bears: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Justin Fields
Fields is coming off by far his most efficient outing of the season in Week 5 against the Vikings and is starting to unlock some passing upside in the new offense. The Bears just need him to run a little to make him more fantasy favorable, but he has posted at least 47 rushing yards in each of the past three games. The kid is figuring out with great matchups ahead, and this is one where he can have enough throwing and rushing success to merit starting consideration in 12-team leagues.
Start: RB David Montgomery
Montgomery returned and ran well against the Vikings last week. Meanwhile, the Commanders were gashed in the power game by Derrick Henry. The run-heavy volume should lead to another profitable night for Monty with a great shot for a short score. He’s a solid RB2 with upside. Desperation at the position could also lead you to play Khalil Herbert as a flex for some cleanup time.
Start: WR Darnell Mooney
Mooney is clearly the No. 1 wideout, and he’s out there all the time with Fields. He’s coming off two games in which he finally made some big plays connecting with the QB. He can destroy this terrible secondary, from William Jackson and Kendall Fuller to Benjamin St.-Juste. Don’t be surprised if Mooney goes for a hundy and a score with Dante Pettis putting up sneaky deep-league PPR stats.
Sit: TE Cole Kmet
Kmet catching all four targets for 45 yards against the Vikings in Week 5 was promising, but it’s telling that even in a shaky tight end landscape, he’s not a desirable option.
Start: Bears defense/special teams
They’ve put up some good numbers in their previous two home games against San Francisco and Houston. They should get some sacks and pressure Wentz into at least one takeaway.
Sit: K Cairo Santos
He’s been good enough to help Chicago forget those Cody Parkey days, but he’s not exactly Robbie Gould either. You can find a stronger option in a higher-scoring affair.
Commanders vs. Bears: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): QB Justin Fields $16,500
- AnyFLEX: RB David Montgomery $15,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Terry McLaurin $13,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Darnell Mooney $9,500
- AnyFLEX: WR Dante Pettis $6,000
Here’s making sure we get in Fields, Montgomery, and Mooney in together, as we expect them to be on the winning and therefore higher-scoring side. Pettis has a great slot matchup, while McLaurin is his team’s alpha vs. a limited secondary.
Commanders vs. Bears: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5X): WR Darnell Mooney $11,400
- FLEX: RB David Montgomery $10,400
- FLEX: QB Justin Fields $10,000
- FLEX: WR Terry McLaurin $9,000
- FLEX: WR Curtis Samuel $8,200
- FLEX: RB Brian Robinson Jr. $6,600
Here’s getting all the “triplets” of the Bears’ offense into the mix while also getting the key players in there around Wentz. Seems to make sense, right? Crowning Mooney saves some money, and he can definitely break out in prime time given the matchup.
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