To start, it’s worth noting that Black Friday isn’t officially a holiday, and it feels a bit odd to have an NFL game that night. Still, I’m a fan of football, so let’s get into it! The matchup on this season’s Friday night features the Chicago Bears facing off against the Eagles in Philadelphia. The Eagles are favored by seven points, but they haven’t been looking like Super Bowl contenders lately. The Bears are managing wins, though it’s clear they’re struggling against not-so-stellar teams.
The Eagles do seem to be the stronger team, especially with home-field advantage in their corner. So, a seven-point prediction makes sense. That said, it’s hard to count this game as a sure win for the Eagles until they step onto the field.
The Bears’ defense has been underperforming this season. They rank 26th in terms of points allowed, giving up 26.5 points per game, while the Eagles are in a better position at 8th place, allowing 20.5 points. Both teams are picking up decent yardage, although the Bears rank 30th with 6.1 yards per play compared to the Eagles’ 17th place at 5.4. Overall, the Eagles aren’t allowing many fantasy points, while the Bears are definitely doing the opposite.
When it comes to distributing the ball, the Eagles primarily rely on a handful of players: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and sometimes Dallas Goedert. The Bears, on the other hand, spread the ball around more with Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roma Odunze, DJ Moore, Luther Baden, and Colston Loveland all having a decent shot at contributing fantasy points.
Looking ahead, here are some of the top DFS picks for this Black Friday faceoff.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles (FLEX $13,000, CPT $19,500)
With Saquon Barkley not quite hitting his stride—likely due to a weaker offensive line—Hurts might need to step up as a runner more often. We witnessed this last week as he rushed for two touchdowns against the Cowboys. His ability to score on the ground, paired with his passing, makes him a solid captain choice most weeks, since he tends not to facilitate scores for others.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears (FLEX $12,600, CPT $18,900)
I generally avoid selecting quarterbacks for captain roles if they aren’t known for scoring rushing touchdowns, but Williams has shown potential with his legs. He’s already scored three rushing touchdowns, and the Eagles are among the teams allowing the most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season.
AJ Brown, WR, Eagles (FLEX $11,600, CPT $17,400)
Choosing between AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith is always a challenge. Brown has put in a lot of work since expressing concerns about his usage, though Smith seems to be feeling a bit overlooked. Both offer significant potential; you might even consider playing them both if it fits your strategy. Brown leads in red zone targets, which could give him the edge in terms of scoring opportunities.
Luther Baden, WR, Bears (FLEX $4,200, CPT $6,300)
Baden has been getting more opportunities on the field lately, and his FanDuel salary is still quite reasonable. He might be a crucial selection for many lineups considering the limited affordable options in this game. I believe he holds strong potential, especially with the recent increase in his snaps.
Colston Loveland, TE, Bears (FLEX $5,800, CPT $8,700)
Like Baden, Loveland has also seen a rise in usage, translating those opportunities into fantasy points. While the Eagles are generally tough against tight ends, the choices for value plays are limited here, and Loveland’s skills as a receiver make him harder to defend than an average tight end.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles (FLEX $7,000, CPT $10,500)
Goedert hasn’t had much luck getting into the end zone lately, failing to score in the past three games. However, he has been a reliable scorer in the past. The Bears have been vulnerable against tight ends this season, ranking among the worst in fantasy points allowed after adjusting for their schedule. I have a feeling he might just find his way back onto the scoreboard this week.
