How to Cash in on Bears and Chiefs

Justin Fields' current plight presents a dilemma for fantasy football owners.

SI.com fantasy writer Michael Fabiano expressed this in his weekly start' em and sit 'em analysis.

Is it time to bench Fields if you're a fantasy owner?

Two games is not much in relation to the season but Fields already has slid down Fabiano's QB rankings from seventh to 14th. At 14th, he wouldn't be the starting QB for most fantasy owners.

According to Fantasypros.com, Fields is 24th in fantasy points.

This was a player even being projected by some as the No. 1 fantasy QB to have for this year.

Benching him this week would be understandable against Kansas City's defense. It's tough to move them, and they're at home.

Then again, Fields can produce a ton of fantasy points in comeback or garbage time mode.

Regardless, in fantasy ball it depends on who is backing him up before sitting him. Most backups are not real options. However, at this point Mac Jones, Anthony Richardson, Sam Howell and Baker Mayfield all rank higher in fantasy points than Fields has and it's probably they were picked as backups or in some cases weren't chosen at all.

They might be the better option with Fields facing steep odds in Kansas City.

The time for Fields' great fantasy comeback, if not in reality, is next week at home against Denver.

Sitting him might be the best option for now.

Here's who to start and sit and what to play this week at the betting window.

Start 'Em

1. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Normally Mahomes moves around and buys his own time in the pocket to look downfield for targets but this week he might not need to move because the Bears haven't been able to rush the passer. The heat they do apply often looks accidental. When they get some, like last week with Yannick Ngakoue, they bounce off the QB. To top it off, Mahomes is not facing Eddie Jackson or Kyler Gordon in coverage. Slot backup Josh Blackwell is coming off a hamstring pull and safety Elijah Hicks has started twice in his career. Four of the five defensive backs in the Bears nickel coverage will have less than 17 games of experience. Good luck with that. Besides all of this, Mahomes is due for a big week and you know Matt Nagy would like to run the score up on the Bears.

2. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

A game back to get the rust off last week should let Kelce flourish. The Bears do like their linebackers in coverage but Kelce is among the game's top three tight ends even at age 34. The only thing that could drag him down this week is all that publicity about dating Taylor Swift.

3. Chiefs WR Skyy Moore

Fields hooked up for three completions and 70 yards to Moore, who can be a slot or Z-type receiver. He's not going to have Jaylon Johnson in coverage and will have someone inexperienced, possibly even rookie Tyrique Stevenson. Like the other receivers, Moore hasn't been sure-handed but his speed will convince Nagy to use him for deeper throws.

4. Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco

At some point Nagy will wake up and relaize his running backs have carried 28 times in two games. Pacheco is too good of a weapon to average 10 carries. He also is better than five receptions in two games. Look for the Chiefs QB to realize this when he's looking at a lot of cover-2 and throw underneath to the back a lot. Then again, considering Nagy is calling plays it's questionable how much KC will even use the running game.

5. Bears WR DJ Moore

Garbage-time receptions and points will go Moore's way in what looks like a lopsided matchup. Fields just started to show good confidence in him last week for six receptions and this momentum should build. KC's secondary is only ranked 19th. Moore can hurt them on occasion. It's their pass rush you have to avoid and a mobile passer should be able to do this better.

6. Bears QB Justin Fields

Giving up on him this soon in fantasy ball is stretching it by a week or two. Fields ran up against two strong defenses to start the season. Although it's the defending champions, he could have more success against a defense that gives up the yards so far, as long as he can find a way to get time to deliver the pass.

7. Chiefs WR Justin Watson

This would have been a player few drafted but at this point he's averaging 21.4 yards a catch and Fields is getting confidence in him. He'd be a good pickup if undrafted if he wasn't chosen and hasn't been signed.

8. Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

He's not as bad as four catches indicates. His speed alone could cause the Bears problems in the secondary.

9. Bears TE Cole Kmet

Working the linebackers is a good strategy for the Bears because hey're not among the league's best, although they play the scheme well. Kmet is off to only a so-so start and presents a safe option for Fields as he's trying to get rid of it before Chris Jones and the KC defense get there.

10. Bears RB Roschon Johnson

Johnson could lead the Bears in receptions, if not yards, considering they throw to him a lot when they get behind and teams are using zone coverage. It might be a good idea just to throw and run him, period.

Sit 'Em

1. Bears WR Darnell Mooney

His knee injury remains a concern even if he is off the injury report.

2. Bears WR Chase Claypool

His TD catch might help build some confidence but he still didn't have an effort last week impressive enough to make anythink he's building momentum within the offense.

3. Bears RB Khalil Herbert

His best yardage comes outside or in the B'gap and the Chiefs defense has those areas well accounted for, so getting him running room will be difficult. He's also not a natural pass receiver.

4. Bears RB D'Onta Foreman

He wasn't even active last week. Activating him and loading him up in the I-formation to smash the Chiefs would be a decent approach but you need an offensive line to do this and the Bears are using subs or players out of position up and down the line.

5. Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney

Toney is definitely better than what he's shown so far but if I'm a fantasy owner with him on my roster he's not getting the chance to prove it at my expense after being Mr. Skillet Hands in the first two games.

Defense

You've got to be all over the Chiefs defense on this one. If they could hold Trevor Lawrence and Co. to nine points, a playoff team with a potent group of receivers, consider how tough they can make it on Fields and Co.

In IDP leagues, the defensive linemen, Chris Jones and George Karlaftis, are good bets for sacks. Karlaftis is around the ball plenty.

The Betting Window

The Line: Chiefs by 12 1/2 (Over/under 48).

BearDigest Record: 1-1 ATS, 1-1 vs. the number, 1/1 over/under.

The Pick: Chiefs 34, Bears 13

Kansas City is much better than it has shown on offense. The Bears are not.

Best Bets

Top BearDigest Weekend Plays:

Last week: 2-2-1.

To Date: 4-5-1.

Week 3 Best Bets

Bears at Chiefs Under 48

Vikings -1 at home over Chargers

Titans +3 1/2 at Browns

Seahawks -5 1/2 at home over Panthers

Lions -3 home against Falcons

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven