Packers vs Bears Fantasy Preview: TNF

With Green Bay and Chicago having a Thursday night game, it makes for a short week for teams and fantasy owners alike.  There are a few more things for fantasy owners to consider when exploring the idea of starting a player on a short week.

Must Starts for Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby.

Must Starts for Chicago: Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery.

Aaron Rodgers should have a big game: Rodgers torched the Bears in Week 16 last year for five touchdowns after coming off a loss to Kansas City.  This time around, Brian Urlacher is back but the Packers again are coming off a loss in which Rodgers did not play all that bad against San Francisco.  Look for Rodgers to have a big game like he usually does against the Bears in Lambeau.

Sit Greg Jennings: Usually I would have a start next to his name but Jennings has a strained groin.  Even if the Packers decide that Jennings can go, groin injuries are a risky thing to go against.  The most biggest thing working against Jennings is the short week, which gives him only three days to get healthy as opposed to a full week in most cases so in all cases. 

Pick up Randall Cobb and start him: The Packers introduced a new package with Cobb last week against San Francisco that got him the ball as a receiver more.  The situation is that they will line him up more in the back field and use him on short screen passes and if they get to the goal-line, it could result in a touchdown.  Also he is a threat on special teams any time he has room to return.

Start Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall: If you have someone above Cutler in the quarterback rotation that is not Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, then sit him and go with Cutler.  The reason is simple: the Packers secondary simply has been bad for over a year and could get torched again with the Cutler/Marshall combo together again.  Marshall will play a factor and it will be up to Tramon Williams to shut him down.

Start Alshon Jeffery: The Bears have a good situation if Williams shuts down Marshall (San Francisco rarely targeted a receiver that Williams covered) and then Jeffery becomes a very viable option.  The thought is that the Packers will have the combo of Jarrett Bush and Sam Shields covering Jeffery and that will immediately give the Bears receiver the edge in the game. 

By: David Folz