Rome Odunze heads into the 2025 season with plenty of optimism around him, even after a 2024 campaign that looked efficient in some areas but produced modest raw numbers for a rookie expected to play a major role in Chicago. Odunze finished the year with 54 receptions for 734 yards and 3 touchdowns on 101 targets, a stat line that sits in the realm of solid production but didn’t fully match his potential as a top-15 target in air yards, average depth of target, deep targets and red zone looks.
The gap between Odunze’s evident playmaking ability and his final numbers in 2024 isn’t a mystery. A revolving door of offensive coordinators, coupled with quarterback Caleb Williams navigating a challenging season, contributed to a slower-than-hopeful breakout. The Bears’ new direction under head coach Ben Johnson is widely viewed as a path to turning Odunze into a more consistently productive weapon. Johnson has suggested Odunze is the kind of receiver he hasn’t had before, and early training camp reports have highlighted a strong connection between Williams and Odunze as the offense installs its new system.
There’s also a clear expectation that Odunze’s role will expand. Keenan Allen’s departure in the offseason opened a clearer path for Odunze as a potential top target opposite DJ Moore, a scenario that could push him into a more prominent, fantasy-relevant workload. In that same vein, Odunze has become a popular breakout pick in fantasy circles, with analysts pointing to his upside if Williams elevates his play in 2025.
A Bleacher Report feature by Kristopher Knox reinforces the hype, noting Odunze’s rookie numbers were modest and projecting a bigger role in a more efficient passing attack. Knox even lays out a specific stat line for 2025: 79 receptions, 1,115 yards and 10 touchdowns. If achieved, that yardage total would rank among the league’s better performances and the reception count would place Odunze firmly in the top tier of wide receivers, with his fantasy value rising correspondingly.
The forecast hinges on a few key variables: Williams’ continued development and consistency, Johnson’s offensive scheme fully taking root, and Odunze converting targets into catches at a higher rate. The early camp reports suggest the working relationship is off to a promising start, and the Bears’ offense appears poised to maximize Odunze’s strengths as a big-play, high-target receiver.
If Odunze can translate the volume and the improved system into sustained efficiency, Bears fans and fantasy managers alike could see a substantial return on the investment made in him as a second-year breakout candidate. The potential for a stronger, more balanced Chicago passing attack—potentially aided by better protection and play design—could unlock Odunze’s ceiling and help him exceed even the optimistic projections.
Summary: Odunze is positioned for a notable leap in 2025, driven by a new coaching staff, a more favorable target environment after Keenan Allen’s departure, and strong training camp indications of chemistry with Caleb Williams. A breakout could come in the form of increased receptions, bigger yardage totals and more touchdowns, with the specific 79-1,115-10 projection serving as a benchmark for what a high-end season would look like—and what Bears fans and fantasy managers will be watching for as the season approaches.
Value add: Keep an eye on the Bears’ week-by-week matchup slate, Williams’ accuracy in the short and intermediate zones, and Odunze’s utilization on high-percentage plays in Johnson’s system. If the offense shows efficiency gains early in the season, Odunze’s targets could translate into a steady stream of fantasy-relevant production and a real step forward for the Bears’ passing game.