Chicago Bears vs. New York Jets Matchup Breakdown For Fantasy Football Week 4

• Spread: Bears -3.0
• Total: 42.5
• Score Prediction (from our NFL Betting Game Model): CHI 25, NYJ 17

New York Jets Fantasy Preview

J-E-T-S! Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch! Not many teams come across as top-heavy as NYJ, who lost both major cogs in their offensive machine Sunday. Both Breece Hall (thigh) and Garrett Wilson (head) left the game versus Detroit injured. Ugh. Hall’s been labeled “week-to-week” while Wilson is supposedly fine, having dodged a bullet by clearing concussion protocol. Regardless, it’s a step down for an imbalanced Jets attack, already severely challenged in the run game.

New York’s freshly constructed O-line, featuring multiple new starters, acted as a point of consternation in preseason debates, representing one of the most disparate consensus ranks in the NFL. The jury’s still out, but it looks like a far superior pass-blocking unit than a run-blocking unit. Granted, Geno’s taken 9 sacks already, but he’s holding onto the ball too long — they’ve only allowed a 34.7% pressure rate. I guess it beats throwing picks. Kidding aside, Geno’s an interesting streamer in softer matchups, which the Bears certainly qualify for.

The Jets’ run game is truly terrible as constituted. At just 3.3 yards/rush, not all blame falls on the RB — their 0.81 yards before contact/attempt disallows the runner to attack holes. It’s also playing a major role in New York’s failure to record a single +20-yard carry this season. Braelon Allen’s a must-add for touches alone, since no other Jet RB saw the field or handled the rock after Hall’s departure. Chicago’s done a poor job defending the run so far (5.1 yards/attempt, 10.1% explosive rush rate), but I’m still keeping expectations low. Standard operating procedure as a Jet fan, I guess.

Oh yeah, Kenyon Sadiq is awesome, and I’m shocked his rostership rate’s hovering around 50% as of writing. Pretty please, with sugar on top, change that if he’s still available in your league — I think we’re looking at a weekly flex play given his high-value role down in the green zone.

• Start: Geno Smith, Garrett Wilson, Kenyon Sadiq
• Sit: Isaiah Williams
• Sleeper: Braelon Allen

Chicago Bears Fantasy Preview

A Goldilocks and the Three Bears analogy could be a little too on the nose, but I’m going for it anyway. First, Chicago's porridge was too hot (59 points scored), then too cold (3 points scored), before leveling out to just right against the Eagles (27 points). Most interesting part, of course? That last chapter of our fairy tale was written by Case Keenum, who I need to take a gigantic capital “L” for doubting.

My doubts weren’t unique, obviously; the 38-year-old journeyman only got the nod because true backup Tyson Bagent suffered a concussion without enough time to clear. Nevertheless, the duo of Keenum and Ben Johnson did their thing, defeating a very wobbly Eagles squad in primetime. Most shocking for me was just how similarly Chicago called the game regardless of who played under center.

To oversimplify, consider whoever winds up as QB for the Bears as a system QB, simply tasked with keeping the buses running on schedule. Keenum did an excellent job of just that (70.6% completion, 8.8% off-target, 7.3 yards/attempt) and frankly, I’d probably extend that same grace to Bagent if and when he gets the nod. Basically, system QBs are fine … when the system’s good.

To me, Week 3 resonated as more representative of the true talent in this Jets defensive core. After smooshing very weak competition in the Titans and now the Packers, we knew Detroit would present a far greater challenge … and boy, did they. The Jets surrendered nearly as many yards last weekend as they had all season combined. Even without Caleb Williams, they still ran 70 plays!

As a more conservative player, I’d still lean toward the lower aDOT targets with Andre Cisco lurking back there. And sorry, but I’m far too invested in Colston Loveland to believe in Kalif Raymond as anything more than a blip — I'm staying the course on my favorite player to take off, starting Sunday.

Start ‘em if you got ‘em — this version of the Bears should have no problem putting up points versus New York.

• Start: D’Andre Swift, Luther Burden, Colston Loveland
• Sit: Rome Odunze
• Sleeper: Khalif Raymond

Next Week's Bold Headline, Today

There’s the Jets we know and love. Case Keenum keeps tapping the fountain of youth, while Geno commits his first backbreaking turnover of the season. Hope in Chicago is restored for the cold winter ahead.