Fantasy Football Week 15: Complete Monday Night Preview

What ever happened to “on any given Sunday” in the NFL?

We are sure the Chicago Bears would love to know the answer to that question, especially since they haven’t played on a Sunday in a spell.

The team from the Windy City hosts the New Orleans Saints on Monday night after playing consecutive Thursday games on Thanksgiving Day at Detroit and then at home against the Dallas Cowboys—both losses.

In those contests, the Bears scored a combined 45 points, meaning some help for fantasy owners who have the likes of Jay Cutler, Alshon Jeffery, etc.

Will we see some points from Chicago on Monday night? Rest assured both the Bears and the Saints will be busy at Soldier Field.

Starting Quarterbacks

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New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees

Last season, the Saints’ field general threw 39 touchdown passes compared to only a dozen interceptions. In 2014, Brees still has solid numbers, although the offense has been erratic in recent weeks.

This year, the prolific passer has thrown for 28 scores but has already been picked 12 times. Brees has also fumbled four times and lost a pair of those miscues.

In his last four outings, the 14-year veteran has thrown 10 touchdown passes and just a pair of interceptions. But five of those scores came in the team’s Week 13 win at Pittsburgh.

Fantasy Prediction: 26-of-32, 343 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT; 2 carries, 2 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler

The numbers are hard to ignore. Cutler has thrown 26 touchdown passes, but he has committed a disturbing 21 turnovers. That total includes 15 interceptions and a half-dozen lost fumbles.

In his last five games, the nine-year quarterback has thrown for nine scores, but he has been picked off twice in three of those outings.

This season, Cutler has thrown for two or more scores in nine games. However, he’s also been picked off at least twice in six contests.

It is what it is.

Fantasy Prediction: 23-of-35, 310 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT; 4 carries, 22 yards, 0 TD

Running Backs

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New Orleans Saints Starter: Mark Ingram

The former Heisman Trophy winner in enjoying a career year, despite missing three games during the season.

In his five of his last seven games, Ingram has totaled at least 23 carries, and in three of those contests, totaled at least 100 yards rushing. The former Heisman Trophy winner leads New Orleans with 810 yards rushing and scored six touchdowns.

The Saints entered Week 15 with ninth-ranked rushing attack. Ingram faces a Chicago defense that ranks 16th in the NFL against the run.

Fantasy Prediction: 21 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD; 2 receptions, 17 yards, 0 TD

New Orleans Saints Backup: Khiry Robinson

After being inactive the previous six games, Robinson returned last week against the Carolina Panthers but didn’t run the ball or catch a pass.

In the team’s first six games this week, the talented performer ran for 330 yards and two touchdowns, plus caught three passes for 26 yards. And while he hasn’t totaled a rushing attempt in seven straight games, he still ranks second on the team in yards on the ground.

Fantasy Prediction: 12 carries, 56 yards, 0 TD; 2 receptions, 21 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears Starter: Matt Forte

The versatile running back has rushed for 854 yards and six touchdowns this season. Forte totaled only 26 yards on the ground in last week’s loss to the Cowboys, but he did reach the end zone once.

Forte also continues to lead all NFL running backs in 2014 with 86 catches, and those catches have resulted in 724 yards and three scores.

On Monday night, he faces a Saints defensive unit ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing defense and a unit that has allowed over 200 yards on the ground in two of their last three games.

Fantasy Prediction: 19 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD; 5 receptions, 46 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears Backup: Ka’Deem Carey

Carey has totaled 154 yards rushing on 35 attempts this season without a touchdown. Almost half of those yards (72) came way back in Week 4 in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. He’s caught just two passes for 18 yards this season.

In last week’s game with the Cowboys, Carey was active but didn’t total a touch from scrimmage.

Fantasy Prediction: 2 carries, 8 yards, 0 TD; 0 receptions

Wide Receivers

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New Orleans Saints: Marques Colston

The Saints’ all-time leader with 662 receptions obviously keeps adding to that total. However, the nine-year veteran ranks just fourth on the team with 46 receptions and has scored only three touchdowns.

