Justin Fields Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Fields started the first six games for Pittsburgh. His fantasy finishes:

• QB23
• QB23
• QB12
• QB1
• QB17
• QB7

Fields tallied 184.3 passing yards per game over that stretch, with an additional 38.5 yards on the ground. He added .83 passing TDs and .83 rushing TDs per game.

Usage & Role

Fields leaned into his rushing ability under Steelers OC Arthur Smith.

Through Week 6, Fields ranked seventh in QB scrambles. His mark of 18 was only three away from tying Deshaun Watson for second.

Fields also ranked fourth in QB carries and rush yards. He sat first in rush TDs.

The former Bear was a factor near the goal line, tallying 11 rush attempts inside the 10-yard line, per Pro Football Reference. That was five more than RB Jaylen Warren saw all season.

Fields averaged only 26.5 passes per game, right in line with his career average.

Efficiency Metrics

Through Week 6 – and in a sample of 35 QBs – Fields ranked:

• 6th in adjusted completion rate
• 21st in yards per attempt

Fields ended the stretch tied for 5th in fantasy points per dropback because of his rush efficiency.

His 10 missed tackles forced tied for third at the position. He also ranked second behind Lamar Jackson in designed rushing yards (121, 7.5 yards per carry), per Pro Football Focus.

Offensive Context

The Steelers installed a conservative passing game for Fields. No surprise there given his strengths as a rusher and a WR corps that included little beyond George Pickens.

Overall, Pittsburgh finished 28th in pass rate; 26th in pass rate over expected.

Historical Production & Trends

In games where he’s played 90% of the snaps, Fields has totaled the following rush attempts per game:

• 2024: 9.2
• 2023: 8.9
• 2022: 10.7
• 2021: 6.3

His passing production hasn’t come close to a breakout, though. The 26-year-old hasn’t thrown for more than 2,600 yards in a single season. And he’s yet to top 7.1 yards per attempt.

Injury History

Fields dodged an injury in 2024.

However, he missed four games in 2023 with a dislocated right thumb and two games (hip, shoulder) in 2022.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

Fields inked a two-year deal with $30 million guaranteed with the Jets. His cap hit jumps from $8 million this year to $23 million in 2026, so consider it more of a one-year arrangement.

In March, new GM Daren Mougey said Fields is the starter, but that backup Tyrod Taylor will be “right on his heels.” Consider it a major surprise if Fields is benched this fall.

Taylor, 36, has started only five games over the past three seasons.

Supporting Cast

Garrett Wilson returns as a solid No. 1 WR, but the depth leaves a lot to be desired:

• Josh Reynolds
• Allen Lazard
• Tyler Johnson
• Malachi Corley

The Jets added TE Mason Taylor and speed WR Arian Smith in Round 4 of the draft. Taylor projects as more steady and reliable than difference-making. Smith, meanwhile, is far from reliable with a college drop rate of 16%. The hope, though, is that Smith can supply a downfield threat.

New York looks strong up front after selecting Round 1 RT Armand Membou. Their line elsewhere shapes up as:

• LT Olu Fashanu
• LG John Simpson
• C Joe Tippmann
• RG Alijah Vera-Tucker

Last year, the Jets ranked 16th in PFF’s pass blocking grade; 23rd in ESPN’s pass block win rate. Expect improvement in 2025.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

New OC Tanner Engstrand is a wildcard, as he’s never called plays at the pro level. That’ll be his role in New York after the Jets hired defensive-minded HC Aaron Glenn.

Engstrand coached in Detroit from 2020-2024, holding the following roles:

• Offensive assistant
• Offensive quality control
• TE coach
• Pass game coordinator

It’s fair to assume he’ll have some Ben Johnson tendencies given their time together in Detroit. That might mean an emphasis on personnel flexibility and play-action usage.

Logically, it makes sense for the Jets to lean run. Fields is in his prime at 26, while New York’s pass-catching depth looks among the NFL’s worst.

Production & Efficiency Trends

Our historical aging curves show that, on average, 28 is the peak age for QB fantasy production.

It’s a reminder that Fields could reach another level with his passing production.