Bears quarterback Justin Fields exploded onto the scene in his second season, where he impressed with his elite speed and athleticism. Fields garnered respect around the league, be it from players, coaches or analysts.
And if you happened to have Fields on your fantasy football team, chances are he single-handedly helped you win a good number of your matchups.
So it comes as no surprise that ESPN has named Fields their Fantasy Breakout Player of 2022.
From Week 7, which marked the turning point for Fields and Chicago’s offense, through Week 17, Fields averaged 25.4 points per game. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes finished as the No. 1 fantasy quarterback for the 2022 season, averaging 25.2 points per game.
Justin Fields has arrived as a fantasy football star 🤩 pic.twitter.com/G0qi2C1Lmt
— ESPN Fantasy Sports (@ESPNFantasy) January 18, 2023
Naturally, it was Fields’ running ability that contributed to his fantasy success. The Bears’ passing game struggled throughout the season, whether that was due to the pass catchers, offensive line or even Fields.
But when Fields had the ball in his hands and took off, it was magic. Even when it looked like he was dead in the water, he’d find a way to turn nothing into something spectacular — much to the delight of fantasy owners.
Fields rushed for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns on the year, where he fell just 64 yards shy of breaking Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record. Fields rushed for 70-plus yards eight times last season, including three games where he ran for more than 130 yards. That includes his record-setting performance against the Dolphins, where he gained 178 yards on the ground.
While Fields himself said he’s not expecting to rush for 1,000 yards every season, there’s no doubt that he has the potential for those chunk plays that made him a coveted player among fantasy owners.
Regardless, Fields will most certainly be in demand in fantasy leagues next season.
