Rome Odunze, entering 2025 as a promising player, experienced a quiet rookie year with the Chicago Bears despite multiple 100-yard receiving games. Although he showed flashes of his talent, Odunze ranked third among the Bears’ wide receivers in targets, yards, and touchdowns. As a result, his opportunity to emerge as a top fantasy football wide receiver may face challenges in the upcoming season.

Team Changes and Increased Competition for Targets

The Bears have made significant adjustments ahead of 2025 by hiring head coach Ben Johnson, which could benefit their offensive strategy. However, the addition of wide receivers Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III creates more competition within Chicago’s deep receiving corps. This influx of talent could limit Odunze’s share of targets and opportunities to stand out in the offense.

Odunze’s Collegiate Success Highlights Potential

Before turning pro, Odunze was an exceptionally productive wide receiver at Washington. Over his final two college seasons, he led all Power Five receivers with 1,639 receiving yards in 2023. Known for his ability to win contested catches, PFF’s draft guide compared him to a larger version of Chris Olave. He also led college football in deep targets and deep receiving yards during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His 88.8 receiving grade when lined out wide ranked highest among all Power Five receivers, underscoring his advanced skills.

What’s Next for Odunze’s Fantasy Outlook?

Despite the crowded Bears’ receiving depth chart, Odunze’s proven talent and the new offensive leadership could set the stage for a breakout season. His college production shows he has the capability to become a dominant wide receiver, though he must navigate competition for targets from teammates like Loveland and Burden. Fantasy managers will need to monitor how the Bears’ offense evolves under Johnson to assess Odunze’s potential role and fantasy value in 2025.