Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jared Goff (vs. Chi) – Jared Goff’s numbers haven’t been gaudy this season but he has been consistent at the quarterback position. Goff ranks 12th in total fantasy points for quarterbacks which includes his BYE week. He had an impressive showing in the week 10 win vs. the Chargers where he had 333 yards and 2 touchdowns. Up next Goff will face the Bears at home and this is setup for Goff to have his best performance of the season. I can see Goff throwing for 3 touchdowns in this one as the Lions cruise.

Sit ‘Em

Baker Mayfield (@ SF) – Mayfield has been solid for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year. It is somewhat surprising as many including myself, thought he would be benched by this point of the season. With that said you will need to sit Mayfield this week as he is set to face the 49ers on the road. San Francisco bounced back last week in a 34-3 throttling at Jacksonville. More importantly, the defense looked like its old self constantly pressuring Trevor Lawrence. Mayfield will be under that same pressure all game long and the Bucs offense is in for a rough afternoon.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Ty Chandler (@ Den) – Chandler was a priority on the waiver wire this week for a reason. Fellow running back Alexander Mattison is likely to miss this matchup which paves the way for Chandler. He will get to face the Broncos defense which is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Fire up Chandler this week as he is in line for a big game.

Sit ‘Em

Joe Mixon (@ Bal) – Mixon and the Bengals are set to face an angry Ravens team on Thursday night. The Ravens had a surprising collapse against the Browns last week and will be looking to bounce back vs. their division rival. The last time they met Mixon was held in check vs. this Ravens defense. I expect more of the same tonight for Mixon and the Bengals ground game.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

DeVonta Smith (@ KC) – The Super Bowl rematch is the game of the week and it should be another high-scoring affair. Kansas City will no doubt prioritize locking down A.J. Brown which will give more opportunities for Smith in the passing game. Keep in mind the Eagles also likely be without tight end Dallas Goedert who is dealing with a forearm injury. This means more of a target share for Smith who has a touchdown in back-to-back games.

Sit ‘Em

Amari Cooper (vs. Pit) – Amari Cooper is in for a frustrating game vs. the Steelers. Cooper has had a nice season thus far and is in the top 12 in receiving yards with 715. Unfortunately for him and the Browns offense, Deshaun Watson is set to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. The loss of Watson will no doubt hurt the Browns passing attack as they will rely more than ever on their stellar defense.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Cole Kmet (@ Det) – Cole Kmet owners will be happy to see starting quarterback Justin Fields back in action for the Bears this week. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent filled in admirably for Chicago but this offense is more dynamic with Fields at the helm. Kmet should find success in the passing game as the Bears are likely to be playing from behind on the road vs. the Lions.

Sit ‘Em

Tyler Conklin (@ Buf) – Conklin had his best game of the season last week in the loss vs. the Raiders. He had 70 yards on 7 receptions including a 27-yard catch and run. Don’t expect that to continue this week when the Jets head to Buffalo. Conklin was held to just 2 yards on 1 reception when these teams met in week 1. The Bills are in desperate need of a win and they will get it this week.

Start of the Week

James Conner (@ Hou) – Conner had no issues taking on the full-time role for the Cardinals last week. In his return from the IR, Conner had 73 rushing yards on 16 carries. Conner certainly looked like his old self and I expect even better numbers this week vs. the Texans. This one has the makings of a shootout and you could see last week the impact of Kyler Murray returning had for the Cardinals. Lock in Conner this week as a must-start as he is set for a big day.

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Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Sam Howell (vs. Chi) – Howell bounced back from a rough outing against the Bills and almost led the Commanders to an overtime victory versus the Eagles. Next up is the lowly Chicago Bears who are in complete disarray. The Bears defense is allowing 22.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and they will be without DBs Eddie Jackson and Jaylon Johnson. Expect a big game from Howell and also the Commanders receivers.

