Rome Odunze Fantasy Impact
After selecting USC QB Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, Chicago chose to double-down on the offensive side of the ball by selecting Washington WR Rome Odunze with pick No. 9. The standout wide receiver will join a receiving room that includes veterans Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, forming one of the top wide receiver trios in the NFL. It’s unclear at this point what type of role the Bears envision for Odunze alongside the proven veterans, but he could have some sneaky value as the season approaches. His development and usage throughout training camp will be something worth monitoring. While Marvin Harrison Jr. was at the top of this receiving class, people were split on who the No. 2 WR in the 2024 draft class was with some leaning toward LSU’s Malik Nabers and others choosing Odunze. Either way, Odunze is a top-3 talent who should provide another reliable weapon to Williams, but just how successful can he be in his first year in the league? Let’s take a look.
Fantasy Value
When looking at Odunze’s fantasy value it’s difficult to evaluate his ceiling without knowing for sure how Chicago plans to use him. Last season, D.J. Moore was the obvious WR1 for the team and produced as such, but the Bears find themselves with a plethora of weapons, and it remains unclear whether there will be enough targets to make more than one or two of these pass-catchers’ fantasy relevant. Odunze is the most likely of the three (four if you count Cole Kmet) to be on the outside looking in. Keenan Allen is a well-established pristine route runner who is constantly open and can help move the chains on third downs, and D.J. Moore is a speedy, solid route runner who is adept at getting yards after the catch. Rookie quarterbacks tend to rely on their veteran receivers when there is a veteran presence, and very few first-year signal callers have been placed in positions with such well-established talent. Odunze has all the tools to make a splash in his first season but in a crowded receiving room, I wouldn’t count on him as much more than a WR3 or flex option in redraft. If this Bears offense ends up being as dynamic as it appears on paper then Odunze could have some big games, but consistency might be too much to expect from a rookie joining a team with so many weapons.
Dynasty Value
The dynasty value of Odunze is another story. In dynasty leagues, Odunze is a top-5 selection regardless of format, and in 1QB leagues he is likely to go in the top-3. Odunze will be linked to a very talented, high-ceiling QB for the foreseeable future, and with Keenan Allen being 32 years old, it shouldn’t be too long before Odunze becomes no worse than the No. 2 option in this passing game. Odunze has proven productive when given the chance. During his final season at Washington, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound WR caught 81 passes for 1,428 yards and 13 TDs. Odunze has drawn comparisons to a wide array of pass catchers from Davante Adams to players such as Amari Cooper and Larry Fitzgerald. He also landed in a great offensive scheme. Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron ran the ball more than just one team last season when he was calling plays for the Seahawks, so I would expect the Bears to be pretty pass-heavy, even with a rookie QB leading the charge. While he does find himself in a crowded skill group, Odunze should be able to make enough plays to warrant WR3 consideration with WR2 upside, and that’s in his first year. Beyond that, he could begin to take off as he settles into a more consistent role.
Conclusion
There are many ways Odunze’s first season could go, but the Bears offense is full of talent and should be greatly improved from a season ago, which means there should be opportunities for everybody. Whether there will be enough to support several fantasy-relevant playmakers remains to be seen. But Odunze is a polished route runner with excellent ball skills. Those traits could help him make an immediate impact. But, at least for now, I would not count on him as anything more than a WR3 in redraft with Williams likely to lean more on his established veterans in his inaugural season. However, in dynasty, Odunze enters the top-3 conversation in 1QB leagues and top-5 in 2QB/Superflex formats. Allen’s likely a one or two-year rental, and if the landing spot makes others hesitant causing Odunze to slip in your dynasty rookie draft make sure you take advantage.
