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Week 1 MNF: Vikings-Bears Preview, Props, Prediction

Mon Sep 8 5:03pm ET
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Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season concludes with a matchup of bitter division rivals with the Minnesota Vikings traveling to take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

It's a significant litmus test for both teams to kick off their NFC North slates.

The Bears open at home seeking to prove they're a playoff contender and that second-year quarterback Caleb Williams made significant offseason strides under new head coach Ben Johnson. The Vikings went one-and-done in the playoffs after an 14-win regular season, and handed the keys of the offense to their own second-year quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, whose rookie season was wiped out by a knee injury.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Vikings are consensus 1.5-point favorites on the road, with DraftKings and BetRivers offering them at -108.

The Bears have drawn 56 percent of the total bets and 76 percent of the spread-line money at +100 at BetRivers. However, the moneyline has been nearly split while the Bears have been backed by 76 percent of the money at +100. Minnesota's moneyline has a far less enticing payout at -121, although the book reported the largest wager on the game was $16,350 on the Vikings' ML when it was at -127.

Minnesota has lost five of its past six road openers, and the home team has covered the spread in five of the team's past six games overall. Meanwhile, seven of the Bears' past eight home openers have gone under the total points line, which stood at 43.5 at BetRivers on Monday afternoon.

PROP PICKS

--Over 43.5 Total Points (-110 at DraftKings): We're bucking the stats trend mentioned above primarily because of the multiple injury issues the Bears have in their secondary. It is McCarthy's first career regular-season start, but coach Kevin O'Connell typically features a high percentage passing game at the outset and the Vikings will need to move the ball to keep pace with a Bears offense that features plenty of downfield threats for Williams.

--Justin Jefferson Over 70 Receiving Yards (-165 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book, with Jefferson topping 70 yards in all but four games last season. That was with Sam Darnold at the helm. It will be interesting to see what level of chemistry Jefferson has built with McCarthy, who will be without the suspended Jordan Addison. That will mean more snaps for recently acquired Adam Thielen, fellow veteran Jalen Nailor and third-round rookie Tai Felton.

INSIDE EDGE

Inside Edge's Remarkable engine showed that Minnesota led the NFL last season with an average of 10.4 yards on pass attempts up the middle. The league average was 8.1. The Vikings' running backs also led the lead with 21 targets inside the red zone.

Meanwhile, Chicago's defense led the league in allowing an average of only one passing touchdown per game and tied for the fewest penalties with only 27 in 2024.

THE NEWS

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores never met a blitz package he didn't like, the type of hyper-aggressive approach prone to leaving a young quarterback rattled.

Like-minded Dennis Allen begins his first season calling the shots for the Bears' defense on Monday night and undoubtedly reminded his veteran starters there's fresh meat on the menu as McCarthy makes his first career start -- in primetime at historic Soldier Field.

In the final game of Week 1, Johnson will make his debut as head coach of the Bears and has the pelts on the wall to break any ties between defensive masterminds. Johnson ran up 30 or more points in each of his past four gridiron chess matches with Flores during a record-setting run of success as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.

A one-man offensive think tank, Johnson anticipates many new looks and imaginative disguises from Flores and the Vikings to test Williams, who will be playing behind an offensive line with three new starters. Johnson said he's been studying Flores for years, dating to the former Miami Dolphins head coach's training as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots.

It was in that setting at the knee of Bill Belichick where Flores built an ever-adapting scheme that thrived on not showing the same looks.

"He does that as a coordinator. You don't really know what you're going to get," Johnson said of Flores. "You have to adjust in the middle of the game. Our guys have to be open-minded and be willing to understand that we're going to get hit in the teeth a couple times. It's the nature of doing business with this crew. They have some really good players. They're really well-coached. They're really ball-conscious, they're going after the ball all the time."

Minnesota tied for the NFL lead with 33 takeaways in 2024 and ranked fifth in points allowed per game. To address one consistent shortfall, the Vikings added two veteran defensive tackles, Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, who can also wreak havoc on passing downs.

