- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,267,118
- Reaction score
- 59
The NFL spent most of the offseason assuming Rome Odunze would become Caleb Williams’ unquestioned No. 1 receiver. Hell, I’ve written about it twice. Luther Burden III apparently missed all the memos.
Burden has been one of the loudest stories of Bears camp, continuing an offseason in which Ben Johnson openly said he was “buying Luther Burden stock.” On Thursday, Burden finished Chicago’s two-minute drill by catching the game-winning touchdown from Williams – another small moment in a summer increasingly filled with them.
MORE: Chiefs star looks better than expected early in NFL training camp
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) leaves the field following a game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Fantasy analyst Ian Hartitz put it much more bluntly this week: “It’s Luther Burden.”
And it matters for fantasy, because we’re all picking sides here. Burden’s current ADP sits at WR21 and 47th overall, while Odunze is going roughly fifteen picks later at WR28 and 62nd overall. Friends, this isn’t some late-round sleeper debate. You have to spend draft capital for both, and increasingly I think Burden is making the case here.
That take sounds aggressive until you look at how 2025 ended.
Burden caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards as a rookie despite beginning the season buried in the offense. Over his final eight regular-season games, he averaged 4.3 receptions and 60.1 yards, finishing with an eight-catch, 138-yard performance against San Francisco.
MORE: Former NFL first-round pick ready to break out
Odunze finished with 661 yards and six touchdowns, but a foot injury cost him the final five regular-season games. He has since clarified that the foot now feels “amazing” and says he is completely healthy.
That actually makes Burden’s rise more interesting.
This is not Burden taking advantage of an injured teammate. He is pushing for the top role while Odunze is practicing at full speed.
Johnson says Burden is playing faster, expanding his route tree and turning his athletic ability into actual receiver play instead of simply living on screens and manufactured touches. As a rookie, he caught nearly 78 percent of his targets despite averaging 13.9 yards per reception.
And this is what hits me the hardest for fantasy. Burden has already demonstrated he can create points without dominant volume. If his route tree and target share are expanded, the realistic path to legitimate WR1 numbers is there for us at WR2 capital. Finding that value, my fellow nerds, is how we bring home the ship.
MORE: AFC North team may already boast the NFL’s best rookie class of 2026
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Odunze remains a major piece of Chicago’s offense. His size, contested-catch ability, and red-zone value all stand out. And because he’s going roughly 2 rounds later, there is an argument to Rome over Luther (pure value perspective).
But if you’re asking me which Bears WR I want more shares of, it’s Luther, and I’m not looking back.
I’m not fading Odunze, per se. But you asked me to choose, and I’m choosing.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
Burden has been one of the loudest stories of Bears camp, continuing an offseason in which Ben Johnson openly said he was “buying Luther Burden stock.” On Thursday, Burden finished Chicago’s two-minute drill by catching the game-winning touchdown from Williams – another small moment in a summer increasingly filled with them.
MORE: Chiefs star looks better than expected early in NFL training camp
Rome Odunze v. Luther Burden III
You must be registered for see images attach
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) leaves the field following a game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Fantasy analyst Ian Hartitz put it much more bluntly this week: “It’s Luther Burden.”
And it matters for fantasy, because we’re all picking sides here. Burden’s current ADP sits at WR21 and 47th overall, while Odunze is going roughly fifteen picks later at WR28 and 62nd overall. Friends, this isn’t some late-round sleeper debate. You have to spend draft capital for both, and increasingly I think Burden is making the case here.
That take sounds aggressive until you look at how 2025 ended.
Burden caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards as a rookie despite beginning the season buried in the offense. Over his final eight regular-season games, he averaged 4.3 receptions and 60.1 yards, finishing with an eight-catch, 138-yard performance against San Francisco.
MORE: Former NFL first-round pick ready to break out
Odunze finished with 661 yards and six touchdowns, but a foot injury cost him the final five regular-season games. He has since clarified that the foot now feels “amazing” and says he is completely healthy.
That actually makes Burden’s rise more interesting.
This is not Burden taking advantage of an injured teammate. He is pushing for the top role while Odunze is practicing at full speed.
Johnson says Burden is playing faster, expanding his route tree and turning his athletic ability into actual receiver play instead of simply living on screens and manufactured touches. As a rookie, he caught nearly 78 percent of his targets despite averaging 13.9 yards per reception.
And this is what hits me the hardest for fantasy. Burden has already demonstrated he can create points without dominant volume. If his route tree and target share are expanded, the realistic path to legitimate WR1 numbers is there for us at WR2 capital. Finding that value, my fellow nerds, is how we bring home the ship.
MORE: AFC North team may already boast the NFL’s best rookie class of 2026
Decision
You must be registered for see images attach
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Odunze remains a major piece of Chicago’s offense. His size, contested-catch ability, and red-zone value all stand out. And because he’s going roughly 2 rounds later, there is an argument to Rome over Luther (pure value perspective).
But if you’re asking me which Bears WR I want more shares of, it’s Luther, and I’m not looking back.
I’m not fading Odunze, per se. But you asked me to choose, and I’m choosing.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
