Bears QB Caleb Williams building serious hype ahead of 2026 season

The Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams are going into year three together, and you could say this is the sweet spot. Williams absolutely bloomed under new head coach Ben Johnson during the 2025-26 season, and there's no reason to think he'll take a step backwards.

The NFL is taking notice. Williams isn't one of those on-the-edge quarterbacks anymore. He's not the first-rounder whom people are regretting.

The numbers say it all. Williams led Chicago to an 11-6 record in the regular season and the No. 1 spot in the NFC North. He also recorded 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams gets strong prediction

In a feature out on Friday, Nathan Jahnke of PFF gives Williams a big boost and names him one of the quarterbacks who could finish No. 1 overall in fantasy. So, this is good intel for those looking to shape their fantasy teams a bit early, but it also says a lot about the potential Williams has for the Bears' upcoming season.

"Williams was a non-factor in single-quarterback leagues as a rookie, but the additions of Ben Johnson at head coach, Luther Burden III at wide receiver and Colston Loveland at tight end helped propel him to 19.0 fantasy points per game last season, tied for eighth-most among quarterbacks," Jahnke writes.

"Williams should be considered a fantasy starter this season," he adds. "Given his age and likely long-term future with Johnson, Burden and Loveland, he ranks among the top dynasty options at quarterback."

This could really be the year for Williams and Johnson to get the Bears back to the big game. There are still issues to correct, especially on defense, but if they build on last year, this could be another very strong season.