Dynasty Trending Observations: Justin Fields Returns, Ja’Marr Chase Explodes
For the first time in three weeks, Taylor Swift was nowhere to be found in an NFL stadium. Nor was she the top trend in week five as that title went back to the players. Below are the trendiest as we inch closer to trade deadlines.
Fields of Dreams
Justin Fields has a PERFECT 158.3 passer rating when targeting DJ Moore this season 😱 pic.twitter.com/z0MQFrDqqP
— PFF (@PFF) October 6, 2023
No one has more riding on this season – fantasy or otherwise – than Justin Fields. Not only did the Bears pass up the first overall pick via a trade with Carolina but they got Fields an alpha at receiver in DJ Moore in the same deal. There were no more excuses for Fields, or the Bears for that matter, to start improving.
Then the games started and Fields got off to a very ‘meh’ start. He threw for just 526 yards and three touchdowns in his first three games while rushing for just one touchdown. The Bears fared worse, dropping all three games.
Then the roller coaster started going up again. It started in week four when Fields had one of the best games of his career with 335 yards and a touchdown in a close loss to Denver. It all came together for him and the Bears in week five as Fields threw for another four touchdowns, didn’t turn the ball over once, and led the Bears to their first victory. But which Fields will we (his dynasty managers) get the rest of the season and beyond?
Dynasty Impact: Fields is one of those quarterbacks who has an impact in both single quarterback and superflex leagues. His ability to rush and score in bunches means he could potentially be a top-ten fantasy quarterback, if not higher. And so far, his value has been steady despite the rocky first month of the season.
But it’s a legitimate question on whether Fields can, or will be allowed to, keep this up. Another down season for the Bears could mean another regime change and a new quarterback brought in. Not that Fields wouldn’t have value and possibly moved to a team that would need a starting quarterback. But Chicago’s future looks extremely shaky right now and if they don’t right the ship – as a team – there could be big changes. I would entertain offers for Fields right now while his value is sky-high. You never know how long it will last.
Kittle Rascal
HAT TRICK FOR GEORGE KITTLE 🎩 pic.twitter.com/OAue7Ddnku
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 9, 2023
On a team full of studs, George Kittle was the studliest in week five for the 49ers. All three receptions went for touchdowns – for 67 total yards – as Kittle won several fantasy matchups by himself. It’s his first career three-touchdown game and his fourth multi-touchdown game in his last nine regular season games.
The breakout could not have come at a better time. Through Kittle’s first four games of the 2023 season, he recorded just 14 receptions for 148 yards and no touchdowns. It was enough to put him on the fringe of the TE1 line in fantasy scoring but certainly not close to what his current ADP was checking in at.
Week five catapulted him to a fantasy ranking more in line with that ADP but the question for current (and prospective) Kittle managers is: will it last?
Dynasty Impact: There’s no doubt that Kittle is still one of the best tight ends – real and fantasy – in the league. He also happens to be on one of the best offenses in the league and seeing a healthy 17% of the targets thus far.
But there are signs of slowing down or, at least, not being as much a part of the offense as Kittle was in his elite days when he was the second or third target on the offense. Currently Kittle is fourth on the team in targets thanks to the emergence of Brandon Aiyuk as an elite option. There was also the acquisition of Christian McCaffrey that has cut into the attention Kittle received.
The 49ers are also just passing less. Currently, they rank dead-last in pass attempts with 27.4 per game. They haven’t had a total that low since 2019 when they attempted 28.2 attempts per game.
If you’re a current Kittle manager, it’s okay to hold him if you’re making a playoff run. If not, and you can trade him for what a top-five fantasy tight end would get in return, do it.
Amazing Chase
Ja'Marr Chase: always open 🔥@Real10jayy__ | @Bengals pic.twitter.com/xQNNOg3Nxa
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2023
You know who scored three touchdowns in week five and didn’t look like an anomaly? Ja’Marr Chase. Chase torched the Cardinals to not only score three times but set the franchise record for receptions at 15. And while he’s had some average-to-below-average games this season (games with yard totals of 31, 39, and 73), he’s also had explosions like in week five and even week three when he caught 12 balls for 141 yards.
It’s hard to pinpoint such a wide range of outcomes for Chase this year, whether it’s Joe Burrow‘s health or opposing defenses, but cumulatively Chase is a top-ten fantasy receiver this year despite two games of less than 10 fantasy points (PPR scoring). So what do we do with this elite receiver for dynasty purposes?
Dynasty Impact: The goal of drafting any player in the dynasty league is to draft a future elite option. That was certainly the plan for Chase and, unlike the other potential elite player in 2021 rookie drafts (Kyle Pitts), this one has panned out. He totaled nearly 1,500 yards his rookie season on his way to scoring 13 touchdowns (again, as a rookie). He missed about a third of his sophomore season but still managed 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s off to another fast start in 2023 and there’s every reason to believe he’ll follow through.
Chase should be your top-ranked receiver even over former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson. Whereas Jefferson could potentially have another quarterback in Minnesota, once Kirk Cousins departs, Chase is locked in with another former LSU teammate, Joe Burrow. Those two should be the Bengals core for a decade which means plenty of top fantasy season from Chase. If you’re a current Chase manager in dynasty leagues, congratulations. If not, good luck trying to pry him away.
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