Let’s just say, hypothetically, that you only knew the following details about the supposed draft landing spot for Caleb Williams, without knowing the specific franchise that would likely select him:
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He’s joining the offense with two elite wide receivers who combined for more than 200 receptions and 2,600 receiving yards last season — and the team just invested a top-10 pick in another dynamic weapon;
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His team will have a deep and talented backfield, featuring one of the best defenders in the game;
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Williams will have at his disposal a tight end duo that combined for 124 receptions last year;
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Their new offensive coordinator is the guy who was there for the revival of Geno Smith’s career in 2022.
All things considered, you’d have to say that seems like a pretty solid situation for the first year, right?
It’s basically a ready-made opportunity for a rookie quarterback — a significantly better environment than we would normally expect for any player selected first overall. Bryce Young didn’t exactly step into a talent-rich offense last season, nor did Trevor Lawrence two years earlier. Often, when we look at the rosters of any NFL team that took the first overall pick, we are sifting through the smoldering wreckage.
But that is not the case in 2024.
The Chicago Bears, however, are not historically known for being a quarterback development factory, a fact that appears to have diminished our collective enthusiasm for Williams. We’d love your exact setup if you’re connected to any team beyond the bears. Again, your top receiving options next season would have been a stellar 2023 fantasy roster: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet.
Chicago isn’t done making Williams one of the biggest winners of the fantasy NFL Draft, taking out Rome Odunze with the ninth pick on Thursday. Odunze himself probably isn’t heading towards a huge first-year goal total, but he’s an incredibly polished player and – perhaps more importantly – he was clearly Caleb’s guy.
With all this talent around him, we should probably also mention that Williams, individually, is often a wizard:
He brings a lot of talent and a special level of creativity to his position, as well as an exceptional production track record. Last year, in a down season, he averaged a career-high 9.4 yards per attempt for USC while producing a combined 41 touchdowns (30 passing, 11 rushing) and throwing just five picks. He is irrefutably good at the game.
The worst people on the internet seem very concerned about Williams’ personal style choices, but these are not legitimate concerns because he is not being drafted by the 1955 Chicago Bears. In fact, he will play in the current era with contemporary teammates, and these guys will simply appreciate your dart throwing ability:
Under normal circumstances, when a QB prospect is fantastic and his offense is loaded, the fantasy buzz can become quite extreme. But that probably won’t be the case with Williams, because… well, because of the Bears.
This franchise is entering its 105th NFL season, but somehow no Chicago quarterback has ever thrown 4,000 yards in any year. It is a true civic scandal. There was 227 individual seasons in league history in which a QB threw for at least 4,000 yards, and none of them – zero – belong to anyone affiliated with the Bears. Absolutely wild.
We’re talking total yards that, at this stage in NFL history, don’t even suggest a particularly good year. Dozens of passers have gone for 4,000 yards in disappointing seasons.
Still, the Bears have never experienced life with a 4K quarterback.
Chicago’s single-season passing record is held by Erik Kramer, who threw for 3,838 yards in 1995. Kramer’s leading receivers that year were Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway. Everyone mentioned in the last sentence is now AARP eligible in their 50s. This franchise has been producing minor, passing offenses for three decades.
But in 2024, the script likely changes. Williams only needs to average 226 yards per game to deliver the most prolific passing season in franchise history, so that’s the first and lowest hurdle for him to clear. Assuming he’s in good health, there’s simply no way he won’t revel in Moore, Allen, Odunze, Kmet and Swift as featured weapons.
As a rusher, Williams is obviously not at Justin Fields’ level, but let’s not forget that he is capable of making game-changing plays like this:
He has crossed the goal line 21 times over the last two seasons, so there is a clear edge to his game.
When you consider Williams’ glaring talent and remarkably favorable first-year setup — and ignoring the past century of Bears football, which he’s not responsible for — it’s easy to see a path for him to finish as one of the best. 10 fantasy QB right away. For dynasty purposes, he already belongs to the top of the rankings, among the top eight.
With all due respect to new Commander Jayden Daniels and new Patriot Drake Maye, Williams is the best fantasy QB option in this year’s draft class. By the end of Williams’ first season, a complete rewrite of Chicago’s record book should be well underway.
