Chicago Bears - Fantasy News

Who to Start: Mitch Trubisky or Adam Thielen?

by Mike Rose

10/7/17

NFL

Chicago Bears

Mitchell Trubisky

This week’s Monday Night Football showdown could very well be a low-scoring game, but one thing that I’m looking forward to is the NFL debut of North Carolina product Mitch Trubisky, who will be making his first pro start for the Chicago Bears. After things didn’t pan out through the first four weeks for veteran Mike Glennon, Trubisky will get his chance.

Is he getting his opportunity too early, though? Many people are wondering if he is ready, but he’ll get a shot at silencing his critics under the lights at Soldier Field in Chicago.

For those of you looking to possibly play him on your Dober Play Card, he is listed at 10.5 Projected Fantasy Points, while wide receiver Adam Thielen of the Vikings is close to him at 11.0.

Fantasy Matchup: Mitch Trubisky (10.5) vs. Adam Thielen (11.0)

Thielen is a minimal favorite over the rookie in this Dober fantasy matchup on Monday Night Football. As of now, there appears to be no precipitation that will affect the game.

Trubisky only started 13 games at North Carolina, but the Bears drafted him No. 2 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft with the hopes that he would one day be their franchise quarterback. A new era is now ready to begin in Chicago after things didn’t pan out for the veteran Glennon. In four games, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer had a 4-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio with a 76.9 quarterback rating. He also had a horrendous four-turnover performance against Green Bay in Week 4.

Trubisky’s lower PFP for Dober fantasy matchups is worth a look this week. He’ll be taking over a Chicago offense that ranks No. 22 overall and No. 27 in passing. It could be a matchup from hell for him, however, as he’ll face a Minnesota defense that ranks No. 10 against fantasy quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, Thielen has gotten off to a fantastic start for the Minnesota Vikings. Despite not hauling in the pigskin for a tuddy, he’s made 24 receptions for 358 yards on the young campaign. That’s good for well over 80 yards per game. The Vikings as a team have tallied 1,053 receiving yards, and Thielen has over 33 percent of those himself.

Thielen and Stefon Diggs have been vital parts of a Minnesota receiving corps that is part of the No. 7 passing offense and No. 6 total offense in the league. Thielen ranks as the No. 23 wide receiver in fantasy football, and the Vikings offense will be facing a Bears defense that ranks No. 23 against fantasy wideouts. That same defense has allowed 146 points to receivers (36.5 points per game) in fantasy thus far.

This could be a very low-scoring game and quite honestly not a very entertaining one, but the debut of Trubisky will hopefully be fun to witness. Because quarterbacks typically accumulate more points than receivers do, and because we don’t know who will start under center for Minnesota—which directly affects the numbers of Thielen—I’m going to go with the kid in this Dober Pick ‘Em matchup.

Week 5 Fantasy Projection: Mitch Trubisky (+0.5) vs. Adam Thielen