RADIO
Rome Odunze Finds the End Zone, Could be Headed for Larger Role
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze caught four of his seven targets for 60 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Odunze played 83.6% of the snaps in the victory, which is a very interesting data point, considering that he had not previously played less than 90% of the snaps in a single game since Week 4. The slight reduction in snaps didn't seem to have any sort of negative effect on Odunze, who has firmly established himself as a high-end WR3/flex with high-end WR2 upside. He could also be headed for a higher ceiling temporarily if Luther Burden III (concussion) misses extended time. The Bears are on bye in Week 10 before returning to action against the Detroit Lions in Week 11.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luther Burden III Diagnosed with a Concussion
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) was diagnosed with a concussion following Sunday's Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Ben Johnson told Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. Burden exited after taking a scary head-to-head hit late in the fourth quarter of the Bears' victory. He immediately collapsed to the ground after the hit and required medical assistance. The 22-year-old finished Week 9 with nine targets, seven catches, 97 yards, and one touchdown. If there's any good news here, it's that the Bears have a Week 10 bye, so Burden will get extra time to recover. Clearing concussion protocol in one week is tricky, but Burden will have 14 days for his symptoms to improve before the Bears play again. In the event that his recovery takes longer than expected and he has to miss Week 11 as well, then Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas would handle a significant increase in offensive snaps.
Source: Courtney Cronin
Source: Courtney Cronin
Luther Burden III Suffers Scary Head Injury Late in Win Over Bucs
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (head) was taken to the medical tent for evaluation after he was on the receiving end of a head-to-head hit in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. It was a scary hit that caused Burden to fumble the football. He collapsed face-first onto the ground and had to be helped off the field by medical personnel. The game ended before the Bears could post an update on Burden's status, but he will presumably be evaluated for a concussion, and possibly other injuries, too. If Burden does end up in concussion protocol, the good news is that the Bears have a Week 10 bye, so he would have a full 14 days to recover before Chicago's next game against the New Orleans Saints. If the injury ends up being even more serious and forces Burden to miss games, then we'd likely see Kalif Raymond and Zavion Thomas earn more targets behind Rome Odunze in the wide receiver room.
Source: Courtney Cronin
Source: Courtney Cronin
Kalif Raymond Belongs on the Bench for Week 9
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond has seen a reduced role on offense over the last five weeks, making him an unappealing fantasy option for Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raymond appeared to be headed for a much larger role than expected at the start of the year, but he cooled off in Week 4 and has yet to rebound since then. He did post 7.3 PPR points last week, but even that number was inflated by a 39-yard rush, which he likely won't replicate going forward. If you ignore the rushing attempt, Raymond would have fewer than 4.0 PPR points in each of his last five games. This week's matchup won't do him any favors, either, as the Bucs have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Raymond can be left on the bench in most fantasy leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Rome Odunze a Fine Week 9 Flex
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is a sound WR3 play for this weekend's home matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Odunze is coming off one of his better games of the campaign, ripping off three receptions of at least 20 yards (4/87) in an impressive win over the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. It's true the University of Washington product hasn't exhibited the upside that teammate Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland have for fantasy. However, Odunze plays a critical role in the intermediate area for quarterback Caleb Williams, breaking free on big, in-breaking routes to pick up explosive plays. He also has decent upside as a low-end WR3. Chicago won't have it easy against one of the league's least-forgiving fantasy defenses in the Buccaneers, but Williams has excelled more often than not this season, and Odunze has proven a decent back-end asset, even on a limited reception total. The 24-year-old ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR32 for Sunday night's bout.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luther Burden III Maintains Strong Fantasy Value Vs. Tampa Bay
