Why Justin Fields is a STEAL in 2025 Fantasy Football Drafts
Why JF1 Will be a QB1
After a volatile three-year start to his NFL career, Justin Fields enters 2025 with a fresh opportunity to redefine his trajectory. From a Fantasy Football prospective, he’s uniquely positioned to finish as a top-12 quarterback (or better). Whether you believe in Fields as a franchise quarterback or not, fantasy football is a numbers game that rewards volume, athleticism, and opportunities, and Fields checks all three boxes heading into the new season.
Rushing Upside That Can’t Be Ignored
Default fantasy scoring systems are designed to reward quarterbacks who run. In his first two full seasons as a starter, fields established himself as one of the most prolific running quarterbacks in the league. Even during his inconsistent stretches as a passer, he delivered QB1 weeks purely from his legs.
Entering 2025, this elite rushing profile remains intact:
Fields has multiple games over 100 rushing yards, something only a few QBs in history have done
Last year in his 6 games as a starter for Pittsburg, he averaged 40 yards and almost a touchdown per game on the ground (Thats 10 Points without a single pass!)
Now he’s in a new offensive system in New York, one that threw the ball over 100 times more than the steelers in 2024. In part because of Aaron Rodgers being at the helm, but regardless, the situation is much more passer friendly and will allow Fields to air it out a bit when his legs aren’t contributing.
Low Cost, High Ceiling
In 2025 drafts, Fields isn’t being drafted as a starter (QB19 via Sleeper ADP) and is a late-round lottery ticket in most formats. That’s a rare opportunity. Quarterbacks with Fields’ dual-threat ability, such as Kyler and Lamar, never come this cheap when starting.
That means:
You can draft Fields as a second QB, especially in best ball formats
His rushing floor makes him a weekly top-12 option.
His ceiling is league-winning and if he gets hot, he will be a true fantasy cheat code
Fantasy managers love upside, but few QBs have top-5 weekly potential with a ADP like fields does in 2025.
No Pressure
Fields comes in 2025 with no expectation to carry a franchise. For the first time in his career, he’s not expected to be “that guy”. This is the exact situation where quarterbacks can play freely and with confidence.
If Fields plays within himself, taking smart rushing lanes and limiting turnovers, he doesn’t need 35+ pass attempts to be fantasy relevant. He can post 20+ point weeks with just 180 pass yards.
Proven in the Past
I’m not creating some world where Justin Fields comes from never having a QB1 season before. In 2022 he:
Finished as QB7 despite missing 2 games.
Had a stretch of 7 straight 20+ points games, including back-to-back 40+ point weeks
Ranked top-3 in fantasy points per drop back during several midseason stretches.
Conclusion
Justin Fields may not win a bunch of games for the Jets this year, but that doesn’t matter in fantasy. What matters is opportunity, rushing upside, and big-play potential. Whether they win 1 or 10 games, Fields has the clearest path to QB1 production at a QB2 price.
If you’re looking for a late-round difference maker who can win you weeks (or even a championship), bet on Fields and enjoy the ride.