The Three Little Bears
The Chicago Bears did a lot to shore up their receiving core this past offseason, as they acquired Keenan Allen in a trade and drafted Rome Odunze with the ninth pick in the NFL Draft. This means they will have three exceptional receivers to catch passes from Caleb Williams. We are here to tell you which Bears receiver you should target in your fantasy football draft. Additionally, we will give the stats from last season, their ADP, how they would fit on your team, and the pros and cons of each. Let’s get started.
Drafting DJ Moore in Your Fantasy Football Draft
DJ Moore had a great season in his first time with the Bears, snagging 96 passes for 1,364 yards while hauling in eight touchdowns. Now, he hopes to follow that up with an encore. Moore is 43rd in our average draft position PPR rankings, which sets him up as a fourth-round draft pick. This means he would be either your second-best receiver on a balanced team or your best receiver on a team focusing on other positions first.
Moore had a great rapport with both quarterbacks he had last season. Imagine what he will do with Williams throwing to him? We could see him still pacing all Bears’ receivers with eight touchdowns and over 1,000 yards, seeing as how he has generally averaged 7.5 touchdowns per season over the last two years.
The only negatives we could see from drafting Moore would be if Allen and Odunze majorly cut into his receptions. Ultimately, the worst-case scenario is Allen becoming a target hog and Odunze forming a connection with Williams. That would leave Moore out in the cold. However, he has the advantage of being the experienced receiver in this organization, which may help him.
Drafting Keenan Allen in Your Fantasy Football Draft
Keenan Allen is entering his 13th season in the NFL. That is a lot of mileage on his legs, and his body has broken down several times. Regardless, the Bears took a chance on him and felt bringing him in would boost their team. Allen caught 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns through 13 games. This means that he is still producing when he is on the field. He is 65th in our ADP rankings, which sets them up for a sixth-round pick.
The question is not if Allen will suffer an injury; it’s when. Sadly, Allen has not played an entire season since 2021. It would be best to be highly cautious when drafting Allen in your fantasy football draft. Putting Allen as your second receiver might not be the best idea. If you want to build your best fantasy football team, it requires creating a great starting lineup and good depth. Therefore, if you draft Allen in your fantasy football draft, you can secure the wide receiver spots with a backup receiver.
Drafting Rome Odunze in Your Fantasy Football Draft
Rome Odunze is one of the most popular sleepers the fantasy football world will see this season. He is 100th in our ADP rankings and will likely go in the eighth round. While many believe Xavier Worthy will make an impact in fantasy football this season, we also feel that Odunze will be a great contributor to the Bears.
Odunze shined at Washington, catching 81 passes for 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season. He will start as the third receiver on the Bears behind Moore and Allen. However, he has so much potential to finish as the top receiver by the time Week 10 rolls around. Consider the fact that Allen has an extensive injury history. Also, remember that Moore has not had much of a chance to gain chemistry with Williams yet.
Moore also will be expensive. This is where you ask yourself: do you want to use a high pick on someone who might flounder and be inconsistent? Or do you want to take a low-risk, high-upside chance on someone who might win you a fantasy football championship? You could use that spot you would have selected Moore with and grab another player instead. Then, you could see a scenario where you have two elite players waiting to draft Odunze instead of Moore or Allen.
Recap
Check the 2024 NFL Rookie Guide before you make a selection. It will tell you everything you need to know about all the rookies in this class. In terms of the best value for your buck, Odunze is the best pick. Moore, as we stated earlier, will be expensive. Likewise, Allen has had too many injuries in his career. Odunze has the best upside and will likely have the same trajectory as Rashee Rice last season. Expect Odunze to be the best wide receiver for your fantasy football team in 2024.