Williams, drafted nine spots ahead of McCarthy as the No. 1 selection in the 2024 draft, should be better protected in his second season. He never looked like a rookie facing the Flores defense in two starts against Minnesota last season, throwing three TD passes with zero interceptions with a passer rating of 96.7.

The Vikings didn't have to show their entire hand to Williams in last season's win at Chicago. The Bears erased an 11-point deficit before Minnesota pulled out the 30-27 overtime victory behind Darnold. Darnold exited for Seattle in free agency, clearing the QB1 role for McCarthy, who is recovered from the two right knee surgeries that cost him his rookie season.

A top injury concern for the Bears is left cornerback Jaylon Johnson. He said this week he's hopeful for a return from an offseason groin injury that kept him off the field the entire preseason. He was officially listed as questionable on Saturday after taking part in limited practice for the third consecutive day.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who was an offensive lineman in the NFL, restocked the offensive line with trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. He also signed pricey free-agent center Drew Dalman and continued to pump assets into building an arsenal of playmakers around Williams.

After drafting Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze in the top 10 of the 2024 draft, the Bears used the No. 10 pick in April to select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland and added dynamic Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round.

INJURY REPORT

Besides Jaylon Johnson, the Bears added fellow defensive back Kyler Gordon (hamstring) as questionable. Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) is doubtful, and he could miss his first game in more than three seasons. That could mean increased snaps for rookie fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II.

Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai (hamstring) was removed from the injury report after practicing in full on Saturday. Fellow running back Roschon Johnson (foot) is questionable along with special teams standout Josh Blackwell (groin)

For Minnesota, running back Zavier Scott (ankle) and defensive end Elijah Williams (hamstring) were ruled out, while safety Harrison Smith (illness) is doubtful. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) is questionable.

THEY SAID IT

"I just try to be completely present. At the end of the day, there's going to be anxious, excitement and a lot of adrenaline. I know I'm going to be amped up. At the end of the day, I know (coaches) will put me in a great position and my teammates around me will do everything they can to make sure we are successful every play." --McCarthy, who grew up in the Chicago area. They first game he attended was a 34-31 Vikings win at Soldier Field in 2007.

"I've known Caleb for a long time. I think the world of him. He just continues to get better and better. You can see it when he starts creating off-schedule and that athleticism. We had him dead to rights a couple of times and he gets out and makes huge plays. It's going to be a challenge. ... I look forward to competing against him because he's going to be a really good player." --O'Connell, who met extensively with Williams leading up to the 2024 draft.

PREDICTION

This could be a coming of age party for Williams, who threw four touchdowns without an interception in two meetings last year. McCarthy has played in plenty of raucous environments in the past without getting rattled often, but Soldier Field on a Monday night to begin the season is a tall task, especially without Addison opposite Jefferson. --Bears 27, Vikings 23

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Player Notes
TreVeyon Henderson Sep 8 4:20pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said on WEEI on Monday that rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson will remain a "big part of what we do" moving forward. While Rhamondre Stevenson got the start in the Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and led the team with seven rushing attempts, he was only able to muster 15 yards on the ground while catching two of three targets for 12 yards. Meanwhile, Henderson was much more efficient on five carries, rushing for 27 yards (5.4 yards per carry), and he also caught all six of his targets for 24 yards through the air. On special teams, the 22-year-old back from Ohio State returnedtwo kickoffs for 43 yards. Henderson's fantasy managers have to be pleased with his involvement in the season opener, and he should have more upside in Week 2 against a Dolphins D that gave up 33 points to the Colts.

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Brock Bowers Sep 8 3:00pm CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is considered day-to-day on Monday after he left the Week 1 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday and did not return, according to head coach Pete Carroll. Bowers also downplayed his knee injury and said there are no concerns, suggesting that he should be just fine to play in a Week 2 divisional tilt next Monday night versus the Los Angeles Chargers. The 22-year-old second year tight end could be rested once the Raiders open their practice week on Thursday, but all signs are pointing to him being available as a must-start TE this coming week. Bowers was lobbying to return to Sunday's game against the Pats, but the Raiders didn't want to take any chances with a player who has quickly become one of the best TEs in the NFL. Despite leaving early, Bowers still managed five catches on eight targets for 103 yards.

