Justin Fields has many imperfections. Throwing a football to D.J. Moore isn't one of them.
"I wouldn't say Justin stares him down, but that's his guy," Vikings safety Camryn Bynum said of Chicago's suddenly dangerous quarterback-receiver duo heading into Sunday's matchup at Soldier Field. "Justin will look away and then go right back to D.J. You can tell that's where he wants the ball to go."
With good reason, too.
When targeting Moore 34 times this season, Fields' passer rating is a perfect 158.3, according to Pro Football Focus. It's 95.4 overall in a 1-4 start that has the Bears slumped alongside the Vikings in the NFC North's basement.
Moore, the 26-year-old star receiver acquired as part of the trade that sent this year's No. 1 draft pick to Carolina, has 27 catches and ranks first in yards per reception (19.7), fifth in receiving yards (531) and is tied with Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs in touchdown catches (five).
In other words, with Justin Jefferson on injured reserve, it's the Bears who will have the best receiver on the field come Sunday.
Brought in to help Fields' fledgling three-year NFL career, Moore is doing just that. Coming off a career-high 230 yards and three touchdowns on just eight catches in a 40-20 victory at Washington, Moore became the first player to post 500 yards and five touchdowns receiving in his first five games with a new team since Randy Moss did it with the Patriots in 2007.
"Just another great receiver in this league who gets traded and really comes in and proves his point," Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. said. "We have to lock in on that guy and not let him get those explosive plays."