Bears D/ST or Broncos D/ST: Who Should You Start?
Preliminary board2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.
Start the Broncos — the lineup-share and projection edges are too wide to ignore.
Broncos D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 4 to 17) and projects 5.9 to the Bears's 5.7. the Bears's edge is the opponent total, 21.0 to 22.5 opponent implied points. The gap is comfortable.

Bears D/ST
5.75.75.7 Projected Points

Broncos D/ST
5.95.95.9 Projected Points
Why Bears D/ST
Toss-UpToss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 12 this week): on the road, and 5.7 pts projected vs CAR.
- CAR's offense gives up 2.2 sacks and 1.4 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
- Vegas has CAR at 21 points as 2.5-point dogs.
- Under-started: only 8% of leagues have them in, 17th among defenses, against a No. 12 matchup.
Why Broncos D/ST
SitSit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 11): 5.9 pts projected vs KC.
- KC's offense gives up 2.9 sacks and 0.9 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
- Vegas has KC at 22.5 points as 2.5-point favorites.
- Over-started: 88% of leagues have them in, 4th among defenses, against a No. 11 matchup.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Bears D/ST | Broncos D/ST |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 5.75.75.7 | 5.95.95.9 |
| Projection rank | Proj.DST12 | Proj.DST11 |
| Started in | 8% of leagues | 88% of leagues |
| Opponent sacks allowed / game | 2.2(2025) | 2.9(2025) |
| Opponent turnovers / game | 1.4(2025) | 0.9(2025) |
| Opponent implied total | 21.0 | 22.5 |
| Home / away | Away | Away |
| Start/Sit record | 0–0+1 toss-up | — |
Signal breakdown
- 5.7 vs 5.9 projected PPR pointsBroncos D/ST +
- Started rank 17 vs 4 (8% vs 88% of leagues)Broncos D/ST +
- 2.2 sacks / 1.4 TO vs 2.9 sacks / 0.9 TO per game allowedBroncos D/ST +
- Opponent implied 21.0 vs 22.5 pointsBears D/ST +
- Away vs Awayeven
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More D/ST comparisons
More D/ST comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs SF
T. Etienne Jr.Travis Etienne Jr.RBNOvs DET
- T. Etienne Jr.Travis Etienne Jr.RBNOvs DET
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs DAL
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs DAL
D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs CAR
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs CAR
B. TutenBhayshul TutenRBJAXvs CLE
- B. TutenBhayshul TutenRBJAXvs CLE
B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CIN
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CIN
D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs BUF
- T. HigginsTee HigginsWRCINvs TB
D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs SF
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs SF
D. MooreDJ MooreWRBUFvs HOU
- D. MooreDJ MooreWRBUFvs HOU
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs NO
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs NO
R. OdunzeRome OdunzeWRCHIvs CAR
- R. OdunzeRome OdunzeWRCHIvs CAR
C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs KC
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs KC
C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs MIN
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs PIT
G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs LAR
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs LAR
S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs NO
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs NO
T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs MIN
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs MIN
T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs DEN
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs DEN
D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs WSH
- D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs WSH
J. FergusonJake FergusonTEDALvs NYG
- J. HurtsJalen HurtsQBPHIvs WSH
D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs NYG
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs NYG
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs DAL
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs DAL
J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs ARI
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs ARI
C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs CAR
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs CAR
T. LawrenceTrevor LawrenceQBJAXvs CLE
- T. LawrenceTrevor LawrenceQBJAXvs CLE
B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs LAR
- C. DickerCameron DickerKLACvs ARI
J. BatesJake BatesKDETvs NO
- J. BatesJake BatesKDETvs NO
T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs IND
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs IND
H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs DEN
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs DEN
C. BoswellChris BoswellKPITvs ATL
- C. BoswellChris BoswellKPITvs ATL
E. McPhersonEvan McPhersonKCINvs TB
- E. McPhersonEvan McPhersonKCINvs TB
C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CIN
- Jaguars D/STJaguars D/STDSTJAXvs CLE
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs ARI
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs ARI
Titans D/STTitans D/STDSTTENvs NYJ
- Titans D/STTitans D/STDSTTENvs NYJ
Jets D/STJets D/STDSTNYJvs TEN
- Jets D/STJets D/STDSTNYJvs TEN
Eagles D/STEagles D/STDSTPHIvs WSH
- Eagles D/STEagles D/STDSTPHIvs WSH
Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs CAR
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs CAR
Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs MIN
- T. Etienne Jr.Travis Etienne Jr.RBNOvs DET
D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs SF
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs SF
K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs SF
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs NE
T. HigginsTee HigginsWRCINvs TB
- T. HigginsTee HigginsWRCINvs TB
M. LloydMarShawn LloydRBGBvs MIN
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CIN
R. OdunzeRome OdunzeWRCHIvs CAR
- R. OdunzeRome OdunzeWRCHIvs CAR
B. TutenBhayshul TutenRBJAXvs CLE
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs CAR
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs NO
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs NO
J. BrooksJonathon BrooksRBCARvs CHI
Want full matchup analysis & AI picks? →
Save your roster and get a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up call on every player, every week — plus prop pages, matchup data, and AI-powered NFL analysis.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse NFL player props or this week’s Start/Sit board.