Sit ‘Em

Trevor Lawrence (@ Buf) – Lawrence started to show signs of life in the week 4 victory against the Falcons but next up are the red-hot Bills. Even though this game will be in London it could be a long day for the Jaguars offense. The Buffalo defense is for real and they were able to keep the high-powered Dolphins offense in check last week. I do like Lawrence’s prospects for the rest of the season just not in this game.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Breece Hall (@ Den) – Hall has disappointed thus far but that will change Sunday when the Jets travel to Denver. According to reports Hall will no longer be on a snap count and this is the perfect game to unleash him. The Broncos defense has been dreadful against the run allowing an average of 38.0 fantasy points per game to running backs. Don’t forget about last year when Hall torched the Broncos for a 62-yard touchdown before he went down with an ACL injury.

Sit ‘Em

Kyren Williams (vs. Phi) – Williams has been a nice surprise this season but he will take a step back Sunday versus the Eagles. Williams is dealing with a hip injury that may hamper his effectiveness. He is also up against the vaunted Eagles d-line that is also tough to run against. Sit Williams but just for this week.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. Ind) – Pittman was quiet on Sunday versus the Rams. He had a season-low 5 targets and only 15 receiving yards. That will change when the Titans come to town in week 5. Pittman has yet to eclipse the 100-yard receiving mark but I believe this is the game he does it. The Titans defense is allowing an average of 26.2 fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season.

Sit ‘Em

George Pickens (vs. Bal) – What has happened to the Steelers offense? Pittsburgh laid another egg last Sunday when they were dominated by Houston. Up next is Baltimore who will be looking to add to the Steelers misery. Quarterback Kenny Pickett is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee but is still expected to play. Even when he was healthy Pittsburgh’s offense just looks off. It could be another long day for Pickett and Pickens.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Zach Ertz (vs. Cin) – Ertz had his second 10-target game in week 4 as the Cardinals continue to look his way. I can see Ertz grabbing his first touchdown of the season versus a struggling Bengals defense. Cincinnati is allowing an average of 10 fantasy points per game to tight ends thus far. Ertz should be a big part of the game plan again this week.

Sit ‘Em

Cole Kmet (@ Was) – It’s hard to start anyone on the Bears offense this week against Washington. Kmet had a huge game versus the Broncos in week 4 where he hauled in 2 touchdowns. The momentum won’t continue on Thursday night as Washington has allowed minimal production to opposing tight ends.

Start of the Week

Zay Flowers (@ Pit) – Despite decent production, Flowers has yet to find the end zone. That will change on Sunday versus the Steelers. The volume has been there for Flowers but he has yet to have a breakout game. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 31.3 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and just gave up 168 yards to the Texans Nico Collins. This is the week we see big returns for Flowers.

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Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears had a decision to make this offseason. They could keep the #1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and draft a quarterback or they could trade the pick and stick with Justin Fields. After much speculation the Bears decided to stick with Fields and in return received a nice trade package. They now have extra picks to build for the future and D.J. Moore who was included in the deal.

I expect Justin Fields to continue his rise and carry the Bears to the playoffs. D.J. Moore will give Fields a much needed receiving weapon and tight end Cole Kmet will take another step forward. The Bears defense should also improve as they added stud linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency. Look for the Bears to grab one of the NFC Wild Card spots next year.

Las Vegas Raiders

In 2022, the Raiders finished with a record of 6-11. When you look back at their year they had several close losses including two overtime defeats. It’s clear they were a better team than their record indicated, they just need to learn how to finish games. With Derek Carr now in New Orleans, Las Vegas will look to Jimmy Garoppolo to help them take the next step.

Garoppolo may not be the most talented quarterback in the league but he is a winner. With a career record of 40-17, he has shown when healthy he can lead a team to the playoffs. Running back Josh Jacobs should have another monster year and he recently landed at #2 in our best running backs in 2023 list. If the defense can show improvement, I expect the Raiders to finish 2nd in the AFC West.

New Orleans Saints

Going into the 2023 season one thing is clear, the NFC South is the worst division in the NFL. Three of the four teams are in rebuilding mode and now is the time for the Saints to capitalize. New Orleans wasted little time in grabbing Derek Carr when he became available this offseason. Carr should elevate this offense which hopes to have Michael Thomas back healthy. The pieces are there for the Saints to make a run and they look like the clear leaders of the division.