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Darren Waller Sep 8 2:43pm CT
Darren Waller

Miami Dolphins TE Darren Waller (hip) will try to be ready for the Week 2 game, but his availability is uncertain at this point, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.

Fantasy Spin: Waller is still working his way back after sitting out the 2024 season, so fantasy players can check later in the week to see if he will play. He will probably only see a few targets in the passing game and can be considered a No. 2 tight end in fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Jonnu Smith Sep 8 2:40pm CT
Jonnu Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith was a mixed bag in his debut with the team in the wild 34-32 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Smith led the team with five receptions on six targets and found the end zone for the first time in 2025, but he accounted for only 15 receiving yards and averaged a paltry three yards per reception. The 30-year-old played in 66 percent of the offensive snaps compared to 50% for fellow TE Pat Freiermuth, who caught all three of his targets for 28 yards. It's good news that quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked Smith's way six times (tied for second on the team), but he's certainly not going to be anywhere close to his 88-884-8 line in a breakout season with Miami last year. As long as Freiermuth stays healthy, fantasy managers should consider Smith a touchdown-dependent TE2.

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Quinshon Judkins Sep 8 2:30pm CT
Quinshon Judkins

Cleveland Browns rookie second-round running back Quinshon Judkins will join the rest of the team for practice this week after finally signing his rookie deal on Sept. 6, but head coach Kevin Stefanski was non-committal on whether Judkins will be active in the Week 2 contest this Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens. The Browns have been optimitic that the 21-year-old will be ready to go in Week 2, but a report also surfaced over the weekend that suggested he could be facing a multi-week suspension from the NFL despite not being formally charged in a domestic-violence case. Judkins is expected to eventually take over lead-back duties in Cleveland in 2025, but he missed all of training camp and the preseason. Even if Judkins is available this weekend against Baltimore, he will probably be eased into the offense and would be an extremely risky RB in fantasy lineups.

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Ameer Abdullah Sep 8 2:23pm CT
Ameer Abdullah

Free-agent RB Ameer Abdullah (49ers) was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad Monday, Sept. 8. The team also released RB Khalil Herbert from the practice squad.

From TheHuddle

Jonathan Taylor Sep 8 2:20pm CT
Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that running back Jonathan Taylor (neck) is "good" after he took an awkward hit to his neck area in Sunday's Week 1 blowout win over the Miami Dolphins, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Steichen added that Taylor could have gone back into the game, but with the Colts up big in the second half, it wasn't worth it. The Colts also took the opportunity to get an extended look at rookie DJ Giddens with Tyler Goodson (elbow) inactive. Taylor had 18 carries for 71 yards and caught all three of his targets for 27 yards in the 33-8 win before departing and not returning. It was a bummer to see quarterback Daniel Jones fall into the end zone at the goal line instead of Taylor, but all in all, it was a plus for JT's fantasy managers to see Indy's offense humming in Week 1. Taylor should be able to play in Week 2, albeit against a much stouter Denver Broncos defense.

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Ameer Abdullah Sep 8 2:20pm CT
Ameer Abdullah

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that they signed free-agent running back Ameer Abdullah to their practice squad and released running back Khalil Herbert from the practice squad in a corresponding move. Abdullah joined the San Francisco 49ers as RB depth in training camp but was eventually cut from Injured Reserve due to a rib injury. The 32-year-old veteran will now head to the AFC South division, where he'll serve as depth behind starter Jonathan Taylor, rookie DJ Giddens, Tyler Goodson (elbow) and Ulysses Bentley. Abdullah will give the Colts 10 years of NFL experience, although it's unlikely that he'll work his way into a fantasy relevant role without multiple Indy backs in front of him going down with injury. In 16 games (three starts) in Vegas in 2024, Abdullah had 311 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries.

