Oftentimes, except for the elite of the elite QBs, a QB is only as good as his supporting cast. In recent years, we’ve seen how important surrounding a young QB with talent is, especially at WR and TE. Teams want to make things easy on their QB so his development can occur as linearly as possible, while also isolating the variable to see if their QB is the guy. Weapons have also arguably become more important than OLinemen, mainly due to the Ja’Marr Chase vs Penei Sewell debate from 2021. So which teams are set up best in this department in 2022? And how do the Chicago Bears stack up against the rest of the league?
Tier 1: Elite Elite Elite
- Las Vegas Raiders
RB1: Josh Jacobs
RB2: Kenyan Drake
WR1: Davante Adams
WR2: Hunter Renfrow
WR3: Mack Hollins
WR4: Keelan Cole
TE1: Darren Waller
FLEX: Jakob Johnson/Foster Moreau - Cincinnati Bengals
RB1: Joe Mixon
RB2: Samaje Perine
WR1: Ja’Marr Chase
WR2: Tee Higgins
WR3: Tyler Boyd
WR4: Mike Thomas
TE1: Hayden Hurst
FLEX: Drew Sample - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB1: Leonard Fournette
RB2: Giovani Bernard
WR1: Mike Evans
WR2: Chris Godwin
WR3: Russel Gage Jr
WR4: Julio Jones
TE1: Cameron Brate
FLEX: Kyle Rudolph/Rob Gronkowski midway through the season/Scotty Miller/Tyler JohnsonNobody can deny the talent these 3 teams have. The Bengals have the best WR trio in the league, while the Buccaneers have the best WR quartet in the league, and the Raiders may have the 3 best weapons in the league in Adams, Waller, and Renfrow. Each team also has a solid to very good RB. The Buccaneers strength is in their depth, the Raiders and Bengals more in their star power. None are lacking at any position.
Tier 2: Elite Elite
- Buffalo Bills
RB1: Devin Singletary
RB2: James Cook
WR1: Stefon Diggs
WR2: Gabriel Davis
WR3: Jamison Crowder
WR4: Isaiah McKenzie
TE1: Dawson Knox
FLEX: OJ Howard - Philadelphia Eagles
RB1: Miles Sanders
RB2: Kenneth Gainwell
WR1: AJ Brown
WR2: Devonta Smith
WR3: Quez Watkins
WR4: Zach Pascal
TE1: Dallas Goedert
FLEX: Boston Scott - Los Angeles Rams
RB1: Cam Akers
RB2: Darrell Henderson Jr
WR1: Cooper Kupp
WR2: Allen Robinson
WR3: Van Jefferson
WR4: Tutu Atwell
TE1: Tyler Higbee
FLEX: Kendall Blanton/Odell Beckham Jr - Miami Dolphins
RB1: Chase Edmonds
RB2: Raheem Mostert
WR1: Tyreek Hill
WR2: Jaylen Waddle
WR3: Cedrick Wilso Jr
WR4: Trent Sherfield
TE1: Mike Gesicki
FLEX: Sony Michel/Alec Ingold - Los Angeles Chargers
RB1: Austin Ekeler
RB2: Isaiah Spiller
WR1: Keenan Allen
WR2: Mike Williams
WR3: Joshua Palmer
WR4: Jalen Guyton
TE1: Gerald Everett
FLEX: Donald Parham Jr - New Orleans Saints
RB1: Alvin Kamara
RB2: Mark Ingram
WR1: Michael Thomas
WR2: Chris Olave
WR3: Jarvis Landry
WR4: Deonte Harty
TE1: Adam Trautman
FLEX: Taysom Hill - Minnesota Vikings
RB1: Dalvin Cook
RB2: Alexander Mattison
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Adam Thielen
WR3: KJ Osborn
WR4: Ihmir Smith-Marsette
TE1: Irv Smith Jr
FLEX: CJ Ham/Kene Nwangwu - Seattle Seahawks
RB1: Rashaad Penny
RB2: Kenneth Walker III
WR1: DK Metcalf
WR2: Tyler Lockett
WR3: Freddie Swaine
WR4: Dee Eskridge
TE1: Noah Fant
FLEX: Will Dissly - Arizona Cardinals
RB1: James Conner
RB2: Darrel Williams
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins
WR2: Marquise Brown
WR3: AJ Green
WR4: Rondale Moore
TE1: Zach Ertz
FLEX: Trey McBrideThese teams have great arsenals, just not as good as the top 3 teams. The Bills offense has been absolutely elite the past 2 seasons. The Eagles had a decent group, then added AJ Brown. The Rams group is stellar, and could be even more dangerous down the stretch if they bring back Odell Beckham. The Dolphins trade for Hill isolates the Tua variable. The Chargers give Herbert a solid group around him including fantasy darling Austin Ekeler. If Michael Thomas is healthy, the Saints bolster a group that excels in many different categories. Cook-Jefferson-Smith Jr is a very dynamic RB-WR-TE trio for Minnesota. The Seahawks still have two great deep threats in Metcalf and Lockett. When Hopkins is off his suspension, we can see an Oklahoma Sooners-like offense from the Cardinals.