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Chicago Bears: TE Cole Kmet [ADP: 113.5]

Cole Kmet had a sneaky good season with a top-seven finish for TEs in fantasy football. He caught 50 balls for 544 yards and seven TDs. He and Justin Fields have established a connection that will still be reliable even with new additions on offense. At 113.5, he’s a very good TE to draft if you went heavy on the other positions first. Hopefully, more passing plays will be drawn up to use Kmet more.

Detroit Lions: WR Marvin Jones [ADP: 245.9]

Detroit picked up WR Marvin Jones from free agency to shore up their WR depth. Now, it looks like he should play a bigger role with WR Jameson Williams out due to a gambling suspension. Other than Amon-Ra, the Lions don’t have strong options on WR as they’re mostly young. Detroit might rely on Marvin Jones to help stabilize the WR core.

Green Bay Packers: RB Aaron Jones [ADP: 58]

Aaron Jones has slid down draft boards and has an ADP of 58. He was a first-round potential pick as late as a year or two ago. Seeing him at fifth-round value made no sense. He’s still a very good pass-catcher and will be a good chunk of the offense with Jordan Love still learning to play QB. I would draft him early knowing what he can do.

Minnesota Vikings: WR Jordan Addison [ADP 107.2]

The Vikings used their first-round pick on WR Jordan Addison out of USC. After letting go of Adam Thielen in the offseason, Addison looks to get the receptions of Thielen. With Justin Jefferson getting attention from the game plan, Addison can take advantage of this and produce a solid rookie season. He’s worth drafting for your flex position.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

After a subpar rookie season, not much was expected of Justin Fields as he entered his second season. The Bears didn’t equip him with many talents on offense so it was difficult to determine how he would perform in year two.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Justin Fields was on average the 17th QB to be taken in fantasy. The names above him were seasoned veterans who had more talent so he was on the next tier of QBs. His ADP was at 64.6 so he was around a 6th-round pick. He would do well if he were your Superflex.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

The performance of Justin Fields shocked everyone in the football world. His weapons on offense forced him to run the ball and he looked electric. His three best performances included 178, 147, and 132 rushing yards in games throughout the season. The Bears looked competitive in multiple games and it looks like they have their future QB unless they decide to shock the NFL world. He ended the season ranked 7th at QB and 15th overall.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 8 vs Dallas Cowboys

At this point in the season, Justin Fields had been slowly heating up after a slow start. Against the Cowboys in Week 8, Fields suddenly exploded in the best three-game stretch of his career. Against the vaulted Cowboy’s defense, Fields threw for 151 yards and two TDs and ran for 60 yards and a TD. His dual-threat ability could be seen as his passing and running were making life difficult for one of the best defenses in the NFL.

Week 9 vs Miami Dolphins

No one expected this game to be close. Miami had been one of the best teams in the league and was hot on offense with their weapons. Justin Fields threw for three TDs and ran for 178 yards and a TD. His best play of the game was a 61-yard TD run to make it a 28-25 deficit for the Bears. He ended as QB 1 with a 42.72 FP performance.

Week 10 vs Detroit Lions

Justin Fields ended his best three-game stretch with one more magical performance against the Detroit Lions. On the ground, Fields ran for 147 yards and a couple of TDs and threw for two TDs as the Lions narrowly defeated Chicago 31-30. He connected with Cole Kmet for a 50-yard TD to make it a two-possession game in the 3rd quarter. He ran in for a 67-yard TD with nine minutes in the fourth to make it a 30-24 lead for the Bears. This performance gave him a 39.38 FP game. For the second week in a row, he was the QB 1 in football. He has a lot of potential to be even better next season.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Justin Fields appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Chicago Bears moved on from the scapegoat Matt Nagy, but they still have issues at their pivotal quarterback position. The second-year quarterback Justin Fields surprisingly garnered a monster victory against the San Francisco 49ers, but his wheels fell off afterward. Fields had a whopping QBR of 5.8 against the Green Bay Packers, an 18.2 QBR against the Houston Texans, and a 34.3 QBR against the New York Giants. The former titan-like figure at Ohio State showed a glimmer of hope against the Minnesota Vikings by unveiling a 76.5 QBR in the fight.

In the year that Avatar 2 will smash box office records, the Bears QB1 has registered 679 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 194 rushing yards, and an overall QBR of 37.

