The Chicago Bears aggressively addressed their offense in 2023 by pairing wide receiver Rome Odunze with quarterback Caleb Williams. They continued to execute that plan by drafting tight end Colston Loveland and all-around weapon Luther Burden III in April.
It’s clear that the focus in the Windy City these days is putting points on the board to keep pace in the loaded NFC North. Can Odunze make the type of Year 2 jump that vaults him into the weekly starter tier of fantasy football rankings?
Rome Odunze’s Fantasy Outlook
We’ve been spoiled recently in seeing receivers thrive from the jump. Our society is as reliant on instant gratification as ever, and that train of thought, along with the drafting of Burden, has opened up a bit of a post-hype buying window.
This Rome Odunze route was elite 🔥#Bears pic.twitter.com/rItJeYGHWT
— Chicago Bears Network (@bearsnetwork_) June 23, 2025
Yes, some receivers make a splash off the jump, but it’s far from rare to see a high-pedigree receiver take a step forward in Year 2. Over the past decade, seven WRs with top-10 draft capital spent on them have qualified in each of their first two seasons. Here is how their per-game production changed from Year 1 to Year 2.
- Amari Cooper (class of 2015): +9.3%
- Corey Davis (2017): +81.6%
- Jaylen Waddle (2021): -0.7%
- Ja’Marr Chase (2021): +12.7%
- DeVonta Smith (2021): +37.2%
- Garrett Wilson (2022): -1.2%
- Drake London (2022): +3.7%
Expecting a step forward is plenty reasonable, especially with continuity under center. As a rookie, he had a pair of 100-yard games with a two-score game in December, but for the most part, he looked like a first-year player with a first-year QB.
Odunze had 11 games with no more than six targets in 2024, with nine under 40 receiving yards. There are efficiency concerns from last year that need to be rectified. That’s a fact. That said, if I’ve learned anything from being married, it’s not always what you say, it’s how you say it.
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So, instead of focusing on the inefficiencies, I want to hone in on the type of targets that Odunze was able to earn as a rookie.
Most End Zone Targets By a Rookie WR Since 2015
- DK Metcalf: 20
- Marvin Harrison Jr.: 19
- Odunze: 16
- Ja’Marr Chase / Cortland Sutton: 14
A top-30 season would be great, and a top-40 season would be plenty acceptable. DJ Moore is set to lead this team in targets, and the incoming rookie class is going to soak up usage, but I think we saw enough from Odunze to put him on the weekly Flex radar and draft him as such with the understanding that he could develop into a WR3 on a weekly basis without much changing.
Frank Ammirante’s Rome Odunze Projection
Rome Odunze is a popular pick to breakout in 2025. The former top-10 pick was misused as a rookie, where he had to fight for targets with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. The entire passing game was a mess, as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron didn’t put his players in the best position to succeed.
Now with Ben Johnson calling plays, Odunze will benefit from one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL. Word out of camp is that the former Washington standout is making an impact as the main downfield threat.
However, there’s not much of a discount on Odunze in ADP, as he’s being taken in top 35 wide receivers, despite not producing anywhere near the level as a rookie. I’d rather go with someone more proven like Chris Olave at this price.
We have to remember that Moore is still likely to be the top target on this team due to his extensive track record. I don’t think that the former Panthers wideout is declining at 28 years old, so there’s risk of Odunze being a boom-or-bust option in an offense that should still see some growing pains.
