The Chicago Bears drafted wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Washington. He helped the Huskies get to the National Championship Game a season ago before they lost to the Michigan Wolverines.
With Washington last season, Odunze caught 92 passes for 1,640 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns, along with averaging 17.8 yards per catch in 15 games played during his junior season. He will be with the first-team offense this season alongside Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore.
Moore recently signed a contract extension and Allen was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. Chicago also drafted quarterback Caleb Williams from the USC Trojans as number one overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Main Concern With Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Rome Odunze This Season Will Be Targets
Pro Football Focus Analyst Nathan Jahnke thinks that the Bears’ rookie wideout is going to have issues getting targets this season because of Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore on the roster. Jahnke said:
“The reason Odunze is WR41 by ADP instead of in the top 30 is because of his competition for touches. He should constantly be on the field in three-receiver sets, and the Bears’ talented veteran receivers should take pressure off him, but there aren’t enough targets to go around. D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen are two of the eight NFL wide receivers with at least 500 targets over the past four seasons, and both were already looking at a decline in targets before Odunze’s arrival.
Recently, the San Francisco 49ers (2023), Miami Dolphins (2022) and Philadelphia Eagles (2022) have shown that good teams can maintain two top-15 fantasy wide receivers, but it will be very difficult to maintain three consistent fantasy starters.
In the ideal world of Odunze fantasy managers, Odunze can take over as an outside wide receiver in place of Keenan Allen in two-receiver sets. Moore just received a major payday, so his playing time certainly won’t decline, but it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Allen’s does due to age. Allen hasn’t shown any signs of needing a decrease, but he also hasn’t played every game in a season since 2019. There will be at least some weeks where Odunze can be an every-down player, and there is a chance he could every week to help maintain Allen’s health.
Even if Odunze can win an every-down job, he will be the second option on the offense at best even if he starts immediately living up to his draft status.”
Keenan Allen last season caught 108 passes for 1,243 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, along with averaging 11.5 yards per catch. He has spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Chargers. D.J. Moore last season caught 96 passes for 1,364 yards receiving and eight touchdowns, along with averaging 14.2 yards per catch.
Pro Football Focus also added about Odunze:
“Odunze is a very talented player who is limited by his situation. Luckily, there are some realistic scenarios where he can be a top-20 wide receiver this season, especially if either Moore or Allen suffers an injury.”
Rome Odunze could have like 60 catches for 725 yards receiving and four touchdowns in his rookie season. That would not be a bad campaign at all for the Chicago Bears. However, he won’t have the impact of Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals or Malik Nabers of the New York Giants this season.
