How to Cash in on Bears and Vikings

With fantasy football now heading into the playoffs, the better quarterbacks tend to find their way into lineups.

Justin Fields is back near the top of the fantasy world after his return last week and should be, after the Bears found a way to rekindle the Fields-to-DJ Moore connection in Detroit.

It matters little to most fantasy experts that Fields is going against a defense ranked 12th overall and eighth against the run. It's a defense Fields couldn't finish a game against earlier.

The Vikings defense did give up 21 points to Russell Wilson in Denver and 28 against Atlanta with Taylor Heinicke as quarterback, so they're not above struggling against a particular attack.

Any time a defense gambles as much as the Vikings defense does, it presents big-play opportunities to opponents. Fields has shown he's all about big plays. It's consistency he needs to continue working to achieve.

The Bears might not be going to the playoffs but fantasy owners who have Fields on their roster are, and many see an opportunity for a league title using the "inconsistent" Bears QB.

Here are the best fantasy options from Sunday's Bears and Vikings game.

Start 'Em

1. Vikings WR Jordan Addison

He scored a touchdown against the Bears last time and had a two-touchdown, 123-yard receiving day against San Francisco earlier without Justin Jefferson being available. On his home field, with the fast track of artificial turf, look for more big plays and a high catch total against the Bears defense and slot cornerback Kyler Gordon.

2. Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson

The Bears managed to bottle up Sam LaPorta fairly well in Detroit last week and with linebackers Tremaine Edmunds, Jack Sanborn and T.J. Edward available they will have a full complement of ways to defend Hockenson. Hockenson needs only 25 catches to hit 100 for the year. The Bears limited him to six catches for 50 yards last time but doing it again might not be as easy with backup QB Joshua Dobbs likely to look for a friendly target like the tight end more than he would someone downfield.

3. Bears WR DJ Moore

Fields got right to finding Moore last week when the Lions knew where the ball would go, and the biggest difference between the Lions coverage of Moore and the Vikings is the Vikings pass rush is more likely to get to Fields before he can get it to Moore. They'll be looking to get him on shorter routes, though. Either way, the targets are going to come for Moore.3. Bears WR DJ Moore

4. Bears QB Justin Fields

Normally he'd rate a best fantasy option in this game but Minnesota's blitzing scheme could offset his abilities. Fields has been solid against pressure and last week hit 7 of 11 passes while being under pressure. However, he had real trouble seeing anyone open or getting through his progression in the first game at Soldier Field against Minnesota. He had only 60 passing yards by the middle of the third quarter when he went out with a thumb injury. His running didn't seem to bother Minnesota much, either. However, it could be different on artificial turf.

The Lions took liberties with the rules by hitting Fields several times when he was either sliding or out of bounds all together and got away with it. Expect the Vikings to do the same as their approach last time was turn Danielle Hunter loose on him and get him hard to the ground whenever possible.

5. Vikings WR K.J. Osborn

Like Bears second receiver Darnell Mooney, Osborn is overdue for a big game. He had a pretty good excuse as he had a concussion two weeks ago against New Orleans and in the last two games has three catches for 24 yards after he had an eight-catch, 99-yard performance against Green Bay Oct. 29. Osborn could be back near 100% ability for this one and the Vikings would be sure to use him with Justin Jefferson's status not looking good for a return.

6. Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs

The "Passtronaut" might have been a trendy pickup for some fantasy owners but Denver figured him out last week and now it's on film for the Bears to see. The Bears pass rush has picked up since Montez Sweat's arrival and Dobbs tends to be less accurate than a starting QB would. The Bears waiting patiently for a tipped pass or to get into pass lanes could be expected. Dobbs can hurt the Bears with his running. He ran 15 times for 110 yards in his first two Vikings games, but only had 21 last week. The way fantasy owners can get a good benefit from him is his running in the red zone. He has six TD runs already this year, one in each Vikings game he has played, and five in the last five games he's appeared. The Bears zone lets them face the quarterback and see when he scrambles but for some reason they are not quick to come up and get the stop on QBs.

7. Bears TE Cole Kmet

If the Bears watched film correctly, they'll see tight ends own the Vikings defense. Opponents have a 113.2 passer rating when targeting tight ends against Minnesota's defense. It's not because the linebackers are poor in coverage as much as it is someone has to be left open when they blitz as much as they do and it's usually a tight end.

8. Bears RB Khalil Herbert

Last week was a disappointing return for Herbert from injury but it could have been expected as he hasn't been a fast starter after injuries or time away in the past. However, he usually heats up quickly thereafter. Where he might be especially effective in this one is as a receiver as the Vikings blitzing often dismantles slow-developing run-blocking schemes like the wide zone. Herbert has better receiving ability and yards-after-the-catch skills than all the other Bears receivers and they might look to him on screens. They didn't have him available in the first game against the Vikings.

Sit 'Em

1. Bears WR Darnell Mooney

Overdue for big plays or plays of any kind, Mooney has only 23 receptions on the year and can't be counted on for a big receiving game. It seems more a case of Fields not getting past Moore or Kmet in the progression to Mooney because he does seem to find ways to be open at times and makes an occasional play. It just doesn't happen enough to warrant using a fantasy spot on him.

2. Vikings RB Alexander Mattison

Mattison is coming off one of his better games this season with 81 rushing yards but a 4.0-yard aveage against the second-round run defense in the league doesn't bode well for the Minnesota ground game. Coach Kevin O'Connell rarely has patience with the ground game. It's just something to occasionally throw at the opponents while he thinks up some more passes.

3. Bears TE Robert Tonyan Jr.

Tonyan should be a key receiver for the Bears in this game with his ability to receive and play in a mulitiple tight-end set, and with the weakness the Vikings always show against tight ends in coverage. However, the Bears or Fields treat Tonyan like he's invisible. Tonyan is not the only weapon who could be used to surprise the opponent in this one. Ty Chandler, the Vikings running back, is another who can hurt teams as a receiver or a breakaway threat on runs, but doesn't get used enough to warrant a look in fantasy ball, especially in the playoffs.

Defense

A fantasy owner with the Vikings defense could definitely do a lot worse than to start Minnesota in the fantasy playoffs as their defense. The Vikings are strong against the run, ranking fourth in yards per attempt allowed at 3.7. It's tough getting past all the players they put in the box, and their vulnerability is on pass defense, as 15 TD passes and 21st ranking suggests. However, the Bears' offensive strength is not passing and this could hold up well for the Vikings for fantasy owners using them in the playoffs.

In IDP leagues, Danielle Hunter seems a very wise play after he owned the Bears in the last game. Darnell Wright's blocking seems to be declining as the long season goes on. Perhaps he's hit a rookie wall or the shoulder injury is bothering him. And he is supposed to block Hunter. Jordan Hicks is another Vikings defender who comes up with big plays against the Bears. He had a touchdown last time against them.

A potential big-play defender for the Bears in this one is Jaquan Brisker. He frequently gets put in places within the Bears zone to allow him to take advantage of tipped passes or to pop out into the way on short passes.

The Betting Window

It's an abbreviated slate for this week with four games already played due to Thanksgiving and the Black Friday game. Too bad, too, because that Dolphins-Jets game was a lock in so many ways. BearDigest has posted a 15-4-1 record on power plays over the last four weeks following last week's 4-1 performance, one which would have been 5-0 for the second time in a month had Denver converted its two-point attempt against the Vikings at game's end. Here is the Bears outlook and also best bests in the NFL.

The Line: Vikings by 3 1/2 (Over/under 43)

BearDigest Pick: Vikings 17, Bears 13

BearDigest Record: 7-4 overall, 5-6 ATS (5-6 over/under)

NFL Best Bets

Record: 29-19-2

Last Week: 4-1

Week 12 Best Bets:

Ravens at Chargers under 48

Saints -1 1/2 at Falcons

Steelers -1 1/2 at Bengals

Giants +3 1/2 hosting Patriots

Buccaneers +2 1/2 at Colts

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven