NFL fantasy football, Week 1: Who you should start from Bears, Packers
The 2023 NFL season is officially underway, which means fantasy football lineups are getting fine-tuned to be set for kickoff of this weekend’s slate of games.
The Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Week 1, and there are several intriguing players on both teams that could have a big week in fantasy.
From the Bears’ electric quarterback Justin Fields to the devastating combo of the Packers’ Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, both teams have some notable fantasy players. With that in mind: Who should you start in Week 1?
QB Justin Fields
If you draft a quarterback in the first five rounds of your fantasy draft, it’s generally good practice to start that quarterback for most of the season. Fields is no exception that rule, as he’ll find great success in the way of fantasy points for your team.
Fields provides a high floor due to his incredible ability to escape pressure and get positive yardage, and his fantasy ceiling is well within reach as well. Fields made game-breaking plays with his legs on a near routine basis in the second half of last season, and the Packers were near the bottom of the NFL in stopping the run. In fact, Chicago’s dynamic running QB broke off a long touchdown run against the Packers last year.
Fields is a must-start vs. the Packers.
WR DJ Moore
The Bears brought in Moore to be a dynamic playmaker for the team, and that’s exactly what he’ll be in Week 1 against the green and gold. Every play that Moore caught a ball in the preseason turned into a big play and, while he might not gain 30-plus yards on every catch, his guaranteed volume as the Bears number one receiver combined with his signature yards-after-catch ability makes him a great start in your WR2 or flex spot.
Even the threat of Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander shouldn’t shake your confidence in Moore, as he brought in six catches for 131 yards in a game against him and Green Bay when Moore was with the Panthers.
Moore will be the focus of the Bears’ passing offense, and his guaranteed targets and ability to break away after the catch makes him a good play this week.
RB Khalil Herbert
You drafted Herbert as your RB2 or RB3, and now it’s time to put him to good use. The Bears’ running back is a must-start for all the reasons that were already mentioned: he’s the starting back in a run-heavy offense that’s playing against what was one of the worst defenses against the run last year. Those factors alone gives Herbert a high floor in Week 1, but the fun comes from his potential second gear as a pass catcher.
Though we only got a glimpse of it, Herbert’s designed screen in the Bears’ first preseason game that resulted in a long touchdown should have fantasy players that have Herbert very excited. If Herbert unlocks that element of his game, the runner has the potential to launch himself into the RB1 conversation.
The only downside to playing Herbert, as it is most weeks, is Chicago’s commitment to a running back committee. I don’t expect fellow ballcarriers D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson to make much of an impact in Week 1; they’ll spell Herbert for a handful of plays and nothing more. Still, it will be interesting to see how the rotation is utilized so that we may project their fantasy production as the season goes on.
RB Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon
Sorry Bears fans, but fantasy football calls for unbiased analysis in order to make sure you have the best lineup out there.
The overwhelming force of Jones and Dillon sharing the Packers’ backfield was originally frowned upon in the fantasy community. Many thought Dillon would take away from Jones’ fantasy production, and both are worse off for it. It turned out that the duo both proved to be viable in their own right, as Jones still had the production of a low-end RB1 to a high-end RB2 and Dillon became a good running back to start in a pinch due to his red-zone carries.
The two have a good matchup against the Bears’ underpowered defensive line, making it reasonable the two will find holes to burst through for big chunk yardage. Jones and Dillon both had big games against Chicago last season, with Jones running for 132 yards and a score on the ground and catching another touchdown in Week 3 and Dillon getting his turn in Week 14, rushing for 93 yards and a score.
Either of the two Packers running backs are great starts this week.
WR Christian Watson
Where things stand as of publication, Watson’s status for Sunday is up-in-the-air as he’s missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury. If that’s the case, Romeo Doubs is your best start. But, if Watson is able to suit up, he’s a must-start.
Watson went on a scoring tirade near the end of the 2022 season, scoring seven touchdowns in four games. Former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers began to develop a rapport with Watson, but that connection is now broken after Rodgers cut ties with the team to head to the Big Apple. Now Jordan Love has the keys to the Packers offense, making fantasy enthusiasts wonder how viable the Green Bay receivers will be with Love at the wheel.
I am of the opinion that Love will be serviceable in getting Watson the targets and production he needs to be a good receiver for fantasy. While I was initially on the fence about whether you should start or sit Watson against the Bears, I think he is a start if you need a WR3. If you have three other receivers that you’re comfortable starting ahead of Watson, there’s no need to second guess that decision.
While Watson will have a tough task in going up against a great Bears’ defensive backfield that features cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson, I think Chicago’s lack of pass-rush will be key here. Defensive backs can only cover for so long before a receiver will come open, and I do think Love will have several instances where he has all day to throw from the pocket. This will allow Watson to come open and produce chunk plays, making him an interesting candidate to start this week.
Overall, I don’t think he’ll score a touchdown and the majority of his production will come from intermediate catches, but sometimes you don’t need a home run; you just need a hit. If you have two receivers and a flex you feel confident in, don’t start Watson. If you don’t, he’s worth consideration.
Again, assuming he’s healthy.
