Rome Odunze

Rome Odunze enters 2026 looking like one of the more intriguing fantasy wideouts in the league, and the path is clear: he’s healthy, he’s the Bears’ most established receiver, and the opportunity should be huge after Chicago traded away D.J. Moore this offseason. That combination gives Odunze a real chance to jump from promising WR2-type profile to weekly fantasy starter territory if the offense takes the step many expect.

The biggest concern from 2025 was health, not talent. Odunze played through a left foot issue that was described as a stress fracture and plantar fasciitis, and it helped drag him down to 44 catches, 661 yards, and six touchdowns in 12 games after he had been productive early in the season. The encouraging news for fantasy managers is that he has repeatedly said the foot feels great entering camp and that he does not expect it to limit him in 2026.

From a usage standpoint, this sets up beautifully. Odunze is now the most experienced receiver in the room, and Chicago appears to be counting on him to bounce back as a featured target after a tough second season. If Caleb Williams takes the expected step forward, Odunze has the profile to soak up a large share of the passing work and convert it into strong touchdown numbers.

For fantasy drafts, Odunze feels like a high-upside WR2 with legitimate WR1 upside if everything clicks. Recent projection markets have him going in the middle rounds, with some outlets slotting him around WR29 and projecting roughly 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns. That makes him a very attractive pick in 2026, especially because the injury cloud is lighter now and the role looks better than it did a year ago.

Updated 08/15/2026