The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 12 matchup between the Vikings and Bears.
Find a breakdown of every Week 12 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Minnesota | Rank | @ | Chicago | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3.5 | Spread | 3.5 | ||
| 21.5 | Implied Total | 18.0 | ||
| 24.4 | 10 | Points/Gm | 19.4 | 22 |
| 17.0 | 4 | Points All./Gm | 18.7 | 7 |
| 61.7 | 18 | Plays/Gm | 64.4 | 8 |
| 61.2 | 14 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 58.5 | 4 |
| 5.5 | 14 | Off. Yards/Play | 4.5 | 31 |
| 5.1 | 6 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.6 | 25 |
| 47.49% | 10 | Rush% | 43.32% | 18 |
| 52.51% | 23 | Pass% | 56.68% | 15 |
| 33.99% | 1 | Opp. Rush % | 46.50% | 23 |
| 66.01% | 32 | Opp. Pass % | 53.50% | 10 |
- The Bears are still the only team in the NFL that has not scored first in any game this season.
- Minnesota has outscored their opponents by 62 points (82-to-20) in the first quarter this season, the largest margin in the league.
- The Bears are 5-1 against the spread at home this season, second in the NFL.
- 16.6% of the Chicago offensive plays have gained 10 or more yards, the lowest rate in the NFL.
- Minnesota's 71.2% success rate against rushing plays is the highest in the league. The league average is 59.8%.
- The Bears have allowed a 40.6% touchdown rate in the red zone (13-of-32), the lowest rate in the league.
- Chicago has allowed opponents to convert 32.8% of their third downs, which is fourth in the league.
- The Bears have converted 31.9% of their third downs on offense, 31st in the league.
- 25.2% of the possessions against Minnesota reach the red zone or score prior, the second-lowest rate in the league.
- 27.1% of the Chicago possessions on offense reach the red zone or score prior, 29th in the league.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Sam Darnold: After a disappointing start in Jacksonville, Darnold rebounded on Sunday.
He closed the week as the QB10 (23.6 points), throwing 2 touchdown passes and sneaking in another on the ground.
Darnold has thrown multiple touchdown passes in seven games this season, tied for second in the league.
The rushing touchdown production pushed him into QB1 territory last week, but Darnold has primarily been a high-floor QB2.
He has only two weeks in the back half of weekly scoring.
This matchup does warrant keeping Darnold as a QB2.
The Bears have allowed the most points below opponent averages entering their matchup (-4.8).
They are allowing the fewest passing points per game (9.6).
They have allowed 7.4 yards per pass attempt (20th) but have surrendered a 62.5% completion rate (6th) and only a 2.4% touchdown rate (2nd).
Caleb Williams: Chicago made some adjustments in their first game under the new offensive coordinator, Thomas Brown, which helped Williams.
He completed 74.2% of his passes, his highest rate in a game since Week 6.
Everyone knew that Chicago was not holding up on the offensive line.
Brown’s solution to place a band-aid on their offensive line issues was a quick passing game.
Williams only threw 48.4% of his passes five or more yards downfield, his lowest rate since Week 6.
He averaged just 2.37 seconds from the snap to the time of the throw, his quickest rate in a game this season.
16.1% of his throws were screen passes after a 4.8% rate over his previous four games.
Williams also used his legs more, rushing for a season-high 70 yards.
While all of that made this offense more functional than it had been over their three games coming out of the bye, Williams was still QB20 (16.2 points) for fantasy purposes.
Sunday’s game does give 2QB gamers a needed boost of confidence in using Williams during a heavy bye week, but he is a QB2 in this spot.
Minnesota is 10th in passing points allowed per attempt (0.362).
They are second in the league in blitz rate (37.7%), fourth in pressure rate (37.5%), and third in zone coverage rate (80.4%) on passing plays.
Williams averages 5.9 yards per pass attempt against the blitz (29th), a rate that dips to 5.5 Y/A against zone blitzes (31st).
Williams averages 4.8 Y/A under pressure, 30th in the league.
Running Back
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More Week 12 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Steelers @ Browns -- FREE | Thursday Night Football |
| Vikings @ Bears | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Colts | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Patriots @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bucs @ Giants | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Cowboys @ Commanders | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Chiefs @ Panthers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Titans @ Texans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Broncos @ Raiders | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 49ers @ Packers | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Cardinals @ Seahawks | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Eagles @ Rams | Sunday Night Football |
| Ravens @ Chargers -- FREE | Monday Night Football |
