Monday Night Matchups Analysis

Bears @ Chargers

Matchups we love:

Stevie Johnson, WR, Chargers - San Diego will be looking to replace Keenan Allen's 11 targets a game. Johnson is the most natural replacement and should see his six targets be bumped all the way up to at least 10. Johnson has been a WR1 before, he had three consecutive 1,000 receiving yard seasons in Buffalo, and will be able to handle the added amount of pressure and attention. The Bears have given up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing WRs this season. Mix that with the fact the Chargers have the most passing attempts of any team this season and Johnson will get plenty of opportunity to put up big numbers.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears - Jeffery hasn't been able to stay on the field this season but when he has played, he's been an absolute monster. Jeffery is averaging seven catches for 114 yards and a score in three games this year. The Chargers are tied for 20th in the league with 14 passing touchdowns given up. Jeffery will be a good bet for over 80 yards and a touchdown in what will be a high scoring game.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers - Rivers and the Chargers are throwing up the ball an average of 43.5 times per game. He has two passing touchdowns in every game but one this season, and is only behind Tom Brady when it comes to fantasy QBs. Every matchup is a good matchup for Rivers and not much will change with Keenan Allen going down for the year.

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears - Cutler has looked like someone worth his big contract the last four weeks (averaging 40 attempts for 274 yards with 6 TDs/2INTs). He's going against a Chargers defense that has given up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing QBs this year. With a healthy Jeffery and everyone but Matt Forte, Cutler should do have another good game.

Matchups we hate:

Martellus Bennett, TE, Bears - I basically love all the matchups because both the Chargers and Bears defenses' are suspect. The Chargers have managed to only give up the 16th most fantasy points to opposing TEs. With Matt Forte out Bennett should see more opportunities in the long run but doesn't have the best matchup on Monday Night.

Prove it to me players:

Dontrelle Inman, WR, Chargers - The person who will most benefit from Keenan Allen's season ending injury is Dontrelle Inman. Inman is a former Virginia Cavalier that spent a season playing Canadian Football with the Toronto Argonauts. This is his second season with San Diego and he will officially be the teams third WR. Inman should be watched to see if he can be a stash player for later in the season as he gets used to playing a lot more.

Marquess Wilson, WR, Bears - Wilson has had an up and down season as the Bears try to figure out where he exactly he fits in the rotation. The third year receiver has shown some good connections with Cutler over the last four games. He's had two games with six catches and two games with two or less. Wilson has to prove if he can sustain his production and can consistently play opposite of Alshon Jeffery.

Jeremy Langford, RB, Bears - Langford is a rookie that has to step up with Matt Forte out. The team has said that he will be the feature back but when he's been out on the field the result just hasn't been good. Langford hasn't had a performance worth noting but will be going against a weak Chargers run defense. San Diego has given up the most fantasy points to opposing RBs and also have given up the highest yards per carry average (5.0). If Langford can't get anything on the ground going against this defense then it might be time for the Bears to look at alternative backs.

Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers - The Bears give up the fourth most rushing yards per game and the sixth most rushing yards per attempt this season. Gordon has disappointed by not being able to sustain the run for an entire game. Unlike Langford,Gordon was a 1st round draft pick and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. If there was a week for Gordon to have a monster game on the ground, this week would be it. Until Gordon proves he can actually dominate a game, he will be a prove it to me player going forward.