QB Rankings Have Justin Fields Lower

Chris Simms is releasing his top 40 QB rankings and has Justin Fields in a spot exactly where he was ranked last year.

Justin Fields' ranking as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in almost all fantasy ratings don't quite jibe with the overall rankings of football analysts in general.

Pro Football Focus has come out with its quarterback rankings for 2023 and Fields has improved to 18th overall from 29th for 2022.

NBC Sports' Chris Simms does a top-40 quarterback list and uses a countdown format. On Wednesday he revealed QB rankings up to No. 20 and has Fields listed at No. 23 overall.

On Simms' list, Fields is ranked one spot behind Jimmy Garoppolo and one ahead of Baker Mayfield. Tua Tagovailoa is 21st and Mac Jones 20th.

"He’s as dangerous as some of the best receivers and runners in the open field, but his throwing is a collection of great plays with no consistency," Simms said. "In fact, his overall quarterback game is that, and that’s why he’s No. 23 for me…His motion is still funky, and he has no confidence in his throwing. (The Bears) broke out the Wildcat offense and it translated to one win…His arm is not real strong and he’s afraid to step on the gas. He’s tough as hell, his running is insane, but you can tell (the Bears) don’t trust him. You can’t be a top quarterback in football if (your team) is scared to call the plays they want to call on third down. ...

"They’re going to try and fit the Jalen Hurts mold and run that offense and we’ll see if we get growth. The negativity is all throwing-based. There are too many open NFL receivers where the ball is not thrown or off-target and that’s where he’s really got to progress this year.”

The 23rd ranking Fields gets from Simms is exactly the same as he had last year.

The PFF ranking has him moving ahead of Russell Wilson (20th), Ryan Tannehill (19th) and Jones (21st) and one behind Daniel Jones of the Giants.

"Fields won himself a starting job last season with almost no help around him," Monson wrote for PFF. "New general manager Ryan Poles stripped the roster of talent around him, and Fields was still able to emerge as one of the most dynamic players in the league. His passing is still very much a work in progress, but last season his primary targets were tight end Cole Kmet and speedster Darnell Mooney. This is a huge year for Fields to show what he can do with more help."

NFL.com had Fields at 13th when last season ended.

CBS Sports had a similar ranking poll for QBs and Fields has been rated 16th, one beind Daniel Jones and one ahead of Tagovailoa.

"If you only considered a QB's rushing ability, Fields would be a top-three pick at worst," Cody Benjamin had written.

The reason fields ranks so high in almost all fantasy rankings is exactly that. They do consider his rushing for fantasy purposes.

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