Chicago Bears: 3 Winners from Week 6 vs. Packers

Week 6 Winner No. 2: Cole Kmet

It was nice to see the Bears involve Cole Kmet in the offense after him being a non-factor since Week 1. Fans were expecting a big jump in his usage after his rookie season, and it has not been that so far. While he only had four catches for 49 yards today, he was more of a focal point of the offense, and Justin Fields seems to understand that he is a steady target, especially on third down.

Cole Kmet showed his hands and ability to get open in between coverages. Matt Nagy and Bill Lazor should be designing some more plays to get Kmet involved. A quarterback’s best friend can often be their tight end, and you see it with many of the elite teams. That goes even more for a rookie who is in a struggling offense.

Kmet is not the most athletic and not a sharp route runner, but he is a high IQ player who understands how to get open and use his size to shield off defenders. Plus, he has been a huge factor as a blocker in the run and screen game.

Justin Fields should use Kmet as a safety blanket when a play falls apart because Kmet has demonstrated he is a reliable pass catcher. While he is not the flashiest player, he has shown in his limited usage that he is a threat in the passing and blocking game and should be used more as a playmaker within the offense. He should also be used more in the red zone as such a big target.