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Tale of the Tape: Bo Nix vs. Caleb Williams



By Kirk Hollis | 8/4/25

One of the toughest challenges in drafting a fantasy football team is deciding between two players who seem to offer nearly identical value. Knowing how to break this tie is crucial, as many picks ultimately come down to a choice between Player A and Player B. This article aims to not only highlight pairs of players with similar value for the 2025 season but also to explore strategies for resolving these tricky dilemmas.

Our first installment examines two quarterbacks entering into their second NFL season.

Bo Nix and Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams was hyped as a ‘can’t-miss’ quarterback prospect, expected to quickly evolve into not only a top-ten NFL QB but also a top-ten fantasy producer. However, his 2024 season was a mix of promise and disappointment. While Williams threw for over 3,500 yards and posted a solid TD-to-INT ratio (20-6), he averaged just under one touchdown pass per game, and failed to score a single rushing touchdown.

On the other hand, Bo Nix entered the league with less fanfare but was immediately expected to be a full-time starter. His production, based on his redraft league ADP last year (QB24), exceeded expectations. Now, with defensive coordinators having a full offseason to study his tape, the question is: will Nix continue to improve? What is clear is that fantasy managers looking to wait on selecting a QB after the first six rounds will be closely watching these two sophomores. So, which one is the better target midway through your draft?

The Strengths:

Bo Nix’s strengths were on full display last season as he transitioned from a quarterback expected to rely heavily on checkdowns to one who came within striking distance of 30 touchdown passes. To understand how this evolution occurred, it’s crucial to consider the role of his head coach. While Drew Brees would likely have been a successful QB regardless of his coach, it’s clear that Sean Payton played a significant role in elevating his game, especially in terms of statistical output. As long as Payton continues coaching Nix, the expectation is that he’ll keep developing and become more comfortable taking shots downfield. For context, Brees’ yards per completion rose from just over 10 yards in San Diego to more than 12 in six of his first seven years in New Orleans. Nix averaged almost exactly 10 yards per completion last season, and if he improves by just two yards per completion, that translates to an additional 750 passing yards. Add in his four rushing touchdowns and nearly 500 rushing yards from last season, and the upside is clear.

Much like Drew Brees’ career was shaped by coaching, Jared Goff has also thrived thanks to support from Sean McVay in Los Angeles and Ben Johnson in Detroit. Now, Johnson has been brought in to help Caleb Williams reach the next level, much like he did with Goff. In addition to his existing weapons, Williams now has even more talent at his disposal, including the lightning quick Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland. Already armed with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, Williams enters this season with an upgraded receiving corps. Like Nix, Williams averaged nearly 10 yards per completion last year, but with Odunze continuing to develop, Burden’s big-play potential, and Johnson’s coaching, a significant leap forward in both completion percentage and yards per completion is expected. Even though Williams didn’t score a rushing touchdown in 2024, he still ran for 489 yards—59 more than Nix, with both playing the same number of games. Logic suggests that with nearly 500 rushing yards, a couple of touchdowns on the ground are bound to come his way this season.

The Weaknesses:

While Chicago’s receiving corps is stacked with high-quality pass-catching options, the same can’t be said for Denver. Though TE Evan Engram was brought in as a high-volume target, he doesn’t project to be a big yards-per-catch guy. That role likely falls to Marvin Mims, but his YPC with Nix at quarterback dropped from 17.1 in his rookie season (2023) to 12.9 last year, and he’s yet to catch more than 39 passes in either of his first two seasons. Courtland Sutton has been a steady producer over the years, but even he managed just over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024, despite seeing 135 targets. Add to that the fact that Denver strengthened its run game this offseason with the additions of RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins, and they’re likely to rely more on the ground game with upgraded personnel. While Denver’s strong defense means a run-first approach isn’t guaranteed, it’s certainly a strong possibility. Given these factors, it’s clear that Nix’s ceiling is lower than Williams’ when you consider the offensive scheme and surrounding talent.

Williams was sacked 68 times last season, leading the NFL in that unwanted category—42 more times than Nix, despite both playing the same number of games. Much of that can be attributed to poor offensive line play, though no team addressed its line issues better than the Bears, who added Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman. Still, it was clear to anyone who watched Williams last season that he holds onto the ball too long and is often indecisive with his reads. Will better offensive coaching help fix that? It’s possible, but when you factor in the lack of touchdowns (both passing and rushing), Williams' floor appears lower than Nix’s heading into 2025.

The Verdict:

When evaluating these two quarterbacks, it’s important to consider not just their performances last season, but also what they’re poised to do in their second year. At first glance, Nix’s 33 total touchdowns compared to Williams’ 20 in 2024 suggests Nix is already the superior fantasy option. However, that would be a short-sighted take, especially given how much the Bears have done in the offseason to set up Williams in his second year. The real question is: If Williams does improve, how much better will he be? Much of that depends on the development of players around him—his revamped offensive line, two rookie pass-catchers (Burden and Loveland), and Rome Odunze, who’s growing into a key role. But the biggest wild card could be the addition of HC Ben Johnson, who may unlock new levels for Williams' game. I expect Williams to produce more on a similar number of attempts, with possibly a slight dip in rushing yards as he stays in the pocket longer.

As for Nix, while I believe his ceiling is lower than Williams’, particularly with Denver's improved rushing attack, he’s still the more proven commodity. Nix will have another year with the same coach and most of the same pass catchers, with Engram added to the mix. Given that stability, Nix feels like the safer choice, especially if you’re looking to draft a second QB later. However, if you can pair Williams with a steady backup like Justin Herbert or Brock Purdy, his upside might be too good to pass up in the early-middle rounds. Ultimately, you could be just fine selecting either of these young QBs, as waiting on your first QB could allow you to load up on RB/WR talent, making you the envy of your league come December. Proceed with confidence.

Projected 2025 Statistics:

Bo Nix: 3,825 passing yards, 27 TDs; 380 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Caleb Williams: 4,050 passing yards, 26 TDs; 410 rushing yards, 1 TD

Next up: Tale of the Tape - Wide Receivers





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