Wide Receiver · Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
Analysis by Shawn Childs, from his 2026 guide — his words, unedited.
The case
- · Odunze falls into last year’s bum category due to him battling heel, ankle, and foot injuries, with the latter costing him five games.
- · The fantasy market in 2025 viewed him to have a WR1 ceiling.
- · He played the WR1 part across his first four starts (6/37/1, 7/128/2, 3/62/1, and 4/69/1) last season while receiving 35 combined targets.
- · Crushed fantasy teams in six matchups (2/32, 2/31, 0/0, 2/41, 3/53, and 2/8), but shined two more times (7/114 and 6/86/1) when Chicago gave him winning targets (10 and 10).
- · Odunze averaged 5.9 targets in his rookie season. His passing-catching opportunity rose to 7.5 per game in 2025.
Question marks
- · Underwhelming catch rate each year in the NFL (2024 – 53.5% and 2025 – 48.9%).
- · His starting quarterback is improving but continues to have accuracy concerns (58.1% completion rate in 2025).
- · His foot injuring was lingering this spring, with hints that it could be a factor this year. Odunze stated that his foot felt great in late July per an ESPN report.
- · Will Odunze be the first, second, or third option in the Bears’ passing game in 2026?
Shawn's conclusion
The shine of Odunze’s ceiling is no longer there for some fantasy drafters, but he does bring size to the wide receiver table. His scoring projects to be an asset, and Odunze can make big plays. The high-stakes market projects him to be a mid-tier WR2. At the same time, I have him as a coin toss to beat Luther Burden in overall wide receiver production, with both losing out to Colston Loveland in targets and in fantasy value.
More on Odunze
A year after selecting their franchise quarterback first overall, the Bears used the ninth pick in the 2024 draft to add Rome Odunze. At 6'3" and 210 pounds with a 4.45 40-yard dash, he offered an appealing combination of size and speed. His route running was already at a reliable level and should sharpen further as he accumulates NFL reps. Odunze also brings excellent hands and a wide catch radius to the table, traits that should make him a threat in the red zone and a weapon for explosive plays down the field.
In his final two years at Washington, Odunze caught 167 of 244 targets for 2,828 yards and 20 touchdowns, hauling in passes at a 68.4% clip and averaging 16.7 yards per reception. His 2023 season was his peak (92 catches, 1,677 yards, and 14 scores), and he topped 100 receiving yards in 10 games across both campaigns.
Caleb Williams struggled to find chemistry with Odunze in his rookie year, reflected in a catch rate that dipped to 53.7% despite playing 84% of Chicago's snaps as the team's second receiver. He finished 49th among wide receivers in fantasy scoring, totaling 54 catches for 749 yards and three touchdowns (145.90 PPR points). Odunze cleared 100 receiving yards twice (6/112/1 and 5/104) and provided starter-worthy value in one other game (4/42/2) on the strength of two scores. Outside of those moments, he managed 9.00 fantasy points or fewer in 12 of his 17 appearances.
Odunze opened 2025 with success over four games (6/37/1, 7/128/2, 3/62/1, and 4/69/1) while also shining in Week 8 (7/114) and Week 10 (6/86/1). Unfortunately, he was a losing fantasy option across his other six matchups (2/32, 2/31, 0/0, 2/41, 3/53/ and 2/8). The Bears gave him double-digit targets in three contests (11, 10, and 10), with further regression in his catch rate (48.9%). Odunze gained at least 20 yards on 29.5% of his targets, leading to him gaining 15.0 yards per catch.
A foot injury (stress fracture) cost Odunze the final five games of the regular season. His return in the postseason led to two more dull games (2/44 and 2/44 on 12 combined targets). He finished 41st in PPR fantasy points (146.10) but higher in fantasy points per game (12.18 – 14th).
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