The New England Patriots and Chicago Bears have plenty of talent, but figuring out which players will actually produce is becoming a weekly headache.
A.J. Brown has yet to make the impact fantasy managers expected, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson combined for just six fantasy points last week, and Caleb Williams hasn't consistently played to his potential. Rome Odunze is struggling to deliver reliable production, while Luther Burden III is starting to look like a dependable option.
D'Andre Swift should already be locked into your lineup. Beyond him, here is how to approach Thursday night's matchup.
Start ‘Em
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
Drake Maye has turned his season around after a rough opening stretch, putting together three consecutive strong fantasy performances. He has thrown at least three touchdown passes in each of those games, totaling 10 passing touchdowns during that span and 11 on the season. Maye has also become a more useful rushing option, averaging at least 24 rushing yards per game over his last three outings.
That combination gives him a dependable fantasy floor with the potential to deliver another big performance against Chicago. Losing Romeo Doubs hurts the Patriots' passing game, but it also creates an opportunity for the remaining receivers to take on larger roles. A.J. Brown's return should help, provided his ankle allows him to handle a meaningful workload.
Colston Loveland, TE, Bears
Colston Loveland finally delivered the type of performance fantasy managers had been waiting for in Week 6, catching six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. It was his best game of the season and a welcome sign after a slow start.
The second-year tight end has also been seeing enough targets to make him an intriguing option. Caleb Williams targeted him seven times in Week 6, and Loveland recorded a season-high nine targets against the Jets in Week 4. That kind of involvement gives him a chance to build on last week's breakout.
Luther Burden III, WR, Bears
Burden is becoming one of the more dependable options in Chicago's passing game. Swift remains the Bears' clearest fantasy starter outside of the quarterback position, but Burden is increasingly making a case to join him as a weekly lineup option.
His Week 6 performance was particularly encouraging. Burden caught all eight of his targets, setting a season high in receptions while showing that Williams is willing to look his way consistently. That type of target volume is valuable in PPR leagues, where receptions can provide a solid foundation even when a receiver doesn't find the end zone.
The biggest concern is Burden's limited touchdown production. He has scored only once and has not been a consistent red-zone option, which caps his ceiling. Still, his growing role makes him a reasonable start in most deeper leagues and a legitimate flex candidate in standard formats.
High-Risk, High-Reward: A.J. Brown, WR, Patriots
Thursday night could be Brown's opportunity to finally deliver. His return from an ankle injury didn't immediately produce the results many expected, but his talent and potential role in New England's offense make him difficult to ignore.
With Doubs headed to injured reserve, the Patriots need Brown to become a much bigger part of the passing game. The question is whether he can handle a larger workload on a short week while continuing to recover from his ankle injury.
Sit ‘Em
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, RBs, Patriots
Consider this a two-for-one special. Neither Patriots running back is an easy player to trust right now, particularly with both sharing the workload when healthy.
Article Continues BelowStevenson and Henderson combined for only six fantasy points last week (PPR), leaving managers with little reason to feel confident about either option. Both have the talent to produce a useful fantasy outing, but predicting which back will receive the more valuable opportunities has become increasingly difficult. Until one establishes a clearer advantage in the backfield, both should be viewed as risky starts.
Rome Odunze, WR, Bears
Odunze has the talent to become a consistent fantasy contributor, but his recent production hasn't justified automatic starting consideration. He has recorded four or fewer targets in three games this season, making it difficult to trust his weekly workload.
In deeper leagues, Odunze can still be a desperation flex option, particularly if you're simply looking for five to 10 points. However, fantasy managers drafted him hoping for much more than that. He has the ability to catch five to seven passes for more than 50 yards in a game, but he needs to become a more consistent part of Chicago's passing attack before managers can confidently put him in their lineups.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
Williams is coming off a strong statistical performance against Atlanta, throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown. Yet that outing translated to only 16.5 fantasy points, which isn't necessarily enough to justify starting him in a typical 10- or 12-team league.
The matchup against New England adds another concern. The Patriots have allowed fewer than 20 points in each of their last two games and rank sixth in overall defense. Williams is capable of putting together a much bigger performance, but his inconsistency makes him difficult to trust when a safer quarterback option is available.
If you're in a deeper league or have limited alternatives, Williams remains a viable option. Otherwise, this is a week to consider a more dependable starter.