The Bears opened strong but faltered late, blown by a fourth‑quarter collapse and a costly challenge that burned a timeout. Chicago’s offense stalled after a rapid start, with 12 penalties costing yardage and Caleb Williams misfiring downfield. Ben Johnson took ownership of the play‑calling in his first regular‑season game, calling the loss a teachable moment and vowing adjustments ahead of the Detroit trip. For fantasy managers, the takeaway is patience with Johnson, a push toward balance, and closer attention to clock management as the offense settles in.

Johnson’s postgame clarity and accountability set a tone for growth, while the Bears must minimize penalties and sustain drives. The Week 2 matchup versus his former team, Detroit, is a pressure test to see if Chicago can stabilize a lackluster run game and reclaim late‑game control. In Minnesota, T.J. Hockenson remained a focal point, underscoring his fantasy ceiling even if Chicago’s decision‑making overshadowed the outcome.

Caleb Williams’ Bears debut flashed high-end upside with a quick-start offense and dual-threat flashes, but the night spiraled as the defense tired and Williams’ decision-making wavered. A late replay-challenge timeout miscue by Chicago’s staff left the Bears with a desperate finish, field-goal chance squandered by progression and time. Minnesota seized the moment, aided by a key late sequence from T.J. Hockenson, while Chicago tried to salvage a game that began with fireworks but ended in volatility.

Fantasy takeaway: Williams’ rushing floor provides genuine upside, but his long-term value rests on improving accuracy and clock-management under pressure. Hockenson’s late involvement for Minnesota keeps him a sturdy target in tight-game scripts, while Bears coaching and stamina will determine if Williams can sustain this splashy, roller-coaster blend of boom-or-bust weeks.

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.

J.J. McCarthy's rocky start flipped to history in the fourth quarter as Minnesota stunned Chicago 27-24. He became the first quarterback to throw three fourth-quarter TDs in an NFL debut, erasing a 10-point deficit on the road—the first to do so since Steve Young in 1985. A late drive featured a 27-yard TD to Aaron Jones Sr., a Thielen two-point, and a hurtling TD run helped by solid Hockenson blocking to seal it.

Jefferson snagged a 13-yard TD on the comeback, and Flores' defense locked down Caleb Williams and the Bears late. The debut reshapes fantasy expectations: McCarthy's ceiling is immense when the passing game clicks, while Jefferson's volume should stay elite. Thielen and Jones Sr. added vital touches, signaling a multi-faceted Vikings attack with upside as the season unfolds.

Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy headline Week 1, with Williams facing Minnesota’s solid defense and McCarthy stepping into Minnesota’s high‑percentage system. D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze are central to Chicago’s aerial attack, while Aaron Jones Sr. and D’Andre Swift form a backfield rotation for Minnesota—that duo should still yield steady receiving work. T.J. Hockenson anchors the tight end spot, and Luther Burden III and Adam Thielen offer appealing upside for deeper rosters. The Who Should I Start tool adds a brisk, four‑player comparison to help set Week 1 lineups.

In short, Williams is a viable Week 1 low‑end QB2 play with long‑term upside; McCarthy sticks as a solid Superflex option; Moore, Hockenson, and Thielen are anchor plays, with Odunze and Mason offering high‑ceiling, lower‑floor upside in this Bears‑heavy Week 1 slate. Jones Sr. and Swift bring backfield value, while Burden and Mason provide late‑round boom potential in PPR leagues.