Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields threw only seven passes in each of the first two preseason games, leading one of his four drives to a field goal. He wasn't expected to suit up for his team's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns. That early "performance" didn't exactly get Bears fans or fantasy managers excited. Fields, who had a rather disappointing rookie season leading a mess of an offense, wasn't so popular in fantasy leagues, either. He entered this past weekend rostered in just 36% of ESPN standard leagues -- an afterthought of a late-round pick in some leagues.
Will anything change after Fields actually played on Saturday, completing 14 of 16 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of a 21-20 win? At the very least, Fields might make fantasy managers in deeper leagues start considering him. Bears fans have to be more excited today. We know the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft out of Ohio State provides value with his legs. Fields rushed for 420 yards in his rookie season, and ESPN Fantasy projects him to have 602 rushing yards this season, a figure topped by only three quarterbacks -- each of whom is a top-10 fantasy QB. These fellows don't need to throw like Joe Montana to be fantasy stars.
Fields also did things with his arm on Saturday, Sure, he had the luxury of playing with other members of the first-team offense in a weekend in which many projected starters around the league did not suit up at all. Still, he looked confident, mature and, perhaps most of all, properly protected. He showed accuracy and quick decision-making. Fields found a lightly double-covered Ryan Griffin for a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter, capably led wide receiver Dante Pettis on a 12-yarder in the corner of the end zone to open the second and finished things off by finding a wide-open Cole Kmet for a 24-yard score. Fields was efficient and composed. He threw well out of the pocket but rushed only twice. He wasn't forced to run, which is notable.
It just seems a bit odd how San Francisco 49ers sophomore QB Trey Lance, who barely played in his rookie season, is going so much earlier than Fields in ESPN average draft position. Lance played on the first three drives in his team's preseason finale against the Houston Texans on Thursday -- also with starters around him -- and threw for a mere 49 yards. Nobody should hold that performance against him, either, but Lance is far from a finished product. Everyone presumes he is the superior pick to Fields in fantasy, and perhaps he is, but it is hardly guaranteed and it shouldn't be just because one of them struggled as a rookie.
Don't judge Fields too harshly based on his rookie season. He has a new coach (Matt Eberflus) and offensive coordinator (Luke Getsy) and on Saturday we finally saw some on-field positives. Perhaps the team's dysfunctional offense is history. The Bears did Fields few favors in his rookie season, mainly with terrible blocking, odd playcalling and how they limited his running ability, at least early on. Then the franchise added nobody of clear consequence to the offense this past offseason -- no dynamic wide receiver or obvious playmaker.
Perhaps it was unnecessary. Perhaps all the offense needs is for Fields to have better coaching, mature a bit and play better. After all, David Montgomery can be an RB1. Darnell Mooney can be a WR2. Perhaps Kmet is a TE1. It comes down to Fields making strides. This past weekend, it finally looked like he had.
Other quarterbacks in the news
Running quarterbacks offer something unique in fantasy, and dynasty managers need to keep an eye on the Tennessee Titans and Malik Willis. Ryan Tannehill is the obvious starter, but we seldom see talk of him being replaced. Why not? Frankly, this reminds me of how quickly Lamar Jackson moved up to start for the Baltimore Ravens.
Willis, the third-round draft pick from Liberty, looked fantastic against the Arizona Cardinals this past weekend, not only picking backup defenders apart with his arm but delivering a highlight-reel 50-yard run and ending up with 79 rushing yards on four attempts. Quarterbacks who can run this way, such as Jackson, are special. I don't think the Titans are in any hurry to switch starting quarterbacks, but if Tannehill struggles -- and he did last season -- they must. Willis might be Jalen Hurts in a year.
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The Seattle Seahawks announced veteran Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, and perhaps investors of WRs DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett groaned a bit, but whom did you want? Drew Lock? No, you did not. And, by the way, while it was a small sample size, Metcalf actually produced better statistics last season with Smith as the quarterback rather than Russell Wilson. Top, healthy receivers tend to get their numbers as long as any semi-competent passer is back there. Just look at the career of Brandin Cooks or that of Allen Robinson II (pre-2021). Some combination of Smith/Lock can still make Metcalf a WR2 and Lockett a WR3. Don't overthink it.
Tua Tagovailoa's ADP might rise quite a bit after his weekend performance against the Philadelphia Eagles' third-string defenders, as the Miami Dolphins scored 48 points. Tagovailoa completed 6 of 7 passes for 121 yards, including a 51-yarder to a wide-open Tyreek Hill on the first play from scrimmage. Tagovailoa is the No. 16 quarterback in ESPN ADP, and there is a case to make for him to move up a bit, but then again, who drops? Minnesota Vikings starter Kirk Cousins has had top-12 finishes in consecutive seasons. He didn't play in any game this month because he didn't need to. Derek Carr gets to throw to Davante Adams. Lance should be fine. There is so much quarterback depth. You should play in a 2-QB or superflex format. Otherwise, you're wasting the QB depth.