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Elic Ayomanor Sep 8 2:10pm CT
Elic Ayomanor

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor saw seven targets come his way on Sunday, trailing only first-round picks Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan amongst rookies at the position in Week 1. Unfortunately, he was only able to convert those looks into two receptions for 13 yards against a stout Denver defense. Ayomanor's heavy workload was likely the result of top option Calvin Ridley being shadowed by All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II. Still, the thought has been that one of the Titans' rookie receivers would have a chance to emerge on a relatively weak depth chart. After one week, it appears that Ayomanor will have a substantial role. While the Titans' passing game was completely ineffective on Sunday, brighter days should be ahead withquarterback Cam Ward under center, and Ayomanor is worth a stash in deep leagues.

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Cade Stover Sep 8 2:00pm CT
Cade Stover

Houston Texans second-year tight end Cade Stover (foot) broke his foot in Sunday's game against the Rams and will be out indefinitely. On a day where the Texans' passing attack found limited success, Stover led the team with four catches, which he turned into 22 yards. After a quiet rookie season, it's unlikely Stover was rostered in many leagues, and that will unfortunately remain the case after one of the best games of his young career. With Christian Kirk (hamstring) still sidelined, the Texans are in desperate need of secondary options in the passing game to take some of the defensive attention away from Nico Collins. The best bet will be second-round rookie receiver Jayden Higgins, who will look to top his two-catch debut; however, behind a struggling offensive line, the Texans' offense as a whole could continue to look sluggish, making Collins the only reliable weekly starter.

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Geno Smith Sep 8 1:53pm CT
Geno Smith

Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith (hamstring) experienced some hamstring tightness during the second half of the Week 1 game but continued playing, according to head coach Pete Carroll.

Fantasy Spin: Smith could miss some practice time this week because of the injury, but it does not appear like he is in danger of missing Week 2. He is coming off a 300-yard game and can be a starting option in two-quarterback leagues but probably will not be a starter in standard leagues.

From TheHuddle

Kayshon Boutte Sep 8 1:40pm CT
Kayshon Boutte

In speaking with reporters on Monday, New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte sent a reminder that at one point in his college career, he was considered a first-round talent. Following two surgeries to repair a broken ankle and a disappointing final season at LSU, he was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round of the 2023 Draft. Boutte believes that the first-round pedigree is still there after pacing all New England pass catchers on Sunday with eight targets, six receptions, and 103 yards. Boutte's place on the depth chart was cloudy heading into his third straight year with a new coaching regime, but he was one of the bright spots of New England's training camp, and he looks to have cemented a role in what could be an upstart passing game. Boutte should be a priority waiver add wherever he remains unrostered.

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Isaac TeSlaa Sep 8 1:30pm CT
Isaac TeSlaa

Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa was on the field for only three snaps on Sunday, but he was able to convert his lone target into an acrobatic 13-yard touchdown grab. According to head coach Dan Campbell, the team would like to use him more going forward. TeSlaa was limited in practice throughout the week due to illness, which capped his role in the game plan. However, he is now healthy and should see an expanded role. TeSlaa was one of the stars of the preseason after the Lions spent a third-round pick on him, and he's an obvious matchup problem with his unique combination of size and speed. He should be considered a waiver-wire target for any fantasy managers looking for an upside wideout as a bench stash.

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Russell Wilson Sep 8 1:20pm CT
Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson will get the start at quarterback for the New York Giants when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Head coach Brian Daboll revealed on Monday that no change is imminent at the position, following a Week 1 performance that saw Wilson complete fewer than 50% of his passes at a paltry 4.5 yards per attempt. For the third season in a row, the Giants failed to score a touchdown in their season opener. New York traded up in the first round of the draft to select Ole Miss gunslinger Jaxson Dart, who will inevitably take over at some point this season. While Wilson went largely undrafted in most fantasy formats, drafters who spent an early pick on Malik Nabers will have to wait at least one more week for a change. Nabers is still an every-week start on volume alone, but the Giants' offense as a whole will need to see an increase in efficiency to return his heavy draft cost.

