It’s not hyperbole. Chaos coach Andy Towers has seen up close the type of impact attackman Connor Fields can have on the lacrosse field.

“I’ve got to be honest with you,” Towers said. “I think he’s the best player in the world.”

Fields has quickly become the magician of the Premier Lacrosse League, dazzling fans and teammates alike with his shot fakes and dodges.

“Wonder what Connor Fields is gonna do to blow our minds today,” tweeted one fan.

“Connor Fields is a cheat code,” tweeted another.

With 11 goals and five assists, Fields leads the league in goals and is third in points heading into Week 5. He’s the leading scorer on a Chaos team riding a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup with Chrome.

“He’s feeling it and I love it,” teammate Josh Byrne said after the team’s game against Redwoods in Chicago. “I love watching it.”

You’d shock the uninitiated if you mentioned his major knee surgery less than one year ago.

The former Albany Great Dane, who graduated second all-time on the NCAA scoring charts, played parts of his senior year on a torn ACL, sprained MCL and injured meniscus. After a handful of Major League Lacrosse games, he finally underwent surgery in the Buffalo suburbs in August, sidelining him until the final month of the National Lacrosse League regular season.

The NLL was a bit of baptism by fire. Cutting is emphasized with the smaller playing surface, forcing him into a style he was unable to adhere to previously while playing through the injury at Albany. There were some nerves in his NLL debut, when his San Diego Seals visited the New England Black Wolves on April 6, and some hesitation while he dealt with his knee brace.

But by halftime, he realized he was ready to be back. And by the end of the season, he was fully prepared mentally for the PLL.

“That was huge for me,” Fields said.

At PLL training camp, his knee brace finally came off. The signs of his reemergence were starting to show, displayed by his behind-the-back fake to low bounce shot in a scrimmage against Archers.

Got ‘em @connorfields14 pic.twitter.com/susht8WSGX

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) May 21, 2019

“I always try to do new things in the backyard,” Fields said. “Trying different shots and stuff like that. With the shot clock, shorter field, everything’s a lot quicker now. … It definitely promotes that.”

Fields showed in Week 2 his moves don’t just work on the practice field. He duped the whole Atlas defense with a fake behind-the-back shot, allowing him to run past Callum Robinson and shoot with his hands free for a goal. It was No. 5 on SportsCenter’s top plays that night.

Connor Fields is a magician pic.twitter.com/WXOetxKV5p

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) June 9, 2019

“Coming from X on the last play, I took the shot from behind the back,” a tired Fields said after the goal on NBC through an in-helmet interview. “I thought that might have set him up for a fake on the next play. It ended up working. I got a little bit lucky.”

If these highlight-worthy plays are just luck, Fields has been the luckiest guy in the PLL.

In Week 3, he worked Redwoods defender Garrett Epple on a 1-on-1, eventually deking his way inside for a free shot and a goal. He scored another against Atlas on a backhand while facing away from the cage.

You simply cannot cover Connor Fields. pic.twitter.com/Kfr7iaMxHl

— The Lacrosse Cave (@LacrosseCave) June 15, 2019

Connor Fields and his ability to find the back of the net is just pic.twitter.com/NKlr8HRfcx

— Chaos Lacrosse Club (@PLLChaos) June 11, 2019

Fields has quickly emerged as one of the toughest covers in the league, and if you put the focus on him, his unselfish game benefits others.

“The reality of it is, you’re not going to find a guy with a more complete skill set, greater game IQ, better field and situation awareness,” Towers said. “He wins every single matchup. If you don’t slide to him, he scores goals. If you do slide to him, he seems to make the right play and the right pass every single time.”

Fields was optimistic during his rehab process, even when stuck in a reclining chair in his living room for much of last summer. He credits the people around him, family and friends, and his surgeon, Dr. Leslie Bisson.

It’s been a long process, but the Connor Fields that was among the best ever to play in college is back.

“I believed I could be, for sure,” Fields said of returning to form this quickly. “A big part is believing you can do it.”