Week 1 of the NFL season is all wrapped up…with one exception. A busy weekend of football comes to a close on Monday night when the Bears host the Vikings. For Chicago, this is a chance to start fresh with new head coach Ben Johnson. Minnesota has a new look as well, with quarterback JJ McCarthy making his first career start.
In this NFC North grudge match, victory might come down to which lesser-known names make a big impact. Here are two value plays to consider in all DFS contests before the start of Monday’s battle between the Vikings and the Bears.
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WR Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings ($6,600)
Jordan Addison is set to miss Minnesota’s first three games of the season. That left the team with a massive hole at wide receiver opposite Justin Jefferson ($16,200). As a result, the front office swung a trade with the Panthers for none other than Adam Thielen. The veteran spent the first nine years of his career with the Vikings, earning Pro Bowl honors twice during that time. During his two seasons in Carolina, the 34-year-old remained productive despite a revolving door of different quarterbacks.
For JJ McCarthy ($13,500), essentially a rookie, having a pro’s pro in the huddle could do wonders. Thielen isn’t the most athletic pass catcher, but he remains a savvy, sure-handed route runner. The Bears allowed the fewest catches and fantasy points to opposing wide receivers last season. Still, that’s partially a result of their five-win 2024 campaign; teams were able to run out the clock more often than not. With so much attention directed towards Jefferson, coverage won’t be as tight elsewhere. If anyone on Minnesota is poised to take advantage, it’s Thielen.
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears ($4,200)
This is a bit of a wait-and-see pick that could pay huge dividends. Right now, De’Andre Swift ($13,200) is entrenched as Chicago’s starting running back. Things get tricky after that on the depth chart. Projected RB2 Roschon Johnson ($4,500) has missed practice all week with a foot injury. In theory, that would give rookie Kyle Monangai a chance for added touches. Unfortunately, the seventh-round pick has been limited in practice with a hamstring injury. As a result, things are fairly murky when it comes to this Bears backfield.
As of Sunday evening, it’s unclear as to who will serve as backup to Swift. If Johnson can’t suit up, Monangai is the perfect pick to complete any fantasy football lineup. Last year, the Vikings surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. In addition, the Bears made serious upgrades to their offensive line in the offseason. It’s also worth mentioning that Swift has never been the most durable player; Johnson is unlikely to over-use him in Week 1. Should the rookie and Johnson both sit on Monday, the next man up would likely be Brittain Brown ($300). Still, as of now I’m assuming Monangai is healthy enough to take the field. If that happens, he offers serious value at $4,200.
