How to Cash in on Bears and Panthers

Playing games on Thursday nights runs contrary to the concept of fantasy football.

No one has time to get their lineup in order, to take a good look at where they should go with stats.

In many cases, they might not even know whether a player is even available on the injury report.

Fortunately there are Thursday night matchups like Bears against the Carolina Panthers, which everyone can basically ignore. However, there are a few certainties in this one when it comes to setting up for fantasy ball.

When two rookie quarterbacks facing each other who just threw three interceptions apiece the previous week, it's safe to count on the running game getting ample chances to work.

The Bears are more likely to do this than the Panthers, because Carolina is 23rd in rushing attempts, 24th in yardage on the ground. So look to D'Onta Foreman if he's a thing in your league.

Keeping this in mind, here's who to get into the lineup for fantasy ball from the Thursday night game.

As can be expected, when the 2-7 Bears square off against the 1-7 Panthers, it's a short list.

Start 'Em

1. Bears RB D'Onta Foreman

Khalil Herbert is ready to return but they're not going to stick him on the field with a heavy emphasis. It's still going to be Foreman for at least this game, if not one more, as they face his former team. Foreman was a player many fantasy players would have been wise to pick up when he was available earlier after being shelved for three weeks by the Bears.

The Panthers have faced the second-fewest pass attempts this year in the NFL, only 220 throws, because teams know how bad they are against the run. So they run it. They've given up the most TDs rushing, rate 25th in yards allowed per attempt and 28th in yards allowed. Foreman should be able to put up some impressive yardage and even scores against his former team.

2. Bears WR DJ Moore

If the Bears are going to run, how is it Moore would get heavy emphasis? Surely Carolina will focus its defense on Moore.

What defense? It's not that the Panthers are particularly awful on defense. They've been pretty good actually. But they're without cornerback C.J. Henderson and pass rusher Brian Burns. Both their safeties, Vonn Bell and Xavier Woods, are questionable with injuries so even if they play they are not going to be capable of their normal level of competence.

Even if the coverage is shifted to Moore, the inexperience or lack of success from those defending and a lack of a pass rush will make it so the Bears receiver should get open for big production.

3. Bears TE Cole Kmet

Never put the dice down when they're hot. Kmet is about as hot as it gets for a Bears tight end and with a rookie passer the tight end is always a good place to throw the ball. Kmet has been targeted 18 times the last two games after he wasn't targeted a single time as he was directed toward blocking against the Raiders.

4. Bears WR Darnell Mooney

He got a taste of success finally, again last week, and with the two safeties hurting it's safe to figure Mooney will get some deep throws off play-action once the running game has worked.

5. Panthers WR Adam Thielen

Bryce Young has to throw it somewhere and with inexperienced Jonathan Mingo likely to be the second-best option Thursday due to injuries to Laviska Shenault Jr. and DJ Chark, they'll target Thielen repeatedly the way the Bears should do with Moore. It shouldn't be difficult for the Bears to limit Thielen's yardage but keeping him from getting the ball under the coverage is never easy.

6. Panthers TE Hayden Hurst

Someone else has to be made available to Young with players dropping right and left. Hurst is dependable and not really having a bad year at 10.6 yards a catch. In fact, at only 28 targets a good case can be made that he's underused. Look for Young to try and target him with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds not available using his height and reach in the zone to defend the pass.

Sit 'Em

1. Bears RB Khalil Herbert

He might be back, but is he really back? The Bears are not going to use him much if he's able to run because he's coming off injury. A few carries and maybe a few receptions might be his limit.

2. Panthers QB Bryce Young

He's facing the league's worst pass rush and actually had a good game two weeks ago in the win over Houston before it all melted down last week with three interceptions. By and large, there is no reason to count on Young with the Bears secondary now back to full health for the first time since Week 1 when Kyler Gordon's injury started a chain reaction of sorts -- Eddie Jackson, Jaylon Johnson and Jaquan Brisker all getting hurt, shortly thereafter. The starting Bears defense is only down Tremaine Edmunds and replacement Jack Sanborn has played his position adequately in the past. So this won't be an invitation to burn anyone through the air. Also, there is more of a chance Montez Sweat adds to the pass rush this week, too.

3. Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard

He wasn't tearing it up anyway, and the Bears are ranked first in the NFL in yards per carry. The only game Hubbard had more than 60 yards in was the 88 he had against Miami in what was a total shootout when the Dolphins won by three touchdowns and were fine giving up rushing yards. It wouldn't be surprising for Miles Sanders to get more work than he has been as Hubbard has had 60% of rushes and Sanders actually is more accomplished.

4. Panthers RB Miles Sanders

He should have taken less money and stayed in Philadelphia. He's gaining 3.3 yards an attempt with his new team after averaging 5.0 for the Eagles in his first four years. That's the offensive line difference.

Defense

The Panthers defense hasn't been terrible against the pass although no one tests them. Still, no one would use them as a play even against an offense as challenged as the Bears. And while the Bears defense has improved, it's not been to the extent they can be counted on to execute the HITS principle to any extent.

Kenny Moore made two interceptions and turned them into pick-6s against Young last week, so Kyler Gordon might be an IDP player to eye. Jaylon Johnson could be, as well. His interceptions haven't come against the best passers in the league.

The Betting Window

Of note: After going 7-0 ATS and with over/under in Week 8, things didn't cool off much in Week 9 as it was a 5-2 week overall including 1-1 on the Bears bets and 4-1 picking on power plays. In fact, if not for the Panthers and Young throwing his two pick-6s to the Colts, the only loss the last two weeks by BearDigest was the Saints failing to cover 8 1/2 against the Bears last week.

The Line: Bears by 3 1/2 (Over/under 41)

BearDigest Record: 5-4 overall, 5-4 ATS, 4-5 over/under

NFL Best Bets

Record: 23-16-1

Last Week: 4-1

This Week:

Buccaneers -1 vs. Titans

Falcons +1 1/2 vs. Cardinals

Chargers +3 vs. Lions

Seahawks -6 vs. Commanders

Colts vs. Patriots Under 43 1/3 (in Germany)

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven