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Footballguys fantasy football takes on Caleb Williams
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Footballguys about Caleb Williams.
45
Insights
22
Positive
10
Negative
Insight ledger
All Footballguys insights about Caleb Williams
NegativeProjectionSep 16, 2026
In Week 1, Caleb Williams completed 21 of 29 passes with 2 throwaways; the source estimates 2-3 of his missed passes were intended for Colston Loveland, indicating some early accuracy or timing issues with his primary target.PositiveUsageSep 16, 2026
Williams went 21-for-29 in Week 1 with two throwaways, demonstrating efficient passing. Waldman believes 2-3 of his missed passes were intended for Colston Loveland, suggesting room for improvement in the Bears' passing game.PositiveProjectionSep 15, 2026
Williams rose +3 in QB rankings after Week 1 evidence that the Bears' offense should be trusted; the team led the league with 0.39 EPA/play in a 59-point win over the Panthers. Williams took what was given to him—a marked improvement from 2025—and led all QBs with 65 scrambling yards, resulting in two touchdowns. Dave Kluge projects Williams as an elite plug-and-play QB1 this year.PositiveProjectionSep 14, 2026
Caleb Williams posted 269 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 65 rushing yards, and 2 rushing touchdowns in Week 1, becoming the 5th Bears quarterback to record 2+ passing and 2+ rushing touchdowns; Justin Fields (2022), Jim McMahon (1985), Larry Rakestraw (1967), and Bernie Masterson (1936) are the others.PositiveProjectionSep 10, 2026
Caleb Williams is placed in the HIGH CEILING QB1 tier for Week 1 at Carolina, indicating elite upside for the week.PositiveProjectionSep 9, 2026
Williams finished as QB5 in 2025, validating the bold prediction of top-6 fantasy QB performance. Waldman now projects Williams for 4,352 yards and 33 scores with 5 INTs and a 62.1% accuracy rate in 2026—solid improvements from his rookie year. This aligns with Jared Goff's steady statistical gains from his rookie year through Year Three in the Ben Johnson offense. Waldman sees a ceiling where Williams hits on all cylinders while Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III make big jumps, potentially giving the Bears two fantasy WR1s in an offense designed to be multiple and the hardest unit to stop in the NFL.NegativeBustSep 7, 2026
Named to the All-Overrated 2nd Team by industry experts; currently drafted at ADP 81 as QB7, indicating expert consensus views his draft positioning as inflated relative to 2026 expectations.NegativeBustSep 6, 2026
Caleb Williams received 7 votes from industry experts as the most overrated quarterback in drafts, tied for the most votes in the poll. Voters included Marcus Mosher, Pat Daugherty, Jared Smola, Matt Schauf, Heath Cummings, Jake Ciely, and Eric Balkman.NegativeProjectionSep 5, 2026
Caleb Williams projects for 371.8 fantasy points with a contest cap price of $20, yielding an ROI of 18.6 FPs/$ and ranking 21st in quarterback ROI as of September 2nd projections.PositiveValueSep 5, 2026
Williams received 2 votes (4% of 45 experts polled) as the most underrated quarterback heading into the 2026 season with Chicago; voters included Josh Larky and Dwain McFarland.NegativeValueSep 4, 2026
Caleb Williams dropped from QB6 to QB7 in positional rank with an ADP decline of 3.2 points from 70.6 to 73.8 between April and August, indicating slight market pullback on the top-tier quarterback.NegativeRoleSep 3, 2026
Williams is mentioned as a top-10 QB who did not have a quality second option in the passing game last year with at least fantasy WR2 or TE1 value. If Williams gets injured, Tyson Bagent could step in as the Bears' starter in an elite offense.NegativeRoleAug 31, 2026
Highlights and inconsistent play have mirrored his 2025 season, but Ben Johnson remains steadfast in the young quarterback's development for Chicago.NegativeValueAug 28, 2026
Meng Song notes that Jonathan Brooks' ADP is pushing him up past strong QB1 options like Caleb Williams, suggesting that Brooks is being overvalued relative to elite quarterback options.PositiveProjectionAug 28, 2026
Bloom lists Caleb Williams among the top 3 ceiling targets at QB, indicating he has the highest upside potential among quarterbacks in the 2026 draft.NegativeValueAug 27, 2026
Caleb Williams has fallen 15 spots in FBG OC ADP, dropping from rank 80 to 95 (QB5); the source notes that this time of year, it is common for quarterbacks to drop as fantasy drafters become more willing to pull up skill players instead of settling for quarterbacks.PositiveProjectionAug 26, 2026
QB7 ranked; has enough moxie as a rusher to pad his floor; second year in Ben Johnson's offense could help him with the layups that will elevate his ceiling, suggesting improved efficiency and scoring upside.NegativeProjectionAug 25, 2026
