Welcome to Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season. The New England Patriots and Chicago Bears are set for a Thursday Night Football showdown to kick things off. New England will look to build on its recent momentum, while Chicago will aim to capitalize on home-field support and keep its strong play going. With both teams looking to strengthen their playoff position, the matchup should offer an intriguing battle between New England’s ability to execute in key situations and Chicago’s potential to create explosive offensive plays. 

This article breaks down the key DFS plays, potential values, game-script considerations, and players to approach with caution as we look for the best ways to build competitive lineups for Thursday night.

Patriots vs. Bears DFS Picks & Preview: Thursday Night Football, 10/22

The biggest storyline will be the quarterback matchup between Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, two of the top three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye has helped guide New England to a 4–2 record, but he faces a difficult challenge against a Chicago defense capable of generating significant pressure. Williams, meanwhile, returned from a hamstring injury last week and completed 30 of 36 passes in the Bears’ 31–23 win over Atlanta, giving Chicago a major boost heading into this contest. The Bears also boast a dangerous rushing attack, so New England will need to contain both Williams’ mobility and Chicago’s ground game. 

The Patriots will be without starting offensive guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown, putting additional pressure on their replacement linemen to protect Maye against Chicago’s aggressive pass rush. The Bears will be missing defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and running back Kyle Monangai, while linebacker T.J. Edwards is doubtful. If New England can establish its running game, get A.J. Brown involved in the passing attack and avoid costly turnovers, the Patriots have a realistic chance to win on the road. However, Chicago’s home-field advantage and offensive balance make the Bears a dangerous opponent.

 

 

 

Patriots vs. Bears TNF Odds 

  • Spread:
    • Patriots +3 (-112)
    • Bears -3 (-108)
  • Money Line:
    • Patriots (+130)
    • Bears (-155)
  • Game Total:
    • Over 50.5 (-115)
    • Under 50.5 (-105)
 

 

NFL Weather: Patriots vs. Bears TNF, October 22nd 

Temperatures are expected to hover around 60 degrees throughout the game. Winds are expected to remain light, generally around 5 mph, with virtually no chance of precipitation. These mild, dry conditions should provide an excellent environment for football, with little weather-related disruption to passing or kicking.

Patriots vs. Bears Injuries: Thursday Night Football Week 7

The Patriots have officially ruled out five players. Starting offensive guards Alijah Vera-Tucker (hamstring) and Ben Brown (knee) are both out. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III (neck), Karon Prunty (hamstring), and Channing Canada (hamstring) are also unavailable. Right tackle Morgan Moses (foot), linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), and safeties Kevin Byard (chest) and Craig Woodson (shoulder) are listed as questionable. 

For the Bears, running back Kyle Monangai (thumb and toe injuries) and linebacker Jack Sanborn (concussion) have been ruled out, while linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) is doubtful and unlikely to play. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip) is questionable, although he participated fully in Wednesday’s walkthrough, providing some optimism about his availability. 

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: MVP/Captain

Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears - DraftKings: $10,400 | FanDuel: $11,800

Williams showed encouraging form in his return against Atlanta, throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown, and he appears ready to handle his usual workload. His upside comes from his ability to extend plays, create explosive passing opportunities, and contribute as a runner, but New England’s pass rush and the possibility of Chicago leaning on its running game are factors to consider.

The matchup provides upside because the game is expected to be competitive, with a projected total above 50 points, giving Williams a chance to benefit from sustained passing volume. 

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $10,600 | FanDuel: $12,400

Maye put up an impressive performance in Week 6 with 235 passing yards and three touchdowns against the Jets, leading the Patriots to a 26–19 victory. He has also shown useful rushing production recently, adding 24 yards against the Jets, 25 against the Raiders and 54 against Buffalo over his last three games. 

Chicago's secondary could give Maye opportunities to attack downfield, particularly with Brown back in the lineup as the top receiving option. The Patriots will be without starting guards Vera-Tucker and Brown, which could affect pass protection. 