Sadly, the best play in his best single-game performance of the 2022 season was overturned by a penalty.

With that enunciated, an intriguing question surrounds the Bears QB: Is Fields overrated?

I wholeheartedly feel that Fields was overrated entering the 2022 season (especially with his supporting cast) & I believe that he’s a bottom-five QB right now. The Bears should still rightfully acknowledge that he has gifts and it’s worth enduring his growing pains to witness potential high-end performances from him this season than ride with Trevor Sieman — who went 0-4 with the New Orleans Saints last season.

The Bears need to get Cole Kmet involved & and it would make sense to add a FA WR to their roster. It’s easy to suggest that Will Fuller & Odell Beckham Jr. are logical fits for 20 squads, but the Bears arguably could benefit from Fuller or OBJ more than any team. Plus, it’s a sharp idea to pair Fields with an illustrious WR1 before showing him the bench. He isn’t playing like a first-round pick, to say the least. However, he could make strides by running the ball more, playing with an improved group of weapons, and then churning out more potent continuity every day.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Chicago Bears have a young & talented tight end group heading into the 2022 season. The Bears showcase Cole Kmet, Ryan Griffin, James O’Shaughnessy, and Ryan Jensen at their TE position. Their top dog in Kmet ousted 612 yards and 60 receptions in his sophomore season. PFF handed him a 63.4 grade for his 2021 outing. Although, it should be noted that he nicely showed progress in the back-end of last season. Per The Athletic, he ranked Top-10 in targets, receptions, and yards from Week 9 to Week 18 in 2021. Kmet should garner a hefty extension next off-season if he has a career season in 2022.

Griffin, who has appeared in 119 career games, will be a modest TE2 for CHI. Griffin notched 261 yds and 2 TDs as a Jet last season. He recorded a personal best touchdowns (five TDs) in 2019. His career-best receiving yard tally (442) came in 2016. He re-signed to the Bears on a one-year deal worth $2.205 million dollars.

O’Shaughnessy (a fifth-round draft pick in 2015) unleashed 244 receiving yards in 2021 (after hauling in 262 yds the season prior). The 30-year-old inked a one-year deal worth $1.2 million dollars with CHI this off-season. Rysen John is the Bears fourth TE on the depth chart. He doesn’t have any career receiving yards or receiving touchdowns.

The Bears certainly need their Jimmy Graham-less TE group to help their offense that has a very young and timid WR group. I fully expect Kmet to be a 1,000+ yard weapon and Griffin to be involved for Fields and the Bears passing offense moving forward.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Chicago Bears will have a challenge becoming a potent NFC team with their second-year QB Justin Fields. The Bears don’t have the sexiest roster, especially without Khalil Mack. There is no reason that Justin Fields can’t be a star in the league, but he will likely have growing pains in 2022. With that said, the Fields-led Bears would really benefit from a few profiles that could turn heads next season. Here are three Bears that could surprise the NFL world in 2022-2023.

Cole Kmet

Cole Kmet will not only improve his tool-kit entering his third season but there’s strong potential with the Fields-Kmet connection. Fields routinely hooked up with his TE1 in his starting reps as a rookie. Per PFF, Fields also thrives as a medium passer (78.1 passing grade), and Kmet is quite impressive as a pass-catcher in the middle of the field (94.8 receiving grade). I expect him to be a fine security blanket for Fields amid an offense that doesn’t have a lot of proven success from the WR spot.

Teven Jenkins

The Bears 2021 second-round pick Teven Jenkins had his feet wet in his rookie (six games). He will be getting prepared to unveil his first season as a 17-game starter this off-season. According to Sports Mockery, the OL coach Chris Morgan is already impressed by the work he’s shown this offseason. It’s safe to say that Jenkins is expected to be a big part of the Bears young offense.

Kyler Gordon

I believe it’s obvious that the Bears were gifted a steal in round two with Kyler Gordon. Bears Wire gave the Bears an A- for the selection of Gordon. He definitely has excellent man-to-man coverage skills and he should be an immediate impact player on the outside. Bears Wire has even stated that he has been “lighting it up” during practice. It seems like CHI may have found a true gem in round two.

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