2025 Fantasy Football advice: Bears players to start or bench in Week 1

QB Caleb Wiliams: SIT

This feels like an easy call. If you have Williams on your fantasy roster, you likely also have a QB2 who's at least close to Williams in the preseason fantasy rankings. Roll with the other guy this week.

Williams could have a monster game. There's no book on him under Ben Johnson right now, which should give the Bears an advantage. Johnson also has experience calling games against Flores' defense, which uniquely qualifies him to gameplan for the Vikings.

However, you should take a conservative approach to Williams in Week 1. If he breaks out? Cool. You probably have a 2025 stud on your hands.

RB D'Andre Swift: START

Swift will have little competition for touches in the Bears' backfield in Week 1. He'll be a good volume play, even if his efficiency numbers struggle. I expect Chicago to use Swift quite a bit in the passing game to help offset the Vikings' pass rush, so if you're in a PPR or half-PPR league, Swift is even more appealing.

Don't expect monster numbers from Swift, but he could quietly end the week as a top-10 scorer at running back.

WR DJ Moore: START

Moore will benefit from manufactured touches in Week 1, and he's worth starting because of the potential that he'll be used like Deebo Samuel was with the 49ers. Moore has lined up at running back during training camp and is expected to become Johnson's offensive weapon in 2025.

As one of the Bears' top playmakers, you can bet Johnson will do everything he can to get Moore the ball. And when he gets the ball, good things usually happen. He's a boom-or-bust play in Week 1, but I'd bet on the boom.

WR Rome Odunze: SIT

Odunze is the kind of player who will need the rest of the offense to do its job for him to thrive. Meaning, the offensive line needs to give Caleb Williams time so he can target Odunze on mid-level and downfield targets.

Unfortunately, we don't know enough about the Bears' offensive line yet. Odunze has a chance to emerge as an every-week starter for your fantasy team, but use Week 1 to scout how he's deployed in Johnson's offense. Targets will be the key to Odunze's success in 2025.

TE Colston Loveland: SIT

As tempted as you might be to start Loveland in his NFL debut, I'd give it another week. The Bears will defer to Cole Kmet's experience against Flores and the Vikings defensive front, which will likely cap Loveland's snaps. Granted, as long as Loveland is on the field for passing downs, he has a chance to produce like a top-10 tight end this week.

Much like Odunze, I'd use this week to scout Loveland's usage. If you have a more predictable veteran tight end on your roster, let the old guy play in Week 1.