Justin Fields Still Makes Sense as Rookie of the Year Candidate
By Peter Dewey
Matt Nagy may not be wavering on Andy Dalton being the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Justin Fields is a bad bet to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Bears’ HC Matt Nagy reiterated today that Bears’ QB Andy Dalton will start Week 1 at Los Angeles against the Rams, saying: “We need to see him in the regular season.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2021
WynnBET currently has Fields at +525 (second on the odds list) to win Rookie of the Year. Dalton may get a ceremonial start in Week 1, but if he struggles Nagy has almost no choice but to turn to Fields.
The rookie has impressed in the preseason, and he clearly has more upside than Dalton in the Chicago Bears’ offense. However, Nagy is also coaching for his job this year, and he’s going to want to play the quarterback that allows him to win more.
Unless Dalton shocks everyone and comes out firing in the first few weeks, that quarterback is likely going to be Fields. And even if Fields doesn’t translate to wins, Nagy could save his job by showing that he can develop the rookie into a franchise quarterback.
It didn’t happen with Mitch Trubisky, but Nagy has a shot at redemption.
For those who are skeptical on Fields to win Rookie of the Year, you’re not wrong. Of the last seven quarterbacks to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award (Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert), all seven played at least 15 games in their rookie season.
With the NFL moving to a 17-game season in 2021, that gives Fields two games to work with to hit the magical 15-game number.
It’s not ideal, but if Fields plays more than half of the season and lights things up (and the Bears are winning), he could beat out Zach Wilson or Trevor Lawrence who are both expected to start from day one.
As with any bet, there is some risk involved in taking Fields to win the award. But the Bears didn’t draft him for him to never play. Dalton is going to struggle at some point, and Nagy showed last year with Trubisky that he has a quick hook when it comes to pulling a quarterback.
Don’t give up on Fields just yet.
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