As the summer continues, fantasy football drafts will only become more and more common. While NFL players and clubs couldn’t care less about their output in that regard, how they do in games will naturally have an impact on fans of the sport.
The New York Jets have some intriguing options for the 2025 campaign, with their new quarterback potentially topping the list. Justin Fields, one of the league’s wild-card field generals, is getting high praise in fantasy land.
In a July 7 list for Pro Football Focus, Nathan Jahnke broke down five NFL athletes who could help fantasy football players win their leagues this coming season. Fields made the cut due to the production he’s had when given a fair opportunity.
Justin Fields’ Rushing Ability Sets Fantasy Football Floor
Despite being a quarterback, running the football is what sets the table for Fields. Rushing will always be a key component of his game. With over 2,500 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on his resume, he brings a unique skill set to the Jets.
Jahnke is buying all of that stock, contextualizing the duality between Fields’ legs and his arm.
“Throughout his career, his fantasy production has been fueled primarily by his legs,” Jahnke wrote. “Among quarterbacks with at least 2,500 snaps over the past four seasons, Fields ranks third in rushing grade (behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson) and first in scramble yards per game (31.3) and scramble touchdowns per game (0.26). His passing, however, remains a work in progress. His 62.4 passing grade over that span ranks last among qualifying quarterbacks, with Mac Jones and Daniel Jones as the next closest.”
There’s no denying what Fields can do when on the move. As a passer, he can escape rushers and extend plays by being mobile. As a runner, he’s quick and has good top-end speed. Not only that, but he’s difficult to bring down in the open field. The 2022 campaign, specifically, saw the current Jets quarterback thrive on the ground with the Chicago Bears. Toting the ball 160 times in 15 starts, he amassed 1,143 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. His 7.1 yard-per-carry average led the NFL.
Fields certainly needs work as a passer, though. His most recent stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers provides some context. Although he threw for 5 touchdowns to 1 interception with a 93.3 passer rating in 2024, advanced stats didn’t like his output. Among quarterbacks with 100-plus plays, Fields ranked 22nd in success rate per rbsdm.com. If he wants his name put in elite conversations, he needs to seriously up the efficiency.
Underrated Jets Possibility Could Bring Fields’ Ceiling Even Higher
Thus far in the offseason program, reviews of Fields’ pure passing haven’t been great. On July 4, for instance, Nick Faria of Jets X-Factor dove into some of the same career-long issues continuing to plague Fields in workouts. As a boom-or-bust fantasy player from a traditional quarterbacking standpoint, his rushing production must pave the way.
Jahnke singled out a potentially huge development, however. The Jets voted yes for the NFL to keep the infamous scrum-style quarterback sneak play alive. It’s brought teams like the Philadelphia Eagles great success. Could it do the same for New York if implemented on offense?
“One intriguing wrinkle is the Jets’ vote to keep the ‘tush push,’” Jahnke wrote. “Fields has only four career carries from the 1-yard line, converting two for touchdowns, but if New York fully commits to using him in short-yardage situations, his rushing touchdown total could spike. That extra goal-line work could be a key factor in Fields cracking the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks in 2025.”
There’s a case to be made for it. First and foremost, Fields is a tremendous athlete and is well-built at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds. Secondly, the Jets’ offensive line projects to be much better in 2025 than it was a season ago. If continuity is established, it’d make sense to take advantage of that.
There are many paths for Fields to become more valuable than his fantasy football draft slot. Easily the most probable one is him using his natural talent to wreak havoc on opposing defenses in 2025-26.
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