Of course, that could change a lot on Monday night. We are talking the Chicago defense, which ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass and has already allowed 30 scores through the air this season.

Fantasy Prediction: 8 receptions, 123 yards, 1 TD

New Orleans Saints: Kenny Stills

A fifth-round pick of the Saints from the University of Oklahoma a year ago, Stills has been a bit more productive in recent weeks.

For the season, he ranks second on the team with 47 catches but leads the Saints with 714 receiving yards. In his last four games, Stills has totaled 20 receptions for 315 yards and a pair of scores.

Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 105 yards, 0 TD

New Orleans Saints: Nick Toon

In the first 10 games of the season, Toon was either inactive or didn’t catch a pass. In 2013, the one-time fourth-round pick totaled four catches for 68 yards.

All of that changed as of late after rookie Brandin Cooks went down. In the last three games, Toon has caught nine passes for 104 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 13 at Pittsburgh.

Regardless, don’t expect a lot of production from the three-year pro.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 16 yards, 0 TD

New Orleans Saints: Robert Meachem

The veteran wide receiver has totaled just five catches for 85 yards this season and has been inactive the last five games. Proceed with caution.

Fantasy Prediction: 1 reception, 18 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery

This season, Jeffery ranks third on the team with 73 receptions, good for a team-high 949 yards and eight scores. But a closer look shows how hot he’s been as of late.

After scoring just three times in his first nine games this year, Jeffery has totaled at least one touchdown in four consecutive contests.

The third-year wide receiver should continue to see plenty of passes his way with Brandon Marshall out for the year.

Fantasy Prediction: 8 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD

Chicago Bears: Marquess Wilson

All told, Wilson has been targeted 14 times in the last four games and caught five passes for 40 yards and zero touchdowns. The talented wideout broke his collarbone over the summer and just recently rejoined the Bears.

Fantasy Prediction: 2 receptions, 20 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears: Josh Morgan

Morgan has totaled only six receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown this season. His lone score of the season came back in the team’s 27-13 win at the Georgia Dome over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6.

Last week in the Thursday night loss to the Cowboys, Morgan was totaled four times but caught just one pass for eight yards.

He figures to be a lot busier in this matchup, which should have its share of fireworks.

Fantasy Prediction: 4 receptions, 55 yards, 0 TD

Chicago Bears: Marc Mariani

The one-time Tennessee Titans standout is more of a kick-return specialist than wideout. Mariani has yet to catch a pass this season.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions

Tight Ends

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New Orleans Saints Starter: Jimmy Graham

Last season, Graham led the league with 16 touchdown receptions. That’s not the case so far in 2014, but he’s still been productive when it comes to scoring.

This season, Graham has totaled a team-high 68 catches and leads New Orleans with nine touchdown receptions. His grabs have amassed 695 yards, a disappointing 10.2 yards per reception. Last season, Graham averaged 14.1 yards per catch.

Graham has scored at least once in six of the team’s 13 contests this season, totaling a pair of scores in three of those games.

Fantasy Prediction: 5 receptions, 43 yards, 2 TD

New Orleans Saints Backup: Benjamin Watson

A year ago, Watson caught 19 passes for 226 yards and two scores for Sean Payton’s team.

In 2014, the 13-year pro has totaled only 16 catches for 111 yards, but in the club’s last two games, Watson has been on the receiving end of a Drew Brees touchdown pass.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions

Chicago Bears Starter: Martellus Bennett

While the Bears have lost their last two games, Bennett’s production hasn’t been lost on anyone.

The athletic tight end has been targeted 26 times over that span and caught 20 passes for 193 yards and a score.

Bennett now ranks second on the team with 77 catches, six of those for scores. That’s even better than a year ago, his first with the Bears, when he finished with 65 receptions, five of which were touchdowns.

Fantasy Prediction: 6 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD

Chicago Bears Backup: Dante Rosario

Rosario has totaled only four receptions for 22 yards in his last six games and has not been targeted the last two weeks. That’s mainly because Bennett continues to be a hot option for Cutler.