Maurile Tremblay notes that the Madden cover, MVP odds, and seven fourth-quarter comebacks have built a reputation that Caleb Williams' production hasn't caught up to. Williams completed just 58 percent of his passes last season, sat in the bottom half of the league in passer rating, and was roughly average in efficiency per dropback, with a good chunk of his box-score value coming from late-game desperation drives. The stated mandate for Williams in 2026 is to stop playing hero ball and take the checkdown more often, which will subdue his fantasy production.NegativeValueAug 25, 2026
Jeff Tefertiller argues that while one could argue Williams has upside in the Ben Johnson offense, QB7 is a high price to pay. He is being drafted ahead of several quarterbacks who offer more upside and safety. Williams should not be drafted ahead of Prescott, Herbert, Lawrence, Purdy, or Stafford. Burden and Loveland are not enough to buoy Williams into a top-ten fantasy quarterback.NegativeProjectionAug 25, 2026
Will Grant expresses concern that Caleb Williams will disappoint a lot of people this season due to uncertainty around the Chicago office. Grant questions whether Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III can stay healthy enough after DJ Moore's departure, and whether Colston Loveland will expand with Cole Kmet's loss or draw more defensive attention and become less effective. The Bears were about two or three plays away from being 9-8 last season, and their division is still one of the toughest in the league. Williams could be a top-5 or could finish outside the top-12 this year.NegativeBustAug 25, 2026
Sean Settle notes Caleb Williams is coming off the board as a top-7 QB despite passing efficiency that ranked near the bottom of the league last season. Williams ranked 22nd in yards per attempt and 30th in adjusted completion rate among 38 qualifying passers. Rushing stats propelled his late-season finish and skewed his overall performance. He also had just one 300-yard passing game all year and may suffer from Luther Burden III injuring his groin during training camp.NegativeProjectionAug 25, 2026
Meng Song mentions having bets on Caleb Williams to win MVP, establishing context for his assessment that Kyler Murray is the most underrated QB at ADP despite MVP-caliber talent existing elsewhere.NegativeProjectionAug 24, 2026
Caleb Williams was sharp in red-zone drills throughout the week but struggled against Cincinnati's interior pass rush during the joint practice, finishing the preseason game with just one drive and a 2-of-5 line; his performance has been mixed during preseason.PositiveProjectionAug 19, 2026
Williams is in year two under Ben Johnson, who wants to set the record for points in a season; he is going a round or two after Jackson but there is an argument that he is a better pick than Jackson. The source recommends considering Williams at ADP as part of a quartet (Maye, Herbert, Lawrence, Williams) that could join Allen and Jackson in the elite QB1 tier at a multi-round discount.NegativeProjectionAug 18, 2026
Williams needs 21 passing touchdowns to reach third-place Billy Wade's 68 touchdowns in Bears history; Jay Cutler leads with 154 touchdowns and 23,443 yards, with Sid Luckman second at 137 touchdowns and 14,686 yards.NegativeProjectionAug 18, 2026
Williams established a new Bears record with 3,942 passing yards but the Bears remain the only team in NFL history without a 4,000-yard passer; Williams is ninth in Bears franchise passing yards (7,483) and tenth in passing touchdowns (47), and could rocket into the Top 3 in both categories, needing 4,084 yards to reach third-place Jim Harbaugh's 11,567.PositiveProjectionAug 18, 2026
Williams is ranked QB9 with Footballguys ADP QB7 at 77 overall, indicating he is being valued higher in draft position than his ranking suggests; grouped in the elite tier where any of these players could emerge as the overall top-scoring quarterback.PositiveProjectionAug 17, 2026
Developing well in his second year under Ben Johnson, being asked to read coverages and make adjustments at the line of scrimmage without play calls from the sideline.NegativeProjectionAug 12, 2026
Caleb Williams is referenced as a Bears quarterback whose second-season success Jaxson Dart is trying to emulate. The source notes that Dart's general manager Joe Schoen said at the end of the 2025 season that emulating Williams' second-season trajectory 'would be the goal. That would be ideal,' but the source's analysis suggests this outcome is unlikely given Dart's scheme changes and skill concerns.PositiveProjectionAug 10, 2026
