Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
All the talk this week has centered on whether rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will participate after suffering a rib injury. Regardless of whether the No. 2 pick can participate or not, the Washington Commanders need to depend on their ground game more than ever.
The Chicago Bears are giving up 112.0 yards per game on the ground, ranked No. 11 league-wide. Washington is the NFL's third-best rushing attack at 165.4 yards per game. This mouth-watering chess game will go a long way to determining the overall outcome.
Brian Robinson Jr. should be the focal point of Kliff Kingsbury's offensive strategy. The former third-round selection made an impressive return to the lineup in Week 7 after missing one game with a knee issue. He's on pace for 1,056 rushing yards in 2024 if the same trend continues, so leaning on him heavily in this one would be wise.
This becomes more essential if veteran backup signal-caller Marcus Mariota gets the nod. But either way, how Robinson performs in the face of a decent-looking defensive front seven could hold the key to Washington's fortunes this weekend.
Benjamin St-Juste - Commanders CB
Benjamin St-Juste was a steady coverage presence in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. This was versus an anemic offense that couldn't get anything going, but taking small confidence boosts could lead to something bigger down the line.
St-Juste remains a tough evaluation. There are times when he looks like a decent cornerback capable of being part of the team's long-term plans. At other times, his concentration issues and lack of technique make it difficult to envisage a future with the Commanders beyond 2024.
It's a constant assessment for St-Juste before those in power decide his fate next spring. Keeping D.J. Moore relatively quiet against the Chicago Bears would go a long way to improving his fortunes for an extended stay.
Moore torched the Commanders from start to finish last season. He's one of the league's most underrated wideouts who continues to produce outstanding numbers despite some lackluster quarterbacks throughout his career. His connection with Caleb Williams is coming along nicely, so St-Juste must counteract this accordingly.
Anything less will come with grave consequences attached.