Squirrel’s Nuts & Bolts: Bears - Commanders Showdown Strategy (Week 6 NFL DFS)

Oct 13, 2025

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Week 6 of the NFL season (and our Monday Night doubleheader) wraps up with an NFC showdown as the Chicago Bears visit the Washington Commanders in Washington. The Bears enter as 5.5-point road underdogs, with the game total set at 49.5 points. Chicago remains competitive in the NFC North despite sitting in last place, having won two straight to reach 2-2. Washington sits at 3-2 and has seen its outlook in the NFC East improve after the Eagles dropped two in a row. Both offenses rank inside the top ten in scoring – Washington seventh and Chicago tenth – though both defenses have struggled, allowing the fifth-most (Chicago) and eighth-most (Washington) yards per game this season.

Washington’s offense continues to run through second-year QB Jayden Daniels, though the team has been forced to navigate a string of injuries among its pass-catchers. WR1 Terry McLaurin is set to miss his third straight game, while Noah Brown will sit out for the fourth consecutive week. The lone healthy starter, Deebo Samuel, is listed as Questionable with a heel injury, but I’m writing this article under the assumption that he suits up. In the backfield, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has firmly taken over lead duties with Austin Ekeler out for the season. Chris Rodriguez would normally serve as the primary backup, but he’s also Questionable for Monday night. If he’s unable to go, Jeremy McNichols would step into the No. 2 role behind Croskey-Merritt. Between all the injuries, Washington leads the NFL in rushing yards per game but has the eighth-fewest passing yards per game.

The Bears’ offense features their own highly drafted second-year QB, Caleb Williams. Williams has thrown for 927 yards and eight passing touchdowns over four games. His strong start has been fueled by the early-season breakout of WR Rome Odunze, who leads the team with 296 receiving yards and five touchdowns. D.J. Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and rookie Luther Burden III round out a deep receiving corps, while D'Andre Swift (3.3 yards per carry) leads a ground game that has struggled with efficiency. The team also has some uncertainty at tight end. First-round rookie Colston Loveland is Questionable for Monday night, and if he’s unable to play, veteran Cole Kmet would continue his role as the primary tight end in Chicago’s offense.

This game features more injury news than most MNF contests, with the status of Deebo Samuel, Chris Rodriguez, and Colston Loveland still up in the air as of Monday afternoon. For DFS single-game contests, we’ll keep the uncertainty in mind as we build our lineups. Let’s break down this NFC showdown, highlight the key plays, and uncover the strategies that could help you climb the leaderboards.