It wasn't too long ago that the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers were both the class of the NFC North. Five years ago, the Bears won the division. Three years ago, they missed the playoffs but still went 10-6. It's gone wrong for the Bears since, as they fell to 5-11 in last year's disaster season. The Packers keep chugging along, keep being one of the league's best teams. On Sunday, the two start their 2015 schedules against one another.
Fantasy football advice, Week 1: Who to start/sit for Packers vs. Bears
An NFC North rivalry that has become increasingly one-sided in recent years starts the NFL Sunday schedule for Week 1.
The top receiver for each team comes into Sunday with some injury concerns. Having already lost Jordy Nelson for the year with a torn ACL, the Packers have had to worry about Randall Cobb, who injured his shoulder late in the season. Cobb is going to play Sunday, and should be fairly worry-free for the game. The Bears aren't nearly as secure. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery barely practiced all week as he deals with a calf injury. He's expected to play Sunday, but monitor the situation, and even if he plays, he might not be at full strength. Eddie Royal (hip) and Marquess Wilson (hamstring) were also on the week's injury report. Royal appears to be fine for the game, with Wilson a little more of a question mark.
The Bears will play host to the Packers Sunday, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy considerations:
Green Bay Packers
Start 'em: Even without Nelson, Aaron Rodgers is one of the surest bets in the game. Not only is he a sure start, he's my No. 1 quarterback for the week. ... Eddie Lacy against an average defense is a must-start. Against the Bears? Super-yup. ... Randall Cobb's injury briefly scared fantasy owners, but he appears to be fine and needs to be in all lineups. ... Mason Crosby is among the game's most productive kickers. ... The Packers' defense is pretty good in its own right, and might have a hindered Chicago offense to go against.
Start 'em?: If you have Davante Adams, odds are good you're using him, and you aren't wrong to do so. It might be nice to wait a week to be sure we're all right about his usage, but he still makes sense as a probable start.
Sit 'em: There's been so much talk about the lower tier of Green Bay receivers; until we see something out of Ty Montgomery or Jeff Janis, they aren't fantasy useful, and let's cool it on the James Jones talk for a while, too. ... Richard Rodgers has gotten more attention as a possible recipient of Nelson's targets, but I wouldn't touch him until we see some evidence.
Chicago Bears
Start 'em: For all the things that have gone wrong for the Bears, everything about Matt Forte has gone right, and he's still a must-start wide receiver. ... Martellus Bennett is notoriously strong early in the season and fades later, and this is Week 1, so use him.
Start 'em?: I'm of the camp that says Jay Cutler rebounds this season, but even then he's a fringe QB2, and certainly not a standard-league starter. ... If Alshon Jeffery plays, and it sounds like he will, you pretty much have to use him. If Jeffery misses, you will probably want to use Eddie Royal, and there's an argument for Royal as a flex play even if Jeffery sees the field.
Sit 'em: The days of Robbie Gould as a top kicker are pretty much behind us. ... Look, would you want to be a defense going against Green Bay? And that's before considering the fact that the Bears' defense just isn't good.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby, Green Bay defense, Matt Forte, Martellus Bennett
Start if you're desperate: Davante Adams, Jay Cutler, Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal
Bench: Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, James Jones, Richard Rodgers, Robbie Gould, Chicago defense