Tier 3: Elite
- Denver Broncos
RB1: Javonte Williams
RB2: Melvin Gordon
WR1: Courtland Sutton
WR2: Jerry Jeudy
WR3: KJ Hamler
WR4: Tim Patrick
TE1: Albert Okwuegbunam
FLEX: Greg Dulcich - Kansas City Chiefs
RB1: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
RB2: Jerick McKinnon
WR1: Juju Smith-Schuster
WR2: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR3: Mecole Hardman
WR4: Skyy Moore
TE1: Travis Kelce
FLEX: Ronald Jones/Blake Bell - Cleveland Browns
RB1: Nick Chubb
RB2: Kareem Hunt
WR1: Amari Cooper
WR2: Donovan Peoples-Jones
WR3: David Bell
WR4: Anthony Schwartz
TE1: David Njoku
FLEX: Harrison Bryant - Pittsburgh Steelers
RB1: Najee Harris
RB2: Benny Snell Jr
WR1: Diontae Johnson
WR2: Chase Claypool
WR3: George Pickens
WR4: Miles Boykin
TE1: Pat Freiermuth
FLEX: Anthony McFarland - Dallas Cowboys
RB1: Ezekiel Elliot
RB2: Tony Pollard
WR1: CeeDee Lamb
WR2: Michael Gallup
WR3: James Washington
WR4: Jalen Tolbert
TE1: Dalton Schultz
FLEX: Jake Ferguson - San Francisco 49ers
RB1: Elijah Mitchell
RB2: Jeff Wilson Jr
WR1: Deebo Samuel
WR2: Brandon Aiyuk
WR3: Jauan Jennings
WR4: Ray-Ray McCloud
TE1: George Kittle
FLEX: Tyrion Davis-PriceThese teams have multiple very good options, but you don’t always have multiple elite options available. Javonte Williams is the best RB Russel Wilson has played with since Marshawn Lynch retired the first time. The Chiefs have gone from an undersized group of speedy receivers to bigger jumpball guys, but Travis Kelce is still there. The Browns have the best RB duo in the NFL. The Steelers also have a dynamic RB-WR-TE trio in Harris, Johnson, and Freiermuth. The Cowboys lost Cooper, but they’ll be just fine with Pollard taking on a larger role. Deebo Samuel showed just how versatile he was last season and got paid.
Tier 4: Good
- Carolina Panthers
RB1: Christian McCaffrey
RB2: Chuba Hubbard
WR1: DJ Moore
WR2: Robbie Anderson
WR3: Terrace Marshall Jr
WR4: Rashard Higgins
TE1: Ian Thomas
FLEX: Tommy Tremble - Washington Commanders
RB1: Antonio Gibson
RB2: JD McKissic
WR1: Terry McLaurin
WR2: Jahan Dotson
WR3: Curtis Samuel
WR4: Dyami Brown
TE1: Logan Thomas
FLEX: Brian Robinson - Detroit Lions
RB1: D’Andre Swift
RB2: Jamaal Williams
WR1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR2: DJ Chark
WR3: Jameson Williams
WR4: Josh Reynolds
TE1: TJ Hockenson
FLEX: Kalif Raymond - New York Jets
RB1: Breece Hall
RB2: Michael Carter
WR1: Elijah Moore
WR2: Garrett Wilson
WR3: Corey Davis
WR4: Braxton Berrios
TE1: CJ Uzomah
FLEX: Tyler ConklinThese groups are fine, but not as special as those above. McCaffrey and Moore are both elite, but there are issues with injuries. McLaurin has been the only really consistent elite player for Washington. Detroit has a very intriguing group, but one that has multiple guys coming off injury. The Jets group is similar to Detroit in intrigue, and both lack experience.
