Malachi Fields Rookie Super Model Prospect Profile For The 2026 NFL Draft
Dwain McFarland breaks down what the Rookie Super Model has to say about incoming WR Malachi Fields out of Notre Dame.
NFL Draft prospect Malachi Fields out of Notre Dame checks in as the WR12 in the release of the 2026 Rookie Super Model.
I've profiled 25 of the top wide receivers in the class with individual Prospect Profiles from their Super Model data. For the full WR class, check out the 2026 WR Rookie Super Model.
If you're new to the model, here is an introductory breakdown of the Rookie Super Model, which rates players on a scale of 50 to 100 based on a composite score across Draft Capital, Production and Film. All of this data is integrated into our free NFL Draft Guide, full of big board rankings, mock drafts and more.
You can find a glossary of terms and stats used in this breakdown at the bottom of the prospect profile.
Rookie Super Model Prospect Profile For Malachi Fields
- Super Model Rating: 72 (101st since 2018)
- Draft Pick: 52
- Rookie Age: 24.2
- Height: 76.5 inches
- Weight: 218 pounds
Fields was a three- and two-star prospect out of the state of Virginia. He played QB and CB in high school, but was recruited as a WR. He was part of the 2021 recruiting class, making him one of the older prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. He will be 24 when next season kicks off.
He played four seasons at Virginia, but got off to a slow start. He hardly played his first year on campus (21% routes) in a redshirt season and ran only 19 routes in his second season due to a broken foot. However, he was one of the team's best offensive players over his final two seasons at Virginia. His path crossed with Dontayvion Wicks and Malik Washington during his tenure.
In his fifth season, Fields entered the transfer portal as a four-star prospect and signed with Notre Dame. He was a starter for the Fighting Irish and was second on the team in target share (20%).
Fields generated buzz at the Senior Bowl when Daniel Jeremiah tabbed his week of practice as the best for a WR. However, some of the hype cooled off after running a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
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What the Production Says
The Production Rating (70) for Fields ranks 243rd since 2018. He didn't post a solid RYPTPA until his third year (2.04), and his best season was in Year 4 (2.92). His targeted QB passer rating is one of the worst in the class.
- Adjusted Career RYPTPA: 45th percentile
- Targeted QB Passer Rating: 88.3, 34th percentile
While the model accounts for QB play, it is worth noting that the Cavaliers were exceptionally bad in his final season, with a team QB passer rating of 79.8. That was far below the NCAA average of 93 for QBs with at least 350 dropbacks in a season dating back to 2018.
Fields' passer rating when targeted in his final season at Notre Dame was 113, with better QB play, and he delivered a 1.93 RYPTPA with 53 yards per game and 5 TDs.
For his career, Fields had a 1.94 YPRR (38th percentile) and collected a first down on 9% of routes (43rd percentile). His career TPRR was 22%.
Beyond the Production
Fields was primarily targeted at the medium and deep field depths.
- Behind the Line of Scrimmage Targets: 3% (-11 vs. avg)
- Short Targets (0-9 yards): 37% (+1 vs. avg)
- Medium Targets (10-19 yards): 34% (+8 vs. avg)
- Deep Targets (20+ yards): 26% (+4 vs. avg)
He aligned wide on 89% of snaps and notched a career aDOT of 14.2 (66th percentile). His deepest season came at Notre Dame (16.4).
QB play can also factor into contested targets, where Fields had a career-contested target rate of 27% (76th percentile). Late and inaccurate passes can lead to more contested situations, but they can also signal QB trust. Fields has the size (6-foot-4½) and length (32-inch arms) to win in those situations. He delivered a 47% contested catch rate, which is in line with historical draft prospects. His career drop rate was better than average at 3.6%.
Fields wasn't much of a factor after the catch. His 4.6 YAC was -0.3 over expected after adjusting for aDOT.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com sees Fields as a better prospect (6.35 grade, 62nd percentile) than his data profile suggests. He notes that while he might not ever be a star, he could develop into a solid WR2 for an NFL team.
Zeirlein thinks he can be an X receiver and cites his strengths as his ability to move the chains and win in tight situations. The negatives: can struggle early vs. press, build-up speed, route running doesn't shake good coverage and YAC challenges underneath.
The Film Rating is helping Fields offset his Production Rating in the Rookie Super Model. And I am OK with that, considering the injuries and QB challenges he faced.
Fantasy Outlook
Since 2018, 72 WRs have posted a Super Model rating between 67 and 87, with 25% delivering a top-36 finish by Year 3.
- Top-six finishes: 4%
- Top-12 finishes: 7%
- Top-24 finishes: 17%
- Top-36 finishes: 25%
Fields' closest Super Model comps:
Bottom line: Fields grades out as a Day 3 prospect in the Rookie Super Model. His Production Rating is below average, but his Film Rating points toward a player who could become a starter for an NFL team. He is a big player who can win when the ball is in the air, but doesn't have top-end speed or make-you-miss ability after the grab. His best fit would be on a weak depth chart with a QB willing to throw into coverage. Fields is a WR5 prospect in fantasy football.
Glossary of Terms In The Prospect Profile
- Adjusted Career RYPTPA: Career receiving yards per team pass attempt adjusted for age, strength of schedule, QB play, teammate competition, aDOT, and alignment. Doesn't count games missed.
- aDOT: Average depth of target in yards.
- Career Targeted QB Passer Rating: Passer rating on WR's targets.
- Contested catch rate: Percentage of contested targets caught.
- Contested catch rate over expected: Percentage of contested targets caught after adjusting for aDOT.
- Draft Capital Rating: Based on Chase Stuart's Draft Value Chart, an improved version of what many know as the Jimmy Johnson trade chart. It accounts for the larger drop-off in the first round and a flatter drop-off around the end of the second round.
- FDPRR: First downs per route run. Often shown as a percentage (first downs divided by routes).
- Film Rating: Based on NFL.com prospect grades from Lance Zierlein.
- Production Rating: A combination of adjusted career RYPTPA and career targeted QB passer rating.
- Program Quality Rating: ESPN's College Football Power Index is used to assess program quality. The model accounts for each school a prospect attended.
- RYPTPA: receiving yards per team pass attempt.
- SOS Rating: Based on strength of schedule (SOS) from Sports Reference. The model accounts for each school the prospect attended.
- Target Share: A player's percentage of team targets in games played.
- TPRR: Targets per route run.
- YAC: Average yards after the catch.
- YAC over expected: YAC over expected after adjusting for aDOT.
- YPG: Yards per game.
- YPRR: Yards per route run.
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