The Bears are a fantasy football juggernaut you can still exploit
When Bears head coach Ben Johnson announced his intentions to break the NFL’s points-per-game scoring record, he put every fantasy manager on notice: Draft Bears or suffer defeat.But understanding the team’s passing game has turned into one of the most intriguing puzzles in fantasy football.Decoding how Johnson deploys his primary pass catchers across different personnel groupings is essential for trying to optimize weekly starting lineups.
Understanding these structural tendencies also reveals strong trade-target opportunities before the rest of your league catches on. Luther Burden III has established himself as an efficiency juggernaut, particularly when Chicago operates out of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end).Burden leads the Bears with 145 routes run in three-receiver sets, edging out Rome Odunze at 143 and Kalif Raymond at 124. Burden’s underlying numbers are exceptional.
Among all wide receivers with at least 300 routes run since the start of 2025, Burden ranks fourth in yards per route run and sits inside the top 20 in targets per route run. His ability to earn targets quickly makes him a high-floor WR2 option in high-volume passing games.Managers should target Burden via trade before a favorable stretch of pass-funnel defenses, as his 11-personnel dominance promises elite PPR production whenever game scripts favor up-tempo passing. Though Burden controls the spread look, Odunze serves as the ultimate every-down perimeter engine.
He leads the team in total routes across every formation, compiling 143 routes in 11 personnel, 74 routes in 12 personnel, and 17 routes in 13 personnel.In contrast, Burden drops to 33 routes in 12 personnel and just four in 13 personnel, while Raymond runs 44 and 2, respectively. Beyond his route dominance, Odunze is Chicago’s premiere downfield weapon.
Out of 52 qualifying wide receivers with 30 or more targets this season, Odunze ranks fourth in the percentage of targets traveling 15 or more air yar...