Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season continues on and the slate will wrap up with a Monday night NFC North showdown as the Minnesota Vikings visit the Chicago Bears. Minnesota enters as a slight 1.5-point road favorite, with an over/under of 43.5. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy will finally make his debut after missing all of last season with a torn meniscus while the Bears will officially usher in the Ben Johnson era.
Below we will take a look at the best DFS plays for this Monday night showdown.
Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings (FLEX $10,400, CPT $15,600)
Jones arrived to Minnesota last year and played a pivotal role in the team finishing the regular season with a 14-3 record. Turning 30 last December, he showed that he could still be one of the most effective workhorse running backs in the league by finishing ninth in rushing with 1,138 yards. Given that the aforementioned McCarthy is making his very first start, one would expect the Vikings to take some pressure off the shoulders of the young QB by giving the veteran running back plenty of carries. There’s value to be had in sticking Jones into the captain’s spot.
DJ Moore, WR, Bears (FLEX $10,200, CPT $15,300)
Moore’s numbers dipped in 2024 compared to the year prior, but he was still highly productive with 98 receptions for 966 yards and six touchdowns. The offense will look different this season under new head coach Ben Johnson and Moore himself could be one of the more interesting fantasy prospects in the entire league. Not only is he still the top pass-catching option for Caleb Williams, he was also getting reps in the backfield during training camp and could take on a Deebo Samuel-like role for the Bears. I’m intrigued by Moore this season and am willing to give him a captain’s spot in the opener.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings (FLEX $8,400, CPT $12,600)
Hockenson’s ACL/MCL tear from the end of the 2023 campaign carried over into 2024, where he ended up missing the first seven games of the regular season. While his numbers for the final 10 games of the regular season were decent, he showed signs of a full return to form with five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in their Wild Card matchup against the Rams. Hock was a top-10 tight end in the red zone pr
ior to his injury in 2023 and he could be an easy target for McCarthy to lean on when the Vikings get down inside the 20. I like his upside here.
Jordan Mason, RB, Vikings (FLEX $5,800, CPT $8,700)
Mason will make is debut for Minnesota on Monday, coming off a 2024 campaign in San Francisco where he filled in for an injured Christian McCaffrey. He will enter the season as one of the top handcuff options in fantasy football and head coach Kevin O’Connell has been calling him and Jones a “1A” and “1B” backfield. He should get plenty of reps against the Bears and there’s potential for him to get a few scoring opportunities in the red zone.
Cole Kmet, TE, Bears (FLEX $4,800, CPT $7,200)
First-round rookie tight end Colston Loveland has been generating buzz all offseason, but don’t overlook Kmet in this Monday night showdown. The veteran is another Bears playmaker who stands to benefit from Ben Johnson’s arrival as he regularly utilized two tight ends as the Lions’ offensive coordinator last season. There’s great value for Kmet in a flex spot here and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him make a few big catches in Week 1.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (FLEX $1,400, CPT $2,100)
Monangai has the potential to turn some heads in his NFL debut on Monday night. The seventh-round pick from Rutgers had an impressive showing in training camp and Ben Johnson said over the weekend that he fully trusts the rookie because he tends to do everything right. That praise could be a tipoff to the first-year back getting plenty of playing time right out the gate, so it’s definitely worth it to put him in your lineup as a low-risk, high-reward add.