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has solidified himself as a go-to option ahead of a Sunday night matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 22-year-old St. Louis, Missouri native failed to lead the team in receiving for the fourth straight game in a win over the Seahawks, though he was still tied for tops in targets (nine) and receptions (seven) with tight end Colston Loveland. As it stands, the only knock against Burden is his lack of involvement in the second half of games. However, that isn't entirely his fault, as a run-heavy game script to close out victories has robbed him of a few monster outings. Unfortunately, he and the Bears' attack will be met with an imposing test in Week 9 when they take on a vaunted Buccaneers defense that has impressed over the last month. It isn't ideal, but quarterback Caleb Williams' stellar play has raised the offense's floor, making Burden an enticing weekly fantasy asset despite a less-than-full-time role. The second-year pro is RotoBaller's PPR WR11 for the weekend's festivities.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rome Odunze Has Potential to Become a Solid Fantasy WR3
Chicago Bears third-year wide receiver Rome Odunze has not been quite as effective as he was last year at the start of the season. Through eight games in 2025, Odunze amassed 473 receiving yards and five TDs on 31 receptions. In 2026, post Week 8, he currently has 468 receiving yards and no TDs on 28 receptions. However, the Bears offense has been humming, scoring 95 points over the past three weeks with QB Caleb Williams back at the helm, proving the team can support plenty of fantasy points. The team has 11 offensive touchdowns. Odunze comes in at WR51 (minimum three games played) in fantasy points per game, but has the 22nd most receiving yards in the league. The high-octane Bears offense will keep scoring, so if Rome Odunze can garner more red zone targets, of which he already has five, he will begin to tack on touchdowns, making him valuable as a fantasy WR3. The Bears' Week 9 opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing WRs at 27.5 points, and boast the fourth-highest blitz rate in the NFL. Odunze's Week 9 matchup may not be ideal for his high average depth of target, 15.1 yards, either. Regardless, Odunze is putting up solid receiving numbers, and if he can start scoring touchdowns, he should become a solid WR3/flex this season.
Source: Fantasy Points Data
Source: Fantasy Points Data
Luther Burden III Continues to Carve Out Key Role
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III hauled in seven of nine targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 34-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The 22-year-old put together another solid performance against the reigning Super Bowl champs, tying tight end Colston Loveland for Chicago's lead in receptions and targets. While Burden failed to lead the team in receiving yards for a third straight game, he yet again made an impact on significantly fewer snaps than his positional cohorts. The only qualm owners may have with the former second-round pick is that most of his damage has been done in the first half. Still, he's a featured part of the offense and holds considerable fantasy value despite operating in a somewhat part-time role. Burden and the Bears will face another tough ask in Week 9 against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rome Odunze's Upside Limited Against Tough Seahawks Defense
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze remains a volatile WR3 for Monday's road bout with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Odunze's boom-bust nature in 2026 has leaned far more toward the latter than the former over seven weeks. He's out there for a ton of snaps, which works in his favor. However, the third-year pro isn't afforded the same layup targets as teammate Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland. Instead, his routes take a bit longer to unfurl downfield, leaving him on the outside looking in for fantasy more often than not. In Week 9, he'll face a staunch Seattle pass defense that will prove to be his toughest test of the campaign thus far. Odunze will always have the chance to be a productive asset for owners because of his role in a high-powered attack and his chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams when the play breaks down. Still, the quality of talent around him has lowered his overall ceiling, and the strength of his opposition is enough to make him a riskier option than usual. The Utah native is RotoBaller's PPR WR32 for Monday's outing.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luther Burden III a Fine Play in Tough Draw
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III presents with slightly less upside for this week's road clash with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Burden has really emerged as a weapon in Chicago's offense, despite consistently working under 70% of the team's snaps in a given week. In last Thursday's victory over New England, the 22-year-old looked on track for massive fantasy output with a four-catch, 130-yard first half, though his line stalled there. It could have been a bigger night, but it offers a glimpse of Burden's potential week-winning upside as a key piece of Chicago's attack. He and the Bears' wideouts won't have it easy against the league's No. 1 pass defense in Week 9, as Seattle has yielded just four touchdowns, 642 yards, and the second-fewest fantasy points to receivers. Either way, Burden will still get his targets and offers the most post-catch upside of any Chicago pass catcher. The University of Missouri alum is RotoBaller's PPR WR18 for this week's slate.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rome Odunze's Shrinking Target Share Hurts his Fantasy Value
