Detroit visits Chicago in a Week 2 clash that centers on Detroit’s run-first attack and Chicago’s injury-driven interior front. Amon-Ra St. Brown figures prominently in the Lions’ target distribution, while Gibbs and Montgomery are expected to shoulder the backfield workload. Grady Jarrett’s knee and Kyler Gordon’s hamstring add uncertainty to Chicago’s front, amplifying fantasy implications around Lions’ ground game and St. Brown’s slot usage.

Kevin Byard underscored the defense’s mandate to stop the run, a theme that shapes both teams’ plans. For fantasy managers, Lions backfield volatility and St. Brown’s high-slot target share loom large, while Jarrett’s status and Bears’ up-front injuries become key injury levers in projections.

Ben Johnson’s Chicago debut ended in a late collapse as Minnesota staged a 27-24 comeback. J.J. McCarthy sparked the rally, showing mobility and efficiency in a pass-happy shift, finishing with 210 yards, a TD and a rushing score. Caleb Williams opened hot for the Bears, but Chicago stalled, punted seven times, and squandered clock-management chances. Johnson cited two critical missteps: a failed challenge that cost a timeout and a late kickoff decision that bled precious seconds.

The result leaves fantasy bettors eyeing McCarthy’s upside in a high-variance Vikings offense, while Hockenson’s involvement and Sewell’s key turnover add nuance to Chicago’s defensive and special-teams outlook. Santos’ shaky leg and the Bears’ clock-work suggest Week 2 adjustments will be pivotal for valuation of both teams’ weapons.

The Chicago Bears head Week 1 facing a major defensive shakeup, as three top defenders—Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and T.J. Edwards—are inactive, testing Chicago’s secondary against Minnesota’s aerial attack. Roschon Johnson and rookie Shemar Turner also sit out, while Jordan Addison’s suspension clears a path for Justin Jefferson and the Vikings’ passing game. JJ McCarthy makes his first NFL start in a Minnesota-led contest at Soldier Field, with kickoff set for 7:15 p.m. CST.

Without that defensive identity, Chicago must lean on youth and scheme under new coordination. Minnesota’s offense, even with Addison out, presents a challenge as Jefferson remains the primary target and the Vikings rotate pieces to exploit the Bears’ coverage. This Week 1 showdown doubles as a test of Bears resilience and Vikings depth in a highly anticipated opener.

Minnesota heads to Chicago for Week 1 with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, marking a high-upside, rookie-year-freeing debut for the Vikings’ offense. Minnesota is priced near a pick-em, with public hype driving the line toward -1.5, while Chicago leans on a reshaped coaching staff to slow the pace. Injury notes loom, including Jordan Addison and Christian Darrisaw for Minnesota and Roschon Johnson for the Bears, complicating projections as betting markets settle under 43.5 total points.

Fantasy angles focus on McCarthy’s rushing floor, Addison’s target share, and Chicago’s opportunistic backfield. Darrisaw’s status and Harrison Smith’s health could tilt protection and secondary matchups, altering Minnesota’s ceiling. For Chicago, Johnson’s workload and the Bears’ revamped play-caller approach will determine whether Week 1 yields upside or a slow start.