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Russell Wilson Sep 8 1:13pm CT
Russell Wilson

New York Giants QB Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback for the Giants in Week 2, according to head coach Brian Daboll.

Fantasy Spin: Wilson was held to 168 passing yards in the opener, and the offense only produced six points during the game. He will remain the starter for now, but Jaxson Dart could start seeing playing time during games. Fantasy players in all leagues can avoid Wilson.

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Xavier Worthy Sep 8 12:40pm CT
Xavier Worthy

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is viewed as week-to-week. Schefter noted on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday afternoon that the injury does not appear to be overly serious, but he is expected to miss some time. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but should not plan on him suiting up in Week 2. Worthy suffered an injury on the team's opening drive during their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday evening. Once he left the contest, Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster emerged as the team's top wide receivers. With Rahsee Rice away on a suspension, fantasy managers should expect Brown and Smith-Schuster to continue to operate as the team's primary pass catchers for the foreseeable future.

From RotoBaller

Kenneth Walker III Sep 8 12:20pm CT
Kenneth Walker III

According to Greg Bell of the News Tribune, there could be more opportunities for both running backs, Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Head coach Mike Macdonald noted that "both played well" and "protected our quarterback." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their usage as they split work in their season opener on Sunday afternoon. Walker carried the ball 10 times while Charbonnet took 12 carries. Charbonnet was slightly more efficient, posting a 3.9 YPC while Walker held an average of 2.0 YPC. Charbonnet also found the back of the end zone. However, Walker got the better end of the receiving game as he caught all three of his targets, while Charbonnet was not targeted once. Since both appear to be in a timeshare, they will continue to limit each other's ceiling and will carry touchdown-dependent flex appeal heading into Week 2.

From RotoBaller

Kendrick Bourne Sep 8 12:00pm CT
Kendrick Bourne

Free-agent wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is returning to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday on a one-year deal with a maximum value of $5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 49ers were already one of the most banged-up teams heading into Week 1 before both tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (shoulder) went down with injuries in Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks. Depending on the severity of Kittle's and Jennings' injuries, Bourne could have a shot to immediately step in as San Fran's No. 2 wideout behind Ricky Pearsall, starting in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints in a favorable matchup. The 30-year-old hasn't really been the same since tearing his right ACL in 2023 with the New England Patriots, but the opportunity alone in his return to the Bay Area might make him worth a deep-league stash for receiver depth.

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Dameon Pierce Sep 8 12:00pm CT
Dameon Pierce

Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce totaled five yards on his three carries in Sunday's 14-9 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He failed to bring in his lone target. Veteran Nick Chubb was the only Houston rusher to see more than three carries (13), and Pierce technically saw the second-most of his fellow RBs. However, rookie Woody Marks also saw three attempts, and Dare Ogunbowale handled two of his own. It was a rough day for Houston's offense overall, as they were blanked in the second half by a hungry Rams' defense. Still, Chubb was the clear-cut Texans RB1 in this outing, and Pierce's current touch load wouldn't be enough to sustain fantasy value. Houston will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of a Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2. We'll see if Pierce can carve out a larger role then.

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Justice Hill Sep 8 11:50am CT
Justice Hill

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill handled two carries for a loss of 14 yards and corralled 1-of-2 targets for an additional three yards in his team's 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. The 27-year-old combined with backfield mate Rasheen Ali for a total of five opportunities as incumbent starter Derrick Henry took a majority of the backfield work -- and ran wild -- against the Bills. Hill did gain a yard on the ground, but lost 15 on an awkward exchange with Lamar Jackson in which he fumbled and the ball bounced backward. While the seventh-year pro carried some low-end PPR value in 2024, it was spotty at best and wildly unpredictable. He may see such efforts again in a more pass-friendly game plan, but his floor is volatile for the time being. Baltimore will host the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.

From RotoBaller