Christian Darrisaw sat out the Bears game after testing his surgically repaired knee in warmups, nudging Justin Skule into starting duty. J.J. McCarthy delivered late heroics despite uneven protection, while Blake Cashman exited with a hamstring issue and Eric Wilson stepped in to direct the defense. Jeff Okudah’s concussion evaluation and Harrison Smith’s illness added to Vikings’ injury drama, with Bears’ Caleb Williams and Nahshon Wright contributing big plays as Minnesota honored shooting victims at the pregame.

Vikings and Bears open Week 1 with key players out, shaking up protection, coverage, and backfield plans. Minnesota will deploy Justin Skule at left tackle with Harrison Smith sidelined, while Theo Jackson and Jay Ward factor into the safety rotation. Chicago will replace top corners Johnson and Gordon and will be without linebacker Edwards, boosting Bears targets and pressuring QB decisions. Expect a game plan heavy on quick throws and varied looks to offset the uncertainty up front and in the secondary.

Fantasy angles tilt toward pass-catching opportunities for Chicago’s WRs against a thinner secondary and toward Minnesota’s top weapons as protection and rotations shift. Bears backfield could lean on Herbert with Roschon Johnson inactive, while Vikings pass game volume may depend on how quickly Cousins can operate behind the reshaped line and safety group.

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.

Week 1 closes with Minnesota at Chicago, a showdown built on young QB futures and front-line talent. J.J. McCarthy leads Minnesota after Michigan glory and a knee scare, while Chicago targets Caleb Williams as a long-term spark, aided by a revamped line and weaponry. On the Vikings side, injury notes loom: Darrisaw is questionable, Harrison Smith is out, Addison is unavailable, and C.J. Ham is out of the lineup. The Bears field a tougher test with Williams at the helm and a healthier OL. Odds tilt toward an over based on pace and a tightening game script.

Fantasy implications center on McCarthy’s improvisational upside and Chicago’s improved front. Expect Vikings playmakers to command attention even with Addison sidelined, while Chicago banks on Williams’ mobility to stretch defenses. Bettors lean over 44, with the game environment and coaching angles shaping early Week 1 decisions.