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In the second game on Sunday afternoon, the No. 7 seed Chicago Bears will travel down to the Big Easy to take on the No. 2 seed New Orleans Saints. This is a rematch from earlier in the season, where the Saints defeated the Bears at Soldier Field 26-23 in overtime.
The Bears (8-8) back doored themselves into the playoffs, after losing 35-16 to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. The Bears got help from the Los Angeles Rams, who clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Arizona Cardinals. Before their Week 17 loss to Green Bay, Chicago put together a three-game winning streak, in which they scored 30-plus points consecutively.
As for the Saints (12-4), they ended the regular-season with a two-game winning streak. New Orleans did not have superstar running back Alvin Kamara in Week 17 after testing positive for COVID-19. Along with Kamara, the Saints were without superstar wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve a few weeks prior. But New Orleans got back future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, who made his return in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
TV Info
Date: Sunday, Jan. 10
Time: 4:40 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS
Broadcast map
Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)
Bears: #15 Overall — #25 offense, #8 defense, #8 special teams
Saints: #1 Overall — #7 offense, #2 defense, #5 special teams
DraftKings Sportsbook odds
Bears: +9.5, +360
Saints: -9.5, -435
Total: 47.5
Fantasy football start/sit advice
Bears
David Montgomery, RB, $6,900
If the Bears have any chance of pulling an upset, it will rest on the shoulders of running back David Montgomery. Montgomery has scored a rushing touchdown in five-straight games and record two 100-yard performances to end the season. In the Bears’ last five games, he is averaging 99 yards on 21 carries for 4.71 yards per carry. On Sunday, he’ll be facing one of the league’s best run defense in the Saints, which is only allowing 3.9 yards per carry this season.
Jimmy Graham, TE, $3,300
The veteran tight end has been one of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s favorite targets down the stretch. In the Bears’ last four games, Jimmy Graham has recorded 12 receptions (14 targets) for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He’s also scored double-digit DraftKing points twice within those four games. On Sunday, Graham will be facing a Saints’ defense that held him to only 3.3 fantasy points earlier this season, but has allowed nine touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
Saints
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, $5,000
If Michael Thomas cannot play on Sunday, then Emmanuel Sanders will be vaulted back into the WR1 spot again. Last week, Sanders had one of his better performances with nine receptions (13 targets) for 63 yards and a touchdown. In the Saints’ last three games, he has produced 17 receptions (23 targets) for 222 yards and a touchdown. Sanders scored 21.3 DraftKing points in Week 17, which was his second-best performance this season. The veteran wideout is a solid WR2/FLEX option.
Drew Brees, QB, $5,700
Since making his return to the field in Week 15 against the Chiefs, Brees has completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 746 yards, six touchdowns, and three touchdowns. Last Sunday against the Panthers, Brees did not have a single turnover and threw three touchdowns.
He also scored 20 DraftKing points, which was the second time in three weeks that Brees crossed the threshold. On Sunday, he’ll be going against a Bears’ defense that is only allowing 18.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season.