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze averaged 7.5 targets across 12 games last season but is down to 5.4 through seven outings in 2026. He has drawn only nine targets over his last two games combined, matching his Week 5 total by itself. That decline has come despite Odunze playing approximately 85% of Chicago's offensive snaps, suggesting the problem is where the passes are going rather than how often he is on the field. Luther Burden III leads the Bears with 47 targets, 35 catches, and 491 yards, while tight end Colston Loveland has drawn 42 targets, including 19 over the past two games. Odunze sits at 38 targets and has 24 catches for 381 yards, but has yet to score after finishing 2025 with six touchdowns. Burden's 130-yard touchdown performance against New England in Week 7 further illustrated the shifting passing-game hierarchy. At WR34 in RotoBaller's Week 8 rankings entering Monday's trip to Seattle, Odunze is a matchup-dependent flex option rather than a weekly lineup fixture.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Luther Burden III Could Be on the Verge of a Superstar Breakout
Across seven games in 2026, Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has recorded 35 catches for 491 yards and two touchdowns on 47 targets. While the 22-year-old's numbers are solid on their own, there's some reason to believe that he may be in line for even better production the rest of the way. Across the three games where Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been fully healthy, Burden III has hauled in 17 receptions for 288 yards and a touchdown on 17 targets. Burden III has had his two best games of the season in the last two weeks, recording back-to-back games with at least 95 receiving yards. When the Chicago offense is fully operational, it profiles as an extremely tough unit for defenses to slow down. Burden III should continue to see plenty of chances for big plays and touchdowns and profiles as a must-start wide receiver for fantasy managers in most league formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kalif Raymond Fails to Record a Catch Against Patriots
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond was held without a catch in Week 7's 30-24 win over the New England Patriots. After a hot start to Raymond's 10th season, he has cooled off completely, totaling 30 receiving yards on seven receptions over the last four games. Raymond has continued to see a high snap count (70% in Week 7) but has not produced enough to be fantasy-relevant. Even with quarterback Caleb Williams back in the lineup, along with Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze, and a strong running game, Raymond will likely remain the fourth option in this passing offense. While his hot start earned him a roster spot a few weeks ago, fantasy managers should move on from the veteran receiver in most leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Luther Burden III Goes Over Century Mark, Scores in Thursday's Win
Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III looked like the second-year breakout player that many fantasy managers envisioned coming into this season in the team's 30-24 victory on Thursday night over the visiting New England Patriots. Burden had a strong connection with quarterback Caleb Williams and caught all four of his targets for a season-high 130 yards and his second touchdown of the 2026 season. His four targets were tied with running back D'Andre Swift for third on the team behind tight end Colston Loveland's 12 and Rome Odunze's five, but he struck for chunk gains and averaged a strong 32.5 yards per reception on the night. Burden also carried the ball once for a gain of seven yards on the ground. It is a second straight strong game for the 22-year-old wideout after he caught all eight of his targets for 95 yards in last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons. The former second-rounder from Missouri is one of Williams' favorite targets and should be considered a must-start after a slow start going into the Monday night matchup in Week 8 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Kalif Raymond Still in Play for TNF
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond is a fine low-end option in deep leagues ahead of his Thursday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots. Raymond was looking like a waiver-wire steal after a hot start to 2026. The veteran's production would fizzle out just as quickly, though, as he's accumulated only eight targets over the last three weeks compared with 21 in his first three appearances. While that bodes poorly for Raymond's season-long outlook, he's still an enticing option in deeper formats and a solid DFS bet, especially with quarterback Caleb Williams healthy and dialed in. Thursday's matchup isn't particularly appealing for fantasy, but Chicago's offense will get a boost as the Pats' defense is down several players to injury. The 32-year-old lands as RotoBaller's PPR WR51 for this week's slate.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
