During the 2021 NFL Draft, not many people expected the Chicago Bears to wind up with star quarterback Justin Fields. But after Fields fell in the draft, the Bears traded up and selected the former Ohio State gunslinger with the No. 11 pick.
When looking at Fields' college tape, his play screams superstar potential. Just look at his highlights:
Fields' ability to move in and out of the pocket, to extend dead plays, sling it downfield with ease and use his speed to run make for a great prospect for the Bears. In the midst of training camp, it seems like he has impressed tons of people, including coaches and fans:
Justin Fields looks really impressive in the 11 on 11s #BearsCamp pic.twitter.com/UoAJLfknyR
— Jerrell Mardis (@jerrellmardis) August 8, 2021
Im not at practice today but it sure as heck sounds like Justin Fields is having himself a day. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) August 8, 2021
With that being said, his future with the Bears and his success will be in the hands of head coach Matt Nagy. This kid has the chance to be one of the best QBs in the league when the time comes. Nagy needs to start giving Fields some reps with the main offense so chemistry can be built over time. If he can build around his new weapon and create a playbook that can maximize his potential, the team can be one of the NFC leaders in years to come, and he could become a top fantasy option as well.
2020 statistics with Ohio State
Last season, Justin Fields started in only eight games. In those starts, he put up a total of 2,100 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, six interceptions, 383 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. His lack of starts were caused by some injuries throughout the season and COVID-19. However, he still had a great season. One of his best games of the season happened against Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. In a key win while injured, he totaled 385 passing yards, six touchdowns and no picks. Here are some highlights that included some incredible throws:
The season that really placed him in top-tier status was in 2019. He had 3,273 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, three interceptions, almost 500 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He was a Heisman finalist in that year.
Overall, Fields was a superstar college athlete in his time with Ohio State, and showed the world that he belongs in the league.
2021 fantasy projections with the Bears
ESPN currently has Justin Fields racking up 3,391 yards, 22 total touchdowns, 12 interceptions and almost 500 rushing yards, even though Andy Dalton is set to be the starter. In total, Fields' projected total fantasy points are 254.7.
These projections aren't concrete, as there are a couple factors that could increase or decrease his total fantasy points. The one big issue could be injuries.
During the college football season, he suffered a rib and hip pointer injury against Clemson in the CFB Playoff. Should that injury come back to haunt him in 2021 (fingers crossed it won't), it could be a huge setback.
Another issue that could lead to the decrease of his fantasy points could be his progress. It it known that the transition between college and the NFL is huge. QBs especially have to learn how to read a pro-level defense, polish some techniques and improve on their respective strengths and weaknesses. Some QBs (Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson) were able to immediately contribute and shine in their first seasons. However, others (Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield) slowly developed as each season passed.
There is no telling what Fields' progress will be like. Nonetheless, he could take his time to get used to the NFL.
The last factor that will affect his projections is when he will start. With Andy Dalton the QB1 at this time, there isn't any guarantee on when Fields will start. This will all depend on the preseason. If he can show that he has grown with the months he has spent within the organization, then he could find his way as the Week 1 starter. Should he have some issues with his play, then Dalton will have the starting spot until Fields is good to go.
With issues aside, there are some opportunities for him to do better than his projections. The biggest one would be Nagy's playbook. Though the Mitchell Trubisky experiment didn't work out, having a true athletic QB like Fields can reap huge benefits in a West Coast offense. If the Bears HC can prioritize play-action passes, RPOs, option plays and some deep passes, then the offense will have a field day against other NFL defenses.
Another big factor that can help make the QB even better is the chemistry built between him and his teammates. Getting to work with the offensive line, the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs can give him the chance to work on special plays and create a connection that will be key in the regular season.
Rankings
As of today, ESPN currently has Justin Fields ranked 22nd overall in fantasy at his respective position. His position is as accurate as it can be. Again, there are tons of factors that could affect not only his fantasy projection, but also his rankings. He could slowly climb the ranks and become a top-12 QB within a matter of months. He has the ability to turn heads and can prove himself quickly.
However, the most likely scenario is that he will be in the middle of the pack. Obviously, the 21 QBs ahead of him (sans Trevor Lawrence) have proven themselves as NFL-caliber starters. It should come to no surprise that he ranks with QBs such as Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trey Lance and Zach Wilson. Fields can easily overcome some QBs ranked ahead him with time, such as Matt Ryan, Jalen Hurts and Daniel Jones. Some players he easily won't top as of right now would be Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Tom Brady and the other elite options.
There is no telling how good Justin Fields will be in a couple of months. Regardless, he will catapult himself to the top 15 in no time. While it's wise for fantasy football owners to draft other proven passers, Fields should be taken in the last couple rounds as a gamble. If the fantasy football roster is full and has room for some boom-or-bust players, then the Bears future star should be taken. It could be worth it in the end.
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