Caleb Williams Won't Ditch His $12K Cleats — And Flacco's Got His Back
The Bears QB got fined $11,941 for unapproved Caddix cleats. He's wearing them anyway, and Joe Flacco pledged to cover any future fines.
A cleat fine doesn't change his QB1 value — 86 PPR pts through 4 games in 2026.
- Fined $11,941 for Caddix cleats in Week 6 (2026)
- Caddix worn by 60+ NFL players as of Oct 2026
- Williams: 1,020 pass yds, 5 TD, 0 INT in 4 games (2026)
- Our rank #11 overall, #5 QB
- Flacco pledged to pay any future fines
Caleb Williams got hit with an $11,941 fine after the Bears' Week 6 win over Atlanta for wearing cleats the NFL doesn't officially sanction. His response? He wore the exact same shoes in Week 7. The quarterback has no plans to switch, fine or no fine.
The cleats in question come from Caddix, a brand that isn't part of the NFL's approved trio of Nike, Adidas and Under Armour — the only three logos allowed on the field during games. Williams has actually worn them all season, but the league didn't come after him until Week 6. He says the shoes keep him healthier, pointing to the company's "SmartStuds" tech that's designed to flex and release under load to ease stress on tendons and joints.
Williams framed it as a body-maintenance decision, saying he's fixated on staying on the field and that the Caddix setup has simply worked for him. He called them science cleats and made clear he views this as a durability play, not a rebellion. For a franchise quarterback who has taken his share of hits, that logic tracks.
Flacco Rides Shotgun
Here's the twist: Joe Flacco, now with the Bengals, was the first NFL player to lace up Caddix back in 2024 and liked them enough to become an investor. The former Super Bowl MVP told ESPN he'll personally cover any future fines Williams racks up, saying he's worn the cleats for years and knows the difference they make. The brand has exploded from one NFL wearer in 2024 to more than 60 as of October 2026.
There's a reasonable compromise sitting right there. The league typically lets players wear unapproved cleats as long as the logo is taped or blacked out. If Williams just covers the branding, this whole standoff disappears — though neither side seems in a rush to get there, and the free publicity for Caddix isn't exactly hurting the company.
The Fantasy Angle
None of this touches Williams' fantasy value, and that's the point. He sits at QB5 in our rankings (#11 overall) and has been efficient through four games in 2026: 1,020 passing yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions, plus 128 rushing yards and two scores on the ground for 86 PPR points. The rushing floor is what makes him matter in your lineup.
Bottom line: keep starting him and ignore the headlines. A cleat fine is a locker-room story, not a lineup decision. If anything, a quarterback this focused on staying healthy is a quarterback you want anchoring your roster. Hold, start, and move on.