D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears - DraftKings: $9,800 | FanDuel: $10,600

Swift is coming off a strong Week 6 performance against Atlanta, recording 44 rushing yards on 16 carries, four receptions for 26 yards, and two touchdowns. With Monangai expected to miss another game, Swift could see an increased workload, although Roschon Johnson will be involved again. 

New England has been more vulnerable against the run than the pass this season, which supports Swift's outlook, and Chicago's offense has been producing consistently with Williams back under center. The biggest concern is a shared workload, which could limit Swift's ceiling if Johnson takes goal-line carries or Chicago falls behind and shifts toward passing.

A.J. Brown, WR, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $9,000 | FanDuel: $11,200

Brown was relatively quiet in his Week 6 return from a four-game absence, recording just three receptions for 27 yards on 10 targets despite playing 76% of New England’s offensive snaps. He was credited with three drops, including a deep pass that could have resulted in a long touchdown, but his ability to earn targets was still a positive. 

The matchup offers considerable upside because Chicago has allowed 9.8 yards per target to opposing receivers, and Brown should have opportunities to make plays downfield as he continues to regain his rhythm with Maye.

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Core Plays

Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears – DraftKings: $8,400 | FanDuel: $8,600

Burden is coming off his best performance of the season, catching all eight targets for 95 yards against Atlanta and showing strong chemistry with Williams. Burden has drawn a 22% target share through six games, making him a meaningful part of Chicago’s passing attack. 

The primary concern is he played only 39% of the offensive snaps in Week 6, a season low, which creates uncertainty about his playing time. Chicago built a huge early lead, and it's possible head coach Ben Johnson had the upcoming short week in mind. Burden has also demonstrated excellent efficiency in limited playing time dating back to last season. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $7,800 | FanDuel: $10,200

Stevenson has recorded 263 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 71 carries this season, along with 15 receptions for 111 yards, but Henderson and Kiner have begun to cut into his workload. 

Chicago has also been fairly stout against the run, and their tendency to control time of possession could further limit his opportunities. Additionally, injuries along the offensive line could limit Stevenson's efficiency. The risks don't necessarily outweigh the upside, as Stevenson should be heavily involved in scoring position. 

Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears – DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,200

Odunze had a quiet Week 6 against Atlanta, catching just three of four targets for 39 yards, and he has recorded fewer than 50 receiving yards in four of his last five games. The positive is that Odunze remains involved in Chicago's passing game, and he's played over 96% of the snaps in the last two weeks. 

Odunze is the most likely Chicago pass catcher to run into the elite coverage of cornerback Christian Gonzalez, which certainly doesn't improve his outlook. Still, he has big-play capability, and one long touchdown reception can make a big difference on a single-game slate. 

Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears – DraftKings: $6,400 | FanDuel: $7,200

Loveland is coming off his best performance of the season, catching six of seven targets for 65 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta, and his role has grown over the last three weeks. Since Week 4, he has earned a 19.1% target share, a 70.2% route share, and six red-zone targets, giving him a path to another productive fantasy outing with Williams back under center.

The matchup is challenging, as New England has limited opposing tight ends this season, but Loveland’s increased usage and red-zone involvement offer reasons for optimism. 

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Mid-Tier Plays

DeMario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $6,600 | FanDuel: $4,400

With Romeo Doubs on injured reserve and Mack Hollins also unavailable, Douglas is positioned for an expanded role in New England’s passing game. He caught seven of eight targets for 86 yards and a touchdown against the Jets in Week 6, while playing on nearly 59% of snaps. 

Douglas' individual matchup is particularly interesting because he has been productive against man coverage, drawing targets on 31.4% of his routes against man compared with 17.9% against zone. Chicago plays man coverage at the second-highest rate in the league, creating a potential opportunity for Douglas to get open underneath and generate yards after the catch. 