Fantasy Prediction: 0 receptions

Defense/Special Teams

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New Orleans Saints Defense/Special Teams

The Saints continue to have issues turning the opposition over, amassing just 13 takeaways in as many contests this season.

Last season, the Saints ranked fourth in the league in terms of fewest yards and fewest points allowed. Again, they struggled to force turnovers (19 takeaways), but Rob Ryan’s unit at least came up with 49 sacks.

That’s hardly been the case in 2014. The pass rush has totaled just 24 sacks in 2014, more than half of those by the tandem of outside linebacker Junior Galette (seven) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (six). And Saints’ defenders have a total of three sacks in their last four games.

Fantasy Prediction: 27 points allowed, 4 sacks, 0 INT, 0 FF

Chicago Bears Defense/Special Teams

Unfortunately, it has been another disappointing year in the Windy City when it comes to this unit.

Entering Week 15, the Bears had allowed a league-high 378 points. Chicago has already given up 39 offensive touchdowns in 13 games, 30 of those through the air.

One year ago, the team allowed 478 points and a total of 47 offensive touchdowns.

Chicago has totaled 30 sacks this season, just one fewer sack than a year ago when they were tied for last in the league with 31 sacks. However, 10 of those quarterback traps have come in the last four weeks.

Fantasy Prediction: 28 points allowed, 2 sacks, 0 INT, 0 FF

Best Sleeper Adds

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A couple of these performers may not be on your team and could be worth adding to your roster, although our projections are not overly promising. But never say never in the NFL. If your team is still alive in the playoffs and in a bind, why not take a chance?

1. Khiry Robinson, Running Back, New Orleans Saints (Owned in 8.0 percent of ESPN leagues)

We are not anticipating a ton of carries for Robinson, but depending on your situation and if you are short-handed at running back, he’s worth the pickup and hoping we are wrong.

2. Nick Toon, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints (Owned in 0.2 percent of ESPN leagues)

The loss of Brandin Cooks has made Toon a lot busier than his first two seasons. And not to harp on the fact but that Bears defense is very inviting.

3. Marquess Wilson, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears (Owned in 2.8 percent of ESPN leagues)

No Brandon Marshall means more passes elsewhere. If both the Saints and Bears defenses perform as expected, there should be plenty of receptions for everyone.

Injury Report

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Here is a look at the latest injury report regarding the Saints and Bears, focusing on key performers in Monday night’s matchup. The complete list for both teams is courtesy of NFL.com.

New Orleans Saints
Player		Status
Terron Armstead	T	Questionable
Junior Galette	LB	Questionable
Akiem Hicks	DE	Probable
David Hawthorne	LB	Probable
Keenan Lewis	CB	Probable

It’s never good when you see the left tackle (Armstead) who protects Brees and the team leader in sacks (Galette) listed as questionable. The Saints have their share of defensive players on this list, but Hicks, Hawthorne and Lewis were all full participants in the team’s last practice.

Chicago Bears
Player		Status
Chris Conte	S	Doubtful
Jeremiah Ratliff	DT	Questionable
Robbie Gould	K	Questionable

The Bears are fairly healthy, and getting Ratliff back, if possible, would be a big plus when it comes to stopping the Saints’ potent ground attack. It appears veteran Jay Feely will continue to fill in for the injured Gould.

Sit or Start

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We know who the stars are when it comes to this contest. But is there a pivotal player or two who may be on your roster whom you can’t decide whether to start or not? Here’s a little help as your team advances in the fantasy playoffs.

RB Khiry Robinson (Saints): Sean Payton is no doubt happy to have Robinson back. But he will also ride the hot runner in Mark Ingram in terms of number of carries.

Verdict: Sit

WR Kenny Stills (Saints): We were hoping to see more out of Stills all season. This is a case of better late than never, and now is a good time to get on board.

Verdict: Start

QB Jay Cutler (Bears): It seems like Cutler is on this page consistently, mainly because of his penchant for turnovers. We say he plays a clean game against the Saints.

Verdict: Start

Some statistical support provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com and ESPN.com. Depth chart info provided by Ourlads.