2022 Season

NFL.com ranks Justin Fields among league’s 10 best QBs

Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields is climbing the NFL’s quarterback power rankings, including this list published by NFL.com

Published

3 years ago

November 11, 2022

Bryan Perez

NFL.com ranks Justin Fields among league's 10 best QBs (2022 Season)

The NFL has been and always will be a “what have you done for me lately” league. Player narratives change like the weather, and when it comes to Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, he’s quickly gone from a second-year player who needs development to one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the sport.

According to NFL.com’s latest quarterback ranking, Fields is more than just a budding superstar. He’s one of the 10-best players at his position.

“Fields started the season nestled at the bottom of this list,” NFL.com’s Marc Sessler wrote. “The lost-puppy look has been wiped off his face as the second-year starter emerges as one of the game’s more exciting player-development tales. Chicago play-caller Luke Getsy deserves Nick Sirianni-level credit for this midseason reshaping of the Bears’ offense into the league’s nastiest ground attack, with Fields at the forefront.

“He’s the league’s 11th-leading rusher, having fried another victim Sunday with his 61-yard scoring blast against the Dolphins. He’s also grown as a passer over the past few weeks. His targets are loving it, but scrambled defenses are not, forced to account for the threat of him taking off into space.” Mike McDaniel quipped after the game, explaining why he told Fields to “stop it” with the footraces.”

“Nobody was more critical than I was,” Martz said, via The 33rd Team. “His struggles were painful to watch. Additionally, the talent around him is mediocre at best. Then came Week 7. With that came a change in the offense.”

“He’s gone from a subpar quarterback to one of the most exciting players in the National Football League,” Martz said. “Also, his performance has caused teammates to elevate their game.”

Has Justin Fields really gone from a subpar quarterback to one of the league’s most exciting players? Or has he developed the way young players are supposed to?

Fields ascent in quarterback power rankings is a fantastic development for the Bears in 2022. The season was all about Justin Fields” development, after all. If he ends the year as one of the sports’ premium players, the future will be as bright as ever in Chicago.

Martz’s initial assessment (and about-face) of Fields is a classic example of an analyst trying too hard to have a quick hot-take. Patience is a dying trait in football because of coaches (and analysts) like Martz. Had he taken a deep breath and given Fields, a blue-chip player, more time to grow? He wouldn’t look as silly as he does now.

Justin Fields is having the last laugh, which will grow even louder as he continues his march toward the top five in rankings like these.

Click to comment