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Fantasy football start/sit advice, Thanksgiving Week 13: Chicago Bears


The Bears will get a road game in a dome against the Detroit Lions. We break down the fantasy implications.


The Chicago Bears have been a popular target for the media these days, especially on offense. It's easy to talk about turnovers, and quarterback Jay Cutler is throwing way too many picks these days. Only Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has thrown more picks, but he is sixth in the NFL in passing TDs.


They get a huge matchup against the 7-4 Detroit Lions, who own the third-ranked defense on the season. Las Vegas has this game at an over/under of 47.5.


Which players should you start in the dome? Let's check them out:


Jay Cutler - Cutler has been a roller-coaster ride all season. Thanksgiving Day might be a day you don't want to go on that ride. The Vanderbilt alum followed up his big day against the Minnesota Vikings with a dud against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 130 yards passing, one score, and one fumble. With a Detroit pass defense only allowing just above 233 yards per game in the air and a banged up Brandon Marshall, it could be a long day for Cutler against one of the best defensive lines in all of football. Cutler is a top 12-15 QB this week with some upside to get in the top 10 due to his superb supporting cast.


Matt Forte - One of the best running backs in all of fantasy football has a tough matchup against the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL. Opposing running backs are only averaging 3.2 yards per carry against the Lions in 2014. The silver lining here is that New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen secured eight receptions last week and Forte possesses arguably a better skill set. He is fresh off his big day against Tampa Bay, going off for 89 yards and two TDs on 23 carries to go along with five receptions for 23 yards. Fire him up as a top-five asset this week.


Wide Receiver


Brandon Marshall - The talented WR has been limited in practice this week due to his ankle injury and is listed as questionable. There is no need to worry as the Bears are likely just limiting his reps on the short week. With Marshall gobbling up 26 targets combined last year against the Lions, odds are he will be a big part of the offensive game planning this week. If the Lions use the New England Patriots strategy of spreading the Lions defense out, he could be in line for a big day. Start Marshall with confidence this week as a high-end WR2.


Alshon Jeffery - Although Jeffery had a very quiet day in Tampa Bay, he did secure his fifth TD of the season. Scoring in three out of his last four games, he seems like a safe bet to make it four out of his last five with the Bears likely not focusing on a rushing attack against a defense that simply does not allow it. Like his teammate, Brandon Marshall, Jeffery stuffed the stat sheet with 29 targets in two games against the Lions last year. Depending on which Jay Cutler shows up, Jeffery could be in line for a busy afternoon. Lock him in as a WR1 this week.


Martellus Bennett - He does not have a great matchup here against a very good Lions defense. Detroit has only allowed five tight end touchdowns all season. If you disregard the New England Patriots game from last week (114 yards, two TDs), the Lions haven't given up over 72 yards in a game to opposing tight ends all season. Due to the 2014 season being the worst year for fantasy TEs in recent memory, only two had more than 10 points in all the Sunday games. Bennett is still a TE1 for Turkey Day and should be a top-five option for FanDuel.


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