Welcome to the Monday Night Showdown Slate for NFL Week 10!
Right off the bat, I will tell you that I feel the same way about this game as I did last Thursday with the Colts and the Titans. I took the Bears +2.5 in the Westgate Supercontest and while the line is now 3.5, I still see the game the same way. We all know what the Vikings are going to do. Just like Tennessee did with Derrick Henry , they will run the ball heavily with Dalvin Cook . And just like the Colts defense, the Bears will be ready for it. Yes, Henry managed 100 yards in the game, but he failed to find the end zone and did you see how many bone-crushing hits he took behind the line of scrimmage? Cook is in for a bruising night in the cold of Chicago and I am all-in on the Bears defense.
On the offensive front for Chicago, there are a lot of moving parts – gross-looking moving parts. The backfield will be a three-headed monster with Lamar Miller coming off the practice squad to join Cordarrelle Patterson and Ryan Nall while a questionable Allen Robinson , who is expected to play, could yield some targets to guys like Darnell Mooney and Anthony Miller . Selecting players for tonight’s showdown, at least on the Bears side, could be a roll of the dice.
Before we start, please allow me to reiterate that while we all love having a little skin in the game, these showdown slates are basically lottery tickets. Sure, there are times when the chalk hits and everyone shares in the prizes, but more often than not, you need that random, differentiate yourself from the herd dart-throw to hit in order to claim that top prize. As a result, we encourage to play responsibly. Stick to the GPP contests (single-entry preferred), don’t blow your whole bankroll and understand that, unless you are a max-entry player, you should prioritize having fun.
OK, lecture over. Let’s get to tonight’s action.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Spread: Vikings -3.5
O/U: 43.5
Betting Facts:
Line opened at Chicago -2 but quickly flipped to Vikings -2.5
Money Line: Vikings -186; Bears +160
Vikings are 5-3 against the spread this season
Vikings are 4-16 in Chicago since 2000
Kirk Cousins is 0-9 on Monday Night Football
The UNDER has hit in six of the Bears nine games this season
Weather: Low 40s, partly cloudy with 5% chance of precipitation and winds WNW at 10 mph
Last 5 Match-Ups:
Bears lead series 4-1 with wins in the last four-straight
Average Margin of Victory – 8.8
Last Match-Up – Bears beat the Vikings 21-19 in Minnesota on 12/29/2019
Notable Injuries:
Vikings:
- Irv Smith, Jr, TE (groin – out)
- Cameron Dantzler, DB (concussion – out)
Bears:
- David Montgomery , RB (concussion – out)
- Allen Robinson , WR (knee – questionable but trending towards playing)
- Cole Kmet, TE (groin – questionable)
Defensive Rankings (Using DVOA):
Vikings:
vs Pass: 13th
vs Run: 19th
Bears:
vs Pass: 4th
vs Run: 7th
Prop Bets to Watch:
The reason we are listing these here is to help you understand what the Vegas expectations are. If you aren’t routinely amazed by how accurate spreads and totals are, you haven’t been paying attention and you’re missing out on a valuable tool. Take a look at the list below and understand how to utilize for DFS. When you see the over and under have the same money line, that’s Vegas’ way of saying it can go either way. You have the base number and can determine whether you use a player or not based on that. But when there is a different money line on the over and unders, Vegas is telling you what to expect. A negative money line means they feel it is more likely to happen which can help you make decisions regarding which players to play.
- Kirk Cousins Passing Yards: 222.5 (over +100, under -124); TD Passes: 1.5 (over -104, under -121)
- Nick Foles Passing Yards: 270.5 (over +110, under -137); TD Passes: 1.5 (over -137, under +110)
- Dalvin Cook Rushing Yards: 86.5 (over & under -112); Receiving Yards: 16.5 (over -137, under +110)
- Adam Thielen Receiving Yards: 59.5 (over -106, under -118)
- Justin Jefferson Receiving Yards: 53.5 (over -118, under -106)
- Chad Beebe Receiving Yards: 11.5 (over & under -112)
- Allen Robinson Receiving Yards: 67.5 (over -148, under +118)
- Darnell Mooney Receiving Yards: 42.5 (over -125, under +100)
- Kyle Rudolph Receiving Yards: 29.5 (over & under -112)
- Jimmy Graham Receiving Yards: 35.5 (over & under -112)
MVP/Captain
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Chicago Bears Defense – The Bears defense gives up an average of 116.7 rushing yards per game but they have only allowed six rushing touchdowns on the season. With the struggles of Kirk Cousins both in Chicago and on Monday Night Football, they should focus more heavily on Dalvin Cook and force Cousins to beat them through the air. With 20 sacks, five interceptions and four forced-fumble recoveries, they should be able to rack up some big points for you.
Dalvin Cook , RB MIN – Is there really anything we need to say about Cook and his abilities? If you don’t agree with me that this game could go in the same direction as the Colts/Titans game, then make the investment in Cook for your top spot.
Allen Robinson , WR CHI – There is some risk as Robinson has been limited all week with a knee injury. But the Vikings corners are an absolute mess due to injuries and they just don’t have the ability to cover Robinson even if he’s at like 80-percent health. We are also assuming Bill Lazor gets ARob much more involved in the early parts of the game, something Matt Nagy always failed to do.
Mid-Tier
Nick Foles , QB CHI – With such a decrepit backfield, the onus will be on Foles to win this game for the Bears. Hopefully, he and Lazor have spent enough time talking game plan to get this figured out. If so, we could see a much more vibrant offense which will focus on abusing a bad Vikings secondary.
Darnell Mooney, WR CHI – The Vikings lost rookie DB Cameron Dantzler to a concussion which means Kris Boyd and Chris Jones are likely to be the outside corners. There is a chance they pull Jeff Gladney off the slot and have him focus on Robinson, but either way, Mooney is in a nice spot to see a boatload of targets. Not sure you want both him and ARob in the same lineup, so if you fade Robinson, be sure to use Mooney.
Justin Jefferson, WR MIN – The big weakness for the Bears secondary is their slot corner, Buster Skrine . Jefferson has actually run routes out of the slot 41-percent of the time this season, so he should be moved there a little more often tonight than Adam Thielen . Between that and facing Jaylon Johnson on the outside, Jefferson could be in for the majority of targets on the Minnesota side.
Dart Throws
Cordarrelle Patterson , RB/WR CHI – Who doesn’t live a good revenge-game narrative, amirite? OK, maybe not, but it’s very difficult to imagine Lamar Miller is going to see a boatload of carries during his first action of the season. Patterson should see carries and targets throughout this game and if he does have a chip on his shoulder, I want him in my lineups.
Chad Beebe , WR MIN – Like I said, the big weakness of the Bears secondary is Skrine. If the Vikings do struggle in this one like the Titans did against the Colts, then why not give a look at their primary slot receiver? Beebe doesn’t get a lot of work in this offense usually, but if the Bears sell out to stop the run, the Vikings could land in more three-receiver sets.
Lamar Miller , RB CHI – He’s crazy cheap on the slate and the Bears will give him a look. At his price you can get an awful lot of top talent into your lineup. Expect him to be chalky as the masses flock to the “shiny new toy” even those he’s older and broken.
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.