The home stretch of the NFL season is here, with the final push for the playoffs in full swing. Putting a bow on the Week 17 Sunday slate, the Chicago Bears will face the San Francisco 49ers.
These are two of the hottest teams in the NFL, each looking to finish the regular season on a high note and make some postseason noise. Chicago enters on a two-game winning streak and has won 11 of its last 13. San Francisco enters on a five-game winning streak of its own. The 49ers’ offense is firing on all cylinders and has not punted in the month of December.
Looking at the odds of this matchup, the 49ers enter as 3.5-point favorites and hold -192 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bears hold +160 odds of winning outright, and the game total is set at O/U 51.5 points.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action beyond just backing a side. This article will look at my three favorite prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for the Week 17 Sunday Night Football matchup.
Bears at 49ers Best Prop Bets
Caleb Williams Over 224.5 Passing Yards (-111)
It was a turbulent first season in the NFL, but Caleb Williams has found his footing in the first season of the Ben Johnson era. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown for 3,400 yards with 23 touchdowns, six interceptions and has added 369 rushing yards and three scores with his legs this year. Williams is averaging 226.7 passing yards per game and has thrown for over 224.5 passing yards in seven of the 15 games this season. This includes back-to-back games leading into this matchup.
Looking at the 49ers’ defense, they simply have not carried the level of bite we have come to expect from the organization. Injuries have been a key source of the struggles, but they have not lived up to expectations regardless of how you look at it. Overall, San Francisco ranks 11th in points allowed and 18th in total yards conceded. It has been especially vulnerable against the pass, ranking 24th in total passing yards allowed, 23rd in net yards per pass attempt and 26th in passing touchdowns conceded. Just last week, 44-year-old Philip Rivers carved up the 49ers for 277 passing yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns.
While the defense is a concern, the 49ers’ offense is clicking on all cylinders, with 85 points across their past two games and not punting in the month of December. If the Bears are going to remain competitive, they are going to need to move the ball and put up some points. Expect Caleb Williams to be called on at a high rate throughout and capitalize on a vulnerable defensive matchup. His confidence is sky-high following the walk-off overtime win last week and the hot streak the team is on. Williams has reached this total in back-to-back games and in five of his last nine. With the game script and matchup playing to his favor, count on the USC product to throw for over 224.5 passing yards tonight.
D’Andre Swift Over 57.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
The growth of Caleb Williams has been extremely encouraging, but the Bears still lean on a run-first approach. D’Andre Swift has been a huge part of this effort and is on pace for a career-best season. The Georgia product has carried the ball 204 times for 993 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the season. Swift is averaging 70.9 rushing yards per game and has tallied over 57.5 yards on the ground in nine of the 14 games. This includes four consecutive matchups leading into tonight.
The biggest concern in Swift’s outlook has been the emergence of Kyle Monangai. The Rutgers product has seen his role grow as the season has progressed. Monangai runs with ferocity and is quick to punish defenders. But Swift has still seen 11+ carries in all but one game this year. He is averaging 14.6 carries per game on the season and 15.5 across his past four games.
Swift has shown more explosive pop this season with an ability to break off for big gains. Count on Chicago to be committed to the run early as it lays the foundation for its offense to function. The Bears rank second in the NFL in rushing attempts and third in rushing yards. Monangai’s emergence has made this prop line dip to a level in which there is value, so back Swift to take advantage of this today. There is room in the offense for both, and Swift is still seeing an edge in snaps. Count on the former second-round pick rushing for over 57.5 rushing yards for the 10th time this season.
Brock Purdy to Record 3+ Passing Touchdowns (+169)
The praise has not been loud enough for how good Brock Purdy has played of late. While injuries have limited him to seven games on the season, Purdy has posted a 68.8% completion percentage and thrown for 1,737 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is coming off back-to-back games with exactly 295 passing yards and has tallied eight touchdowns over this stretch. Purdy has thrown for at least one touchdown in every game this year, two or more in five of the seven games, and three or more in three matchups.
Chicago has had some defensive concerns all year, which have mostly been covered up by it leading the league in turnovers forced. But the Bears rank 19th in points allowed and 24th in yards given up. Even more encouraging, they are also 29th in passing touchdowns allowed. The Bears gave up five passing touchdowns to Jared Goff earlier this year, as well as four to Joe Flacco and three to Jayden Daniels this season.
You could make a compelling case that the 49ers’ offense is currently performing the best in football, with it being surgical the way they are moving the ball down the field and punching in scores. Purdy is at the epicenter of all of this and has quieted the system quarterback accusations and whispers of him being replaceable. San Francisco still has plenty to play for as it attempts to catch the Seahawks for the top spot in the NFC West, and offense is its blueprint to success. Count on Purdy being at the heart of the attack once again and capitalize on the +169 odds of the 49ers’ star throwing for at least three touchdowns for the fourth time this year and third straight week.