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $6,200 | FanDuel: $5,800

Henry is coming off a productive Week 6 performance against the Jets, catching five passes for 62 yards. Through six games, he has recorded 19 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns on 24 targets. 

Chicago presents a relatively neutral matchup for tight ends, so Henry's outlook will depend more on his target volume and red-zone opportunities. With Maye playing well, Henry could keep benefiting from short and intermediate throws, especially if Chicago's pass rush forces New England to get the ball out quickly. 

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $5,800 | FanDuel: $8,000

In Week 6 against the Jets, Henderson recorded just seven carries for 31 yards and one reception for nine yards, playing only 24% of the offensive snaps. Stevenson remains the Patriots' primary running back, and Kiner also got a bit of action last week. Henderson has scored fewer than five PPR fantasy points in all but one game this season.

Henderson's improved health could lead to more opportunities, especially if he earns additional passing-down work or breaks off an explosive run. However, Chicago's defensive matchup and uncertainty surrounding his workload make him difficult to trust. 

 

 

 

NFL Thursday Night Football DFS Picks: Value Plays

Kalif Raymond, WR, Chicago Bears – DraftKings: $3,400 | FanDuel: $4,800

After a strong start to the season, Raymond has cooled off considerably, recording just seven receptions for 30 yards over his last three games. In Week 6 against Atlanta, he caught two passes for 18 yards on two targets, and he played fewer than 50% of Chicago’s offensive snaps. 

Despite the dip in production, Raymond still maintains a significant enough role to have plenty of interest at his affordable cost. His big-play ability and involvement in the return game give him plenty of upside. 

Eli Raridon, TE, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $2,200 | FanDuel: $2,000

Through five games, Raridon has recorded nine receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown on 12 targets, averaging 5.2 PPR fantasy points per game. His best performance came in Week 5 against Las Vegas, when he caught five passes for 57 yards, but he followed that up with just one catch for 11 yards on three targets against the Jets in Week 6.  

The biggest obstacle is playing time, as Raridon ran routes on only 31.4% of New England’s dropbacks last week. The more encouraging outlook involves a snap share above 57% and 10 targets over the last three weeks. 

Efton Chism, WR, New England Patriots – DraftKings: $2,800 | FanDuel: $5,200

Chism has an opportunity to see snaps in a depleted Patriots receiving corps alongside Brown, Douglas, and Kyle Williams. Chism recorded five receptions for 57 yards against the Raiders in Week 5 and two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 4, but he was held without a catch on one target against the Jets in Week 6. 

Chicago has allowed some explosive passing performances this season, so Chism could pay off if his routes and targets increase, but his inconsistent usage makes him difficult to trust. On the plus side, he was on the field for more than 60% of the offensive snaps last week. 

 

 

 

TNF DFS Picks: Kickers & D/ST

Cairo Santos is averaging 7.5 fantasy points per game through six contests, with seven field goals converted on nine attempts and all 14 extra points made. He has produced four games with at least eight fantasy points, but his Week 5 performance against Green Bay resulted in zero fantasy points after he missed his only field-goal attempt.

Andy Borregales scored seven fantasy points against the Jets in Week 6, making two field goals and converting his extra points, although he also missed an extra point. Through six games, Borregales has made eight of 10 field-goal attempts, including just one from 50-plus yards. 

Bears D/ST enters the matchup after an encouraging defensive performance against Atlanta, recording five sacks and three takeaways in a 31–23 victory. Through six games, the Bears have accumulated 17 sacks and nine takeaways, giving them some potential to produce fantasy points through pressure and turnovers. 

Patriots D/ST does have a potential path to fantasy production through sacks and turnovers, especially if it can pressure Williams into holding the ball or forcing throws into tight coverage. However, the Patriots will be without multiple cornerbacks, and several other defensive contributors are questionable. Those absences could make it harder to contain Chicago's receiving options and limit the defense's turnover potential.

 

 

 

Patriots vs. Bears DFS Player Pool: TNF, 10/22

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