Tier 5: Some good starters, but lacking depth
- Indianapolis Colts
RB1: Johnathan Taylor
RB2: Nyhiem Hines
WR1: Michael Pittman Jr
WR2: Alec Pierce
WR3: Parris Campbell
WR4: Ashton Dulin
TE1: Mo-Alie Cox
FLEX: Jelani Woods - Tennessee Titans
RB1: Derrick Henry
RB2: Hassan Haskins
WR1: Robert Woods
WR2: Treylon Burks
WR3: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
WR4: Dez Fitzpatrick
TE1: Austin Hooper
FLEX: Geoff Swaim - New England Patriots
RB1: Damien Harris
RB2: Rhamondre Stevenson
WR1: Kendrick Bourne
WR2: Jakobi Meyers
WR3: DeVante Parker
WR4: Nelson Agholor
TE1: Hunter Henry
FLEX: Jonnu Smith - Chicago Bears
RB1: David Montgomery
RB2: Khalil Herbert
WR1: Darnell Mooney
WR2: Byron Pringle
WR3: Equanimeous St. Brown
WR4: N’Keal Harry
TE1: Cole Kmet
FLEX: Velus Jones Jr - Baltimore Ravens
RB1: JK Dobbins
RB2: Gus Edwards
WR1: Rashod Bateman
WR2: Devin Duvernay
WR3: James Proche III
WR4: Tylan Wallace
TE1: Mark Andrews
FLEX: Nick Boyle - Atlanta Falcons
RB1: Cordarralle Patterson
RB2: Damien Williams
WR1: Drake London
WR2: Olamide Zaccheus
WR3: Bryan Edwards
WR4: Auden Tate
TE1: Kyle Pitts
FLEX: Anthony Firkser - Green Bay Packers
RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: AJ Dillon
WR1: Allen Lazard
WR2: Christian Watson
WR3: Sammy Watkins
WR4: Amari Rodgers
TE1: Robert Tonyan
FLEX: Randall Cobb/Romeo Doubs - New York Giants
RB1: Saquon Barkley
RB2: Matt Breida
WR1: Kenny Golladay
WR2: Kadarius Toney
WR3: Sterling Shephard
WR4: Wan’Dale Robinson
TE1: Daniel Bellinger
FLEX: Darius Slayton/Jordan AkinsThe title gives this tier away. The Colts have Taylor and Pittman, but little behind them. The Titans have Henry, Woods, and Burks, but little behind them, plus relying on Woods coming off injury and Burks as a rookie. The Patriots have a lot of average players, but nobody really elite. The Bears have Montgomery, Mooney, and Kmet but not much else. The Ravens have Dobbins, Bateman, and Andrews, but not much else. The Falcons have a stud in Pitts, a potential stud in London, and Patterson coming off a career year. Too bad Calvin Ridley is suspended. The Packers have a good RB duo but are severely lacking at WR and TE. The Giants have a bunch of talented players, but all have issues with drops, inconsistency, and injury.
Tier 6: Bottom of the Barrel
- Jacksonville Jaguars
RB1: James Robinson
RB2: Travis Etienne
WR1: Christian Kirk
WR2: Marvin Jones
WR3: Zay Jones
WR4: Laviska Shenault
TE1: Evan Engram
FLEX: Jamal Agnew - Houston Texans
RB1: Dameon Pierce
RB2: Marlon Mack
WR1: Brandin Cooks
WR2: Nico Collins
WR3: Chris Moore
WR4: John Metchie
TE1: Pharaoh Brown
FLEX: Brevin JordanThese two teams don’t have much. The Jaguars have an intriguing RB duo, but have no WR1 and nobody elite. The Texans have Brandin Cooks and nobody else.
The Bears land at 26, in maybe a second-last tier. They have some weapons and if things break right could have a solid offense and be in the hunt, but their ceiling is a wild card team (in a weak division they may get lucky) but they are not nearly a Super Bowl contender. The possibility exists they could end up bottom tier at the end of the season. For now, they have a borderline top 20 receiver in Mooney, a top 15 RB in Montgomery, a promising TE in Kmet, a good backup RB in Herbert, and decent WRs behind Mooney who are likely one role up of where you actually want them (i.e. you want Mooney as your 2, Pringle as your 3, but here they’re 1 and 2). Still, if Justin Fields performs about as well as Mitchell Trubisky did in year 2, with a worse supporting cast, the Bears can keep their top players and those he really developed chemistry with, then go all-in on weapons in the draft and free agency with all their resources.