Williams arrived at camp 10 to 15 pounds lighter than last year due to diet and sleep routine changes; his command of the offense has drawn reporter attention, and the offense has been ahead of its sparring partners through the first couple of weeks with practice drives often finishing in the end zone, though there have been typical ups and downs including some interceptions.PositiveProjectionAug 10, 2026
Williams is looking sharp early heading into his second year with HC Ben Johnson, suggesting continued development and offensive efficiency.NegativeProjectionAug 6, 2026
Zachariason takes Caleb Williams as his QB in multiple drafts; Matthew Stafford is valued at the same draft position as Caleb Williams in another draft, suggesting comparable value.PositiveValueAug 6, 2026
Waldman considers Caleb Williams a value at his ADP in Round 7, crediting Ben Johnson's detailed offensive system, Williams' development of his drop-back game, his high rate of throwing the ball away, and the Bears' winning record with fourth-quarter comebacks; Waldman notes this is the earliest he typically takes a QB in recent years.PositiveValueAug 6, 2026
Caleb Williams has risen 12 spots in FBG OC ADP, moving from rank 106 to rank 94 (QB5), reflecting increased confidence in the Chicago quarterback in high-stakes drafts.PositiveValueAug 6, 2026
Williams is among a tier of fairly cheap quarterback options available late in salary cap drafts. The source suggests it's entirely possible to land two of these mid-tier QBs (Lawrence, Prescott, Herbert, Purdy, Williams, Nix) for less than $10 combined, and perhaps even $6–$8 if nomination timing is right, making them viable late-draft targets.NegativeValueAug 2, 2026
Caleb Williams fell 5 spots in NFFC ADP, dropping from rank 75 to 80, and is now positioned as QB5; the downward movement suggests declining draft-day demand and confidence in his value at the quarterback position.PositiveRoleJul 29, 2026
Williams' completion percentage is a focus for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and placing Luther Burden III high in the game plan will help achieve this goal. Burden's elevated role should improve Williams' overall efficiency and target distribution.PositiveProjectionJul 27, 2026
Ben Johnson emphasized completion percentage as something the Bears will emphasize, addressing Williams's struggles in short-to-intermediate areas last year despite an aggressive, efficient deep ball. Joey has Williams as a top-five fantasy quarterback outright, and the source says he has a top-three ceiling given the rushing floor already in place. If Johnson can clean up the easy throws that Jared Goff dialed in under Johnson in Detroit, his upside would be immense.PositiveProjectionJul 27, 2026
Caleb Williams struggled in the short-to-intermediate areas last year despite an aggressive, efficient deep ball. Joey has him as a top-five fantasy quarterback outright, and the source says he has a top-three ceiling given the rushing floor already in place. If Ben Johnson can clean up the easy throws that Jared Goff dialed in under Johnson in Detroit, his upside would be immense.PositiveValueJul 26, 2026
Caleb Williams rose 11 spots in NFFC ADP over the past week, moving from rank 86 to 75 (QB5), showing the largest riser movement among quarterbacks and significant increased draft demand.NegativeRoleJul 24, 2026
Williams joined the NFLPA's #WorthTheCost campaign in July 2026, advocating for the NFL to switch from artificial turf to natural grass across all stadiums as a player safety measure. The campaign was driven by injury data showing 28 percent higher non-contact lower-extremity injury rates on turf versus grass.NegativeMatchupJul 24, 2026
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams joined the NFL Players Association campaign #WorthTheCost in mid-July 2026, calling on league stakeholders to invest in player safety and universally ditch artificial turf. This reflects broader player concern about injury risk on turf surfaces, which data shows produces 28 percent higher non-contact lower-extremity injury rates compared to grass.PositiveValueJul 21, 2026
Williams went for $4 in the salary cap mock draft, the lowest price among the quarterbacks mentioned. Team 5 manager Chad expressed regret over paying $7 for Trevor Lawrence and noted he would have preferred Williams at just $4, highlighting significant value at the QB position for patient drafters willing to wait on nomination order.PositiveValueJul 21, 2026
Williams went for $4 in the mock salary cap draft, the lowest price among the quarterbacks discussed. He was cited by Chad as a preferable alternative to Trevor Lawrence ($7), suggesting Williams offered exceptional value at a significantly lower price point.NegativeProjectionNo date
Williams scored 19 PPG in dynasty scoring, creating separation below Drake Maye (21.1 PPG) among the 2024 QB classmates. The source uses Williams as a comparison point to illustrate the scoring gap between Maye and other top rookie QBs.