Caleb Williams DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Dan Pompei believes that new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson will likely empower quarterback Caleb Williams heading into his second year in the NFL after an up-and-down rookie campaign. Johnson gave QB Jared Goff authority with protection adjustments that not all signal-callers have while serving as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, in addition to eliminating plays that Goff didn't like. Johnson was also a big proponent of going for it on fourth down, so the Bears offense should be much more aggressive under Williams in 2025. It's the main reason why Johnson was Chicago's top pick to be their next head coach. Despite plenty of weapons on offense in 2024, Williams was one of the worst downfield passers in his rookie season and had a 62.5% completion percentage to finish as the QB16 in fantasy. The addition of Johnson will surely make Williams a popular breakout candidate in 2025.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a cyst removed from his right hand/wrist area, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Last year's No. 1 pick was seen in public wearing a cast, but Rapoport notes that Williams' operation was minor and he is okay. Presumably, he'll have a short recovery team and will be healthy for offseason workouts in a few months. Williams played all 17 games in his rookie campaign, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. As he continues to develop and get more comfortable in the NFL, he should rank as a high-end QB2 with additional upside for the 2025 fantasy football season.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams had a mediocre showing in Week 18's 24-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The rookie QB completed 21 of his 29 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 yards on the ground. He did connect with DJ Moore for a 32-yard touchdown strike in the fourth quarter to give the Bears the lead. Williams had an inconsistent first season with the Bears and ended his campaign with more games passing for 150 yards or less than he had with over 250 yards. Overall, Williams threw for 3,541 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 489 on 81 attempts over 17 games. The former USC Trojan could have plenty of room to grow in 2025, depending on who the Bears bring on to be their head coach. Williams will likely enter next season as a mid-to-low-tier QB2 option heading to upcoming 2025 fantasy football drafts.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams won't be a viable fantasy option in Week 18's divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers on the road. The rookie put together his worst performance since Week 10 in last weekend's loss to the Seahawks. Williams tossed his first interception in ten outings and broke a streak of five straight games with at least one touchdown pass, totaling 122 passing yards -- his third-fewest of the year. This Sunday, he'll get a slightly stiffer test against a Packers squad, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (16.3) and the sixth-fewest points per game in the NFL (19.6). While the experience will benefit the 23-year-old, he won't be on the fantasy radar in the season's final week. The USC product ranks as RotoBaller's QB16 ahead of this weekend's slate.

Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown said on Monday that there has been no thought or talk of sitting rookie quarterback Caleb Williams for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Brown expects all the team's healthy veteran players to suit up as well. Williams, the first overall pick back in April, has had a tough rookie season in the NFL, but it hasn't all been his fault -- the Bears fired their head coach and offensive coordinator midseason. The 23-year-old from USC has taken a league-high 67 sacks and has looked like a rookie for most of the year. There's no denying his playmaking abilities and elite arm strength, but it hasn't been the year many expect for Williams, who has thrown for 3,393 yards, 19 TDs and six picks in 16 starts. If the Packers rest some of their starters, Williams could end up having a decent final game in 2024.