Caleb

Williams

Despite facing a difficult matchup in one of the coldest games ever played at Soldier Field, Williams cruised to 242 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Browns. Late in the first quarter, Williams ran play action and found DJ Moore in the back of the end zone for a three-yard score. In the second half, Williams rolled to his right and found Moore again for a 22-yard touchdown. The 24-year-old quarterback threw across his body and threaded the needle between two defenders on the second touchdown. The throw was as impressive as the decision to make it was head-scratching. Williams will be back in the QB2 mix at home against the Packers in Week 16.

It was an up-and-down day for Williams, who started the game 1-of-7 as a passer with a grand total of two yards. The Bears had one first down on three drives and managed just three points by the end of the second quarter. He sailed routine passes and struggled to get much going outside of check-downs. Williams loosened up in the third quarter and tossed a tight-window throw to Olamide Zacheaus in the end zone to score on the opening drive of the second half. He stayed hot on the next two drives, putting up 10 more points to get his team within striking distance on their final drive. On fourth-and-one in the red zone, Ben Johnson drew up a play-action shot into the end zone for Cole Kmet. Scrambling to his left, Williams attempted a jump-pass that floated well short of Kmet and into the hands of Packers corner Keisean Nixon for a game-losing interception. The Bears have made an effort to lean on their ground game in recent weeks. Williams’ passing volume, in turn, has been muted. He hasn’t completed more than 20 passes in a game since Week 8. Expect a similar approach versus the Browns in Week 15.

To be fair to Williams, the wind was clearly a factor, as several throws sailed late that looked to be completions. On the other hand, there were two throws that should have led to touchdowns if the second year signal-caller would have just set his feet. The interception was a screen pass that was blown up, while the touchdown showed off Williams’ impressive ability to go “off schedule” on a perfect lob to Cole Kmet while rolling out to give Chicago a 24-9 lead. He’ll be back in business in Week 14 against the Packers in Green Bay. Should be a good one.

Williams’ third three-score effort of the season came in a game where he had some of his typical bad misses, but also more than enough stick ‘em throws down the field. Really spreading the ball around, he found four pass catchers for at least 3/46, though DJ Moore was his No. 1 option, churning up 5/64/2 on seven looks. It was easily the best connection all season between a wideout and quarterback who have struggled to get on the same page this year. Williams did have one notable lowlight, holding the ball with one hand as he was stripped by T.J. Watt for a fumble-six in his own end zone. Bad, though Williams’ positive plays continue to greatly out-number the negatives this season. The Bears are on a four-game winning streak and 8-1 over their past nine, but they and their quarterback will be put to a severe Week 13 test when they visit the Eagles on Friday afternoon. Matchup-sensitive in fantasy football, Williams is best treated as a QB2 for that one.

Williams had three bafflingly inaccurate throws in the first half, including what could have been a long score to DJ Moore. His inaccuracy didn’t get much better in the second half and the Bears shifted to a run-heavy approach to protect a lead against a lifeless Minnesota offense. Williams, with four touchdown passes over his past five games, has become a low-floor weekly fantasy option in a Bears offense that is increasingly run first, as head coach Ben Johnson does what he can to hide his quarterback’s inefficient ways. Williams’ is still in play as a fantasy option because of his rushing — he has 17 rushing attempts over his past three games. He gets the Steelers in Week 12.

Williams led yet another furious fourth-quarter comeback after the Bears fell behind multiple scores to Jaxson Dart and the Giants. Dart was forced from the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury and the Giants offense proceeded to collapse with Russell Wilson at the helm. Williams was typically wild on intermediate and downfield throws, missing several throws to Rome Odunze that could have led to a much bigger passing day for Williams. He was active as a runner, including in the Bears’ final possession when he rushed for a 29 yard score to take the lead. Williams will be a top-15 option next week against the Vikings.

Williams also caught two passes for 22 yards and another touchdown in a game plan brimming with trick plays from Ben Johnson. Williams was his usual frantic self against the league-worst Bengals secondary, scrambling on almost every drop back and making errant throws as defenders descended on him. He salvaged a handful of decent throws in the second half, including a middle-of-the-field laser shot to Colston Loveland, who scored what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown in a back-and-forth affair. Today’s touchdowns were Williams’ first in three weeks. He’ll be a top-15 fantasy play next week against the Giants.

Williams and the Bears appeared to have the Ravens’ number early in this one, but two lengthy opening drives that featured 24 plays for 125 yards ended in two field goals, which proved to be the bigger story as the Bears managed just one touchdown in a game where they ran 13 plays in the Ravens’ red zone. Williams completed four passes of 20-plus yards on the day and took only one sack, but did throw a crucial interception inside the Bears’ 20-yard line in the fourth quarter that quickly resulted in a Ravens’ touchdown two plays later. As far as the box score is concerned, it wasn’t an awful day for Williams and the Bears, who averaged 6.0 yards per play and led in time of possession until the final minutes, but field goals weren’t going to be enough against the Ravens, whose offense ripped off several big plays of their own. Williams and the Bears will look to bounce back in Week 9 against a Bengals defense that just surrendered 39 points to the Jets. He’ll be a fringe QB1/QB2 in what should be a plus matchup.

After having at least 30 attempts in three of his first four games, Williams has had under 30 passing attempts in each of the first two games out of the bye. The Bears have gone to a more run-first approach, and it’s working. As has been the case for much of his professional career, Williams seems to be more comfortable outside of structure when he has to improvise. When he was forced to remain in the pocket, he didn’t seem to trust his progressions and was unable to get much going through the air. Williams theoretically has a great matchup next week against the Ravens, but it’s hard to view him as much more than a QB2 with the Bears’ new run-first approach.

Williams also ran for a touchdown, although he ended up with negative two yards because of kneels. His touchdown saw D’Andre Swift do most of the work on a 55-yard scamper, but still looks good in the box score. There were some moments of inaccuracy, but there were some brilliant throws as well, and it’s worth noting he had an 11-yard TD pass to Rome Odunze negated by penalty. Williams hasn’t played at an elite level in 2025, but there have been enough flashes of brilliance to be encouraged. He has a chance for a big game in Week 7 in a matchup against the Saints.