Week 16 will see the NFL spread some of its top matchups across the weekend to highlight the most impactful playoff games. This Saturday, the Eagles and Commanders meet in the early game, followed by the Green Bay Packers visiting the Chicago Bears in a primetime matchup at Soldier Field at 8:20 p.m. ET.
In this post, we’ll break down the marquee big matchup from a DraftKings DFS fantasy football showdown perspective to help you build your lineups for Saturday’s Showdown contests.
Whoever wins this game will take the lead in the NFC North and can clinch a playoff berth if the Lions lose their game against the Steelers on Sunday. Neither team can clinch the division, with the NFC North race coming down to the wire in the final two weeks. The Packers come into this game with a 9-4-1 record after losing to the Broncos last week, while the Bears rolled past the Browns to improve to 10-4 and reclaim the top spot in the division.
The two teams first met in Week 14, with the Packers securing a 28=21 win at Lambeau Field. A lot has happened since then; not only did the Packers lose in Denver, but they also lost star pass-rusher Micah Parsons. Meanwhile, RB Josh Jacobs (knee/ankle), Christian Watson (chest/shoulder), and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are all listed as questionable.
For the Bears, both WR Rome Odunze (heel) and Luther Burden III (ankle) are out, while D’Andre Swift (groin) is questionable.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Chicago enters as a narrow 1.5-point home favorite, while Green Bay sits as a +105 underdog. The game’s total is set at 46.5 points.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the players you should be sure to include — and avoid — in your Showdown lineup for Saturday night.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $600K Saturday Night Showdown [$200K to 1st] (GB at CHI)
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Picks
Caleb Williams ($15,900 CP): Williams struggled in the first matchup between these teams, completing 19 of 35 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He especially struggled in the first half, and then after rallying back, he threw a brutal game-ending interception. Williams finished with 15.9 fantasy points in the contest. He improved last week, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns for 19 fantasy points against the Browns.
He’s averaging 18.9 fantasy points overall and 21 fantasy points at home, where he has thrown 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Without Parsons, the Packers could struggle to get much pressure on Williams, which could allow him to make more plays. He will be working without two of his top receivers, though, so he’ll have to rely more heavily on D.J. Moore, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and Olamide Zaccheaus.
I still expect Williams to spread the ball around enough to keep one of them from being the top Captain’s Pick play. Williams seems to be fitting Ben Johnson’s offense very well, and he’s been good enough at home to expect a strong outing on Saturday night.
Kyle Monangai ($10,200 CP): With Swift questionable, Monangai is another strong option to consider for your Captain’s Pick. He’s already getting about half of the workload in the Bears’ backfield, and he has shown he can take advantage when given an opening. In Week 9 without Swift, Monangai took 26 carries for 176 yards and a touchdown, also adding three catches for 22 yards and 25.8 total fantasy points. He didn’t reach the end zone in that matchup, but scored four touchdowns across the next four weeks. He also starred in Chicago’s Week 13 win over the Eagles, racking up 130 rushing yards on 22 carries for 22 fantasy points.
In the first matchup between these teams, Monangai had 14 carries for 57 yards. While he didn’t go off in the tough matchup, he should be a strong value play on Saturday with the potential of extra touches. He has at least 11 carries in five straight games and has topped 20 fantasy points in his two games this season with over 15 carries. He’s a solid play if platooning with Swift — and a must-play if Swift is sidelined.
FLEX Plays
Jayden Reed ($8,000): Reed has been very involved in the Packers’ passing game since returning from the IR two weeks ago. With Watson and Wicks uncertain, Reed could get some more work this week. He always presents big-play ability, which the Packers will be looking to add to the mix as they prepare for the postseason. Reed has nine catches on 10 targets for 86 yards across his two games, producing 9.3 and 10.5 fantasy points, respectively. His potential is much higher with an increased workload, and one big play could justify his salary.
Colston Loveland ($5,800): Loveland is a great value flex play with Burden and Odunze down. While D.J. Moore will get a lot of deserved attention as well, Loveland has been much more consistent over the last few weeks and has flashed a very high ceiling. The Bears’ rookie has at least three catches in nine straight contests and has scored four touchdowns during that span. He tallied one of those scores against the Packers, while hauling in 4-of-5 targets for 29 yards and 12.9 fantasy points. He didn’t get into the end zone last week against the Browns, but managed to pile up 10.1 fantasy points on four catches for 63 yards.
Bears DST ($3,600): Chicago’s defense only managed two fantasy points against the Packers in their meeting two weeks ago, but it bounced back with three picks, five sacks, and 18 fantasy points against Cleveland in Week 15. They’ve averaged 11 fantasy points per game at Soldier Field, racking up 20 sacks and 15 takeaways in just six home games. The Packers will surely be a tougher test than the Browns, but they might not be 100% — opening the door for the Bears to feast at home.
If Jacobs is out, Emanuel Wilson will be a great play at $3,200. Still, no player under $5,000 can match the Bears DST’s upside.
Fades
Romeo Doubs ($6,400): While I won’t play Josh Jacobs or D’Andre Swift even if they are active, using two injured players as my “fades” feels a little too easy. Doubs is getting lots of attention with Watson and Wicks uncertain, though, and I won’t be including him in any lineups either. While Doubs went off for 29.8 fantasy points against Dallas in Week 4 and has had a few decent weeks since, he has been held under 10 fantasy points in five of his last six games. Headlining the brutal stretch, Doubs put up a donut in the last meeting with Chicago.
I’ll pass on him, along with Jacobs and Swift, in my lineups for Saturday night’s contest. I’d also tread lightly with DJ Moore, who logged just one reception in the first meeting with Green Bay and could be over-owned — especially compared to Loveland and Monangai.
THE OUTCOME
The Packers won 28-21 in Week 14, and I expect another close divisional matchup in the rematch in Chicago. While both sides are missing key pieces, I’m confident in the Bears’ defense at home, and I’ll take them to avenge their loss with a narrow victory on Saturday night.
