This is our Monday Night Football DFS strategy breakdown for the Chicago Bears vs. the Washington Commanders.
The Ben Johnson Offense has yet to come alive in Chicago, so the pressure is on Caleb Williams to show well as he makes a homecoming appearance when the Bears go on the road to play the Commanders on Monday. With a bye week to prepare there are no real excuses for Williams, especially with Jayden Daniels playing without Terry McLaurin again on the other side. Washington might need to win on the ground against a Chicago defense that hasn't shown the ability to defend it, but if Williams can make a strong showing the Bears might have more firepower to summon in the passing game.
The Commanders are favored by 5.5 points with the over/under at 50.0.
QUARTERBACK
Jayden Daniels ($10800 DK, $13600 FD) has yet to log a breakout game in 2025 that meets the lofty standard established in his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024, and it's fair to worry that he might remain lower than those 2024 levels as long as he has to play without star WR1 Terry McLaurin. McLaurin is out again here and Daniels might still be shaking off a knee injury that cost him two games, but the good news is that Daniels held his own against the Chargers last week in his return from injury, and the Bears defense should be more friendly.
Caleb Williams ($9600 DK, $12400 FD) has yet to put it all together and still hasn't been able to establish an orderly, consistent standard of play like Daniels achieved as a rookie last year. Perhaps the switch flips on for Williams at some arbitrary, imminent point, but even if it doesn't he might be a better fantasy quarterback than real-life one. The Washington cornerback rotation has not played especially well in 2025 and the Commanders pass rush isn't so scary these days, so particularly given the greater amount of pass-catching talent at his disposal Williams has no excuse for failing here.
RUNNING BACK
Jacory Croskey-Merritt ($9200 DK, $9600 FD) is probably not an advised fade, even if he's a somewhat chalky pick. Without Chris Rodriguez (calf) the Commanders only otherwise have Jeremy McNichols ($2000 DK, $7000 FD) at running back. McNichols could also be a good pick in his own right – including on a lineup card that already features JCM – both because Rodriguez's absence boosts McNichols and because Washington's depleted pass-catcher rotation might leave more slack for the backfield to pick up.
D'Andre Swift ($9000 DK, $10200 FD) is a tough but important question on this slate. He has played in an unchallenged three-down role for the Bears this year, and if his efficiency catches up to his volume then the results for fantasy football could be quite useful. Thus far, though, he has averaged only 3.3 yards per carry and 4.7 yards per target. If Williams can't get the passing game on schedule defenses might continue to make Swift an early-down priority to keep Williams in challenging downs-and-distances. Kyle Monongai ($1400 DK, $3600 FD) is the RB2 and is probably best thought of as a punt pick.
WIDE RECEIVER + TIGHT END
Rome Odunze ($10000 DK, $12000 FD) is a dangerous fade with how he's played in 2025. Even if Williams struggles, Odunze looks like the kind of player who can produce even while the quarterback plays less than great. What's less clear is whether DJ Moore ($7600 DK, $8400 FD) is still the kind of receiver capable of doing the same. The Washington corner rotation has not played very well in 2025 and there should be some amount of opportunity for Moore to get things going here, but it's up to him and Williams to find a rhythm they have not to this point. Olamide Zaccheaus ($3400 DK, $4600 FD) has run as the clear WR3 to this point over Luther Burden ($4400 DK, $3200 FD), and that will probably remain mostly the case here as well. Burden is much more capable of making a big play from scrimmage, but for whatever reason Burden hasn't earned Ben Johnson's trust as a slot receiver yet. Cole Kmet ($3200 DK, $4200 FD) is once again on pace to play one of the league's highest snap counts at tight end, even with Colston Loveland ($3000 DK, $2800 FD) around. Until further notice Loveland might best be thought of similarly as Burden – a talented player whose arrival date is unclear. Playing through a hip injury can't make things easier for Loveland.
Deebo Samuel ($9800 DK, $11200 FD) is probably not a recommended fade here with Terry McLaurin out. The Bears are without top corner Jaylon Johnson and with so much slack falling on Samuel it seems like Washington has little choice but to utilize him in a central role, and Samuel has come through with strong results to this point. The heel injury he's playing through is a concern, but if he's active Washington seems all but compelled to feed Samuel. Zach Ertz ($5600 DK, $5600 FD) has lost some ground in recent weeks, with Washington converting some slot reps that previously went to Ertz into ones designed more for Samuel. Even so, Ertz seems like a consistent third-down and red-zone target for Daniels, and his price is low enough to justify. Luke McCaffrey ($4800 DK, $5000 FD) has been explosive in his usage to this point, but last week he played fewer snaps than Chris Moore ($200 DK, $1000 FD) and split the remainder with Jaylin Lane ($2800 DK, $2000 FD). Some combo of those players could/should be useful here, but guessing which specifically is not easy. Tight ends Ben Sinnott and John Bates are mostly blockers best thought of as punt picks.
KICKER
Matt Gay ($5200 DK, $6600 FD) has gotten it together after beginning the year 3-of-6 for field goal attempts, making all six of his field goals over the last two weeks. As a clear home favorite the script is set up conventionally well for Gay, who's definitely worth consideration after producing 41 fantasy points over the last three weeks.
Cairo Santos ($5000 DK, $6200 FD) perhaps requires an additional leap of faith as a road underdog kicking through a thigh injury, but when healthy Santos is probably a better kicker than Gay. Santos' opportunity level lags, however – his 19-point fantasy outing last week was preceded by three games of seven or fewer fantasy points.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bears ($3600 DK, $6400 FD) defense has some shot here with so much of Washington's offense wounded, but even with that the case the run defense looks weak and vulnerable for Chicago. If they can somehow stop the run and tee up the likes of Montez Sweat for pass-rushing opportunities then the Bears defense could be productive, but those outcomes just don't seem especially likely in the meantime and if they were to occur it would be a bad sign for Washington's chances of winning.
The Commanders ($4000 DK, $6800 FD) defense has a fair case going against the sack-prone Williams. If you catch Williams on one of his turnover days then the fantasy defense in question could prove quite useful indeed. Then again, the Washington defense has not shown especially well to this point, with its cornerback trio underachieving for now and the Commanders pass rush duct-taped together by the likes of Von Miller and Dorance Armstrong.
