I think you're confusing "the TE had a solid season" with "the QB was good for his production." I'd argue given the lack of other receiving options in Chicago, that Fields probably held Kmet back.
I’d counter that by pointing out that a 23% target share is very solid for a TE on a team with DJM & Darnell Mooney, and that type of production is actually pretty excellent for a QB mostly known for his rushing ability.
It shows a concerted effort to get the ball to the Tight End, especially when talking about a QB who only threw 370x for 2562 yards.
That means Kmet’s production accounted for28% of Fields passing yardage & 37.5% of Fields TDs.
That, to me, is a much stronger data set than overall target share & clearly supports the contention that Fields is good for TE production.
You want to make a bet on it of some kind for this year? I'm happy to put his career against a single outlier season that I think still wasn't that good.
Not one retort to my data-driven commentary?
Challenging me to a bet over it officially ends my participation in what was a somewhat interesting discussion.
The fact is that I’ve already won the bet: Fields was, in fact, “good for TE production”. You acknowledged that yourself. He helped a TE to a 12th, then 7th finish at the position.
There it is. Fields has been good for TE production.
Again, I wish you a very good evening.
smh
There's a deeper problem here that you're missing. Which is, if you put any competent NFL QB in that offense that year, Kmet does better, IMO. It's tiresome because your "data driven commentary" doesn't address any argument I made (and is a misnomer - it contains data, but I wouldnt describe it as data driven), and fails to understand cause and effect or acknowledge the counterfactual. You just want to be right. It's not adding to the discussion it's trying to prove a point without any critical thinking.
If we're just going to put words in my mouth, I'll take the complete and total lack of conviction as a clear admission that youre just trolling, like often here, not in good faith, and you dont believe your own arguments enough to put anything behind them (see? how does it feel when someone intentionally says what you said knowing full well thats not what you said or meant? Be better). Since I haven't acknowledged in any way that Fields was good for TE production. I think, just to make sure, I have repeatedly said he was at BEST a net neutral.
28% of yards and 37.5% of TDs do more to show that Kmet was among the best of a very poor receiving corps, not that Fields has any proclivity to throw to a TE. In fact, whenever there have been good receivers, theyve gotten the ball over TEs (especially since if you remove 2023, the outlier season i Fields' passing career, he targets the TE FAR below league average rates).
Let's look at Mooney - an average to below average receiver with one outlier season to his name.
Target shares:
2020: 24% target share as a rookie (Allen Robinson had 38% and rookie Kmet 13%...talk about an awful receiving corps)
2021: 26% target share as Robinson gets hurt (in their shared healthy games, he's below his rookie season 24%, but overall had an excellent sophomore season)
2022: 16% target share (but closer to 20% when healthy, he only played 12 games)
2023: 13% (again closer to 20% when healthy - interestingly, in games they both play, Kmet's share drops below 20% - seems useful if this is the "wow Fields loves the TE so much" season)
2024: 20% again
In fact, if we look at 2023 game logs and Bears receiving corps injuries for Fields, if anything it shows Kmet was a huge injury beneficiary. Kmet that year produced an average catch rate among top 20 TEs in yardage. He produced an average TD%. he produced slightly above average yards/target but below average yards/reception (odd). He got some volume because there was nobody else to throw to. If Fields didn't suck so bad that the offense sucked, Kmet probably produces more! He was basically last man standing as Mooney got hurt, 2 games of Claypool, Moore got 50% more targets (can only throw so many times to the same guy, and I'll give you a big thumbs up if you can tell me which of these 2023 Bears receivers I made up: Trent Taylor, Tyler Scott, Travis Adams, Velus Jones, Collin Johnson.
Good evening indeed. Fields has been horrible for TE production. Kmet had a gold mine of a situation that shook out perfectly to get him 120+ targets, 1000 yards, and double digit TDs and he delivered meh. 700 yards on 90 targets.
You're welcome to respond with the last word. I think it's safe to say my opinion is thus, and needs no further elucidation:
1. I'm glad I was forced to look deeper, I learned a lot by asking the question
2. Fields is at best a net neutral, and likely a net negative, for TE production because he doesn't target them more than other QBs, his targets are less valuable, and his offenses have fewer targets to go around
3. The Jets receivers outside Wilson may be just as bad as the 2023 Bears, so Taylor could produce anyway out of sheer "someone has to catch it" - but I don't think that production will lead any fantasy teams to wins
4. I don't think you have a very analytical mind for this, and that's ok. People provide value in other ways, and the world is better for it
5. I'm excited we are in at least one league together. Going to enjoy it.