Chicago Bears: Justin Fields’ Rookie of the Year odds rising

Over the past couple of weeks, Chicago Bears fans have only seen a glimpse of what rookie Justin Fields is capable of doing.

While the young quarterback continues to develop and learn every week, the Bears are beginning to do everything they can to make that process smoother. So far, the Bears are running the ball at a mind-boggling rate of over 51 percent.

Finally, Chicago is returning to the black and blue style of football that their history is known for. However, this will only be to set up future big plays from Fields and the passing attack. Right now, Bill Lazor is doing a great job setting the table for Fields.

Even though Fields has only attempted 72 passes this season, the sports and betting world are taking notice of just how much he’s able to change the game for Chicago. Now that he’s become the team’s permanent starter, Fields’ odds of winning the 2021 NFL Rookie of the Year are rising.

The next few weeks will tell us a lot more about whether or not Fields can make a push for the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

This weekend, Fields gets his first taste of the Bears and Packers rivalry. If his press conference is any indication, the kid is ready to dive right into the greatest rivalry in football. He’s been all business, despite some media even trying to poke fun at Chicago’s side of this rivalry in recent years.

Following the game against Green Bay, the Bears will travel to Tampa Bay and take on Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers. This is arguably the most brutal two-game stretch of the season for Fields, and if he can come out of both contests having played well and maybe even winning one of them, his odds are indeed to rise.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has started his rookie season on a tear and leads the pack. In his first five games, Chase has caught 23 passes for 456 yards (a whopping 19.8 average) and five touchdowns.

New England’s Mac Jones is second, primarily because he’s started since Week 1. But Jones hasn’t done anything to blow us away just yet. He’s been steady but continued with a more modest passing attack.

Just a couple of big performances, or even that signature rookie performance from Fields, could catapult him to the no. 1 spot. Maybe that signature game comes this weekend against the Packers. If it does, the hype will only grow bigger than ever before.