One of the biggest games of the 2012 NFL season is taking place this week when the Houston Texans (7-1) travel to Soldier Field to take on a Chicago Bears (7-1) team that has won six straight games.
As important as this game might be in each conference, it is also going to have a dramatic impact on fantasy football. Oveall, you are looking at a good seven viable fantasy options in this one. Let's take a look.
Jay Cutler, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
Cutler isn't a QB1 option by any stretch of the imagination, and that is not going to change this week. He is going up against a Houston defense that ranks fourth in the NFL against the pass. More importantly, Chicago has struggled protecting Cutler and will have to face one of the best fronts in the league. I just don't see a scenario here where Cutler puts up anything close to solid fantasy numbers. Even if your starter has a bye, look in another direction.
Matt Schaub, Quarterback, Houston Texans
While Chicago ranks among the best in the league in overall defense, it has struggled a bit against the pass. It is in the middle of the pack in terms of yards, but leads the NFL with 17 interceptions. If Schaub can afford to actually avoid those mistakes he should be a surprising fantasy performer. I am just a bit too weary about him as an option considering just how good Chicago has been in terms of forcing turnovers. Look in another direction here as well.
Matt Forte, Running Back, Chicago Bears
Forte is on pace for 1,400 total yards despite missing time due to an injury. That being said, he continues to struggle getting into the end zone. Forte has recorded three touchdowns in seven games in 2012 and has just seven since the start of the 2010 season. Houston ranks second against the run and hasn't yielded a touchdown thus far this season. That is pretty damn amazing if you ask me. While Forte's draft position suggests you start him on a weekly basis, I envision him struggling this week.
Michael Bush, Running Back, Chicago Bears
I can see Bush getting some play close to the end zone in this one. Jay Cutler is going to have a hard time finding open seems in that end of the field and Forte continues to struggle pushing it past the pile-on. If Chicago does get close to that end of the field, I expect him to score a touchdown. With that in mind, it is important to know the type of rush defense Bush will be going up against Sunday night. At best, he is a FLEX option.
Arian Foster, Running Back, Houston Texans
Foster is never not a start. Okay, that double negative aside, you are going to need to throw the former NFL Rushing Champion out there and hope that he does something against the best rush defense in the league. This is a battle of the titans in every single imaginable way. Foster will be lining up against one of the best defensive fronts in the league and a defense that has allowed 88 rushing yards per game this season.
For his part, Foster has the ability to defeat one of the best fronts. He has scored 10 touchdowns in just eight games. The bad news for Foster owners is the fact that he has only played one top 10 defense thus far in 2012.
Brandon Marshall, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
As the No. 1 wide receiver for Jay Cutler, this enigmatic fantasy performer receives as many targets of any receiver in the NFL not named Calvin Johnson. Chicago might be going up against a stout Texans' pass defense, but he is a definite start here.
Devin Hester, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
With Alson Jeffery still doubtful, it looks like Hester will play an important role in Chicago's passing game once again. The bad news is that he has tallied just over six fantasy points in the last three games combined. Chicago is focusing on running the ball with Forte and Bush.. When it does put the ball up in the air, Marshall is usually the target. Don't expect much from Hester here on offense. He could, however, make an impact on special teams. Of course, that will help those of you who are lucky enough to own Chicago's D/ST.
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Charles Tillman is going to play Sunday night. While Chicago's defense can take a deep breath, this isn't going to help those of you who are going to be relying on Johnson this week. It goes without saying that Matt Schaub is going to look at other parts of the field considering how Tillman has performed this season. In fact, he is producing interceptions and touchdowns that we have not seen since Deion Sanders was in his prime. Schaub may attempt to go into Johnson's direction early, but I don't see the talented receiver having a major impact here.
Kevin Walter, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
Continuing with the earlier theme, Walter will definitely get a lot of targets on Sunday. As I mentioned before, Schaub is going to have to look away from Tillman a great deal. This leaves Walter as his 1A receiver, if you will. For his part, Walter has put up two double-digit point games against the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens earlier in the season. Expect the same type of performance here.
Kellen Davis, Tight End, Chicago Bears
Not impressed with Davis here. He has the talent to be a solid TE1 in fantasy football, but continues to struggle making a consistent impact. With the middle of Houston's defense playing out of their collective minds right now, Davis shouldn't make much of a dent in the middle of the field. Don't expect too much here.
Owen Daniels, Tight End, Houston Texans
Daniels is questionable for Sunday's game with a hip injury and was "very limited" in practice on Friday. Even if Daniels is ready to go, it is hard to imagine him making a huge impact against the likes of Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs in coverage along the middle of Chicago's defense. The Charles Tillman factor might actually benefit Daniels, however. This simply due to the fact that other players outside of Andre Johnsona are going to have to receive targets if Houston's passing game is going to be successful against a mediocre Chicago back end.