Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) has officially been ruled out for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The rookie second-rounder was unable to practice this week and will be forced to miss his second game of the season with an ankle injury. The Bears will be short-handed at receiver for a critical Week 16 game, with Rome Odunze (foot) ruled out for the third straight week as he manages a stress fracture in his foot. Burden was surging in Odunze's absence, posting his two highest yardage totals since his 101-yard performance in Week 3. He led the Bears in receiving in both games, hauling in four of six targets for 67 yards in Week 14 versus the Packers, and six of seven targets for 84 yards last week against the Browns. DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay will likely see the bulk of the snaps at wide receiver, with rookie tight end Colston Loveland also in line for more targets on Saturday.
Dec 18, 2025 3:12 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) is missing a second straight day of practice this week on Wednesday due to an ankle injury, according to Marquee Sports Network's Scott Bair. The Bears could be short-handed on offense at the receiver position on Saturday night against the division-rival Green Bay Packers, as Rome Odunze (foot) has yet to practice this week after missing the last two games with a stress fracture in his foot. In the last two contests with Odunze on the sideline, the 22-year-old Burden has capitalized for his fantasy managers with 10 catches for 151 yards on 13 targets. However, unless he practices on Thursday, Burden could miss this weekend's game in the Windy City. If both Burden and Odunze are inactive, DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay would operate in three-receiver sets. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland would be on the TE1 map with more targets coming his way as well.
Dec 17, 2025 3:35 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) is dealing with an ankle injury that caused him to miss practice on Tuesday ahead of Chicago's Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. If Burden III can get back on the practice field and prove healthy enough to play, he could see his best opportunity of the season to make an impact in Chicago. Bears wideout Rome Odunze (foot) also missed practice on Tuesday and is considered week-to-week with a stress fracture in his foot. With Odunze sidelined in Week 15, Burden III recorded six catches for 84 yards on seven targets despite being limited to just 29 offensive snaps due to the ankle injury. Burden III's role has been steadily growing over the second half of the season, as he's earned at least five straight targets in five straight games after failing to hit that mark in any of his first eight contests. Depending on Odunze's return timeline and his own health, Burden III could emerge as a league-winner over the final weeks of the fantasy season.
Dec 16, 2025 9:41 PM EST
The Chicago Bears listed rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) as a non-participant on Tuesday's estimated injury report, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Rome Odunze (foot) was also listed as a DNP. The Bears have one less day to prepare to face the division-rival Green Bay Packers in Week 16, with the game coming on Saturday evening. Chicago's offense would lose a lot of firepower if they are without both Burden and Odunze. The 22-year-old Burden is considered day-to-day, while Odunze is more week-to-week with a stress fracture in his foot that has already kept him out of the last two games. Burden has 10 catches on 13 targets for 151 yards in the last two games with Odunze out, and he'll be firmly in play as a WR4/flex with upside if he plays and Odunze is out this weekend. If both wideouts are sidelined, Chicago would be down to DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay in three-wide sets.
Dec 16, 2025 6:03 PM EST
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday that rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III's ankle is a "day-by-day" situation, according to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Biggs goes on to write that it sounds like Burden's availability for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers "will remain a question until later in the week." Chicago's receiving room could be thin in Week 16 after Burden got hurt in Sunday's win over the visiting Cleveland Browns. Fellow wideout Rome Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and is in danger of missing a third straight game this weekend. If both Burden and Odunze are inactive against Green Bay, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay would start in three-wide sets next to DJ Moore. In two games with Odunze out, Burden has 10 grabs for 151 yards on 13 targets, which makes him flex-worthy in Week 16 if he's active and Odunze misses another contest.
Dec 15, 2025 5:18 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) injured his ankle in Sunday's Week 15 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns, but he still managed to lead the team in catches (six), targets (seven), and receiving yards (84). Burden saw an elevated role in Chicago's offense for the second straight week, with fellow wideout Rome Odunze (foot) being scratched just before kickoff. In two games with Odunze sidelined, the 22-year-old second-rounder has 10 receptions on 13 targets for 151 yards for the Bears. Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and could miss more time, which makes Burden a priority waiver-wire addition this week, despite his ankle injury. Burden has 36 catches on the year for 479 yards and one touchdown on 47 targets. If Odunze misses more time and Burden's injury isn't serious, he would be firmly in play as a WR4/flex with upside this weekend in a rematch against the division-rival Packers.
Dec 15, 2025 12:36 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup with the visiting Cleveland Browns, according to the team. The rookie hauled in 6-of-7 targets for 84 yards (all team-highs) before exiting the contest in the second half with an ankle injury. If Burden is unable to rejoin his squad on the field, fellow wideout DJ Moore projects to see a considerable uptick in volume. Teammate Rome Odunze (foot) has already been ruled out after re-aggravating his foot issue, so Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Devin Duvernay remain as the only active WRs without a designation. Expect an update on the University of Missouri product soon.
Dec 14, 2025 4:00 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III led the Bears in receiving in Week 14, hauling in four of six targets for 67 yards in the 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. With second-year receiver Rome Odunze (foot) inactive for last week's divisional showdown, Burden stepped up as a lead receiver ahead of veteran D.J. Moore. The rookie receiver played 71% of the snaps, trailing both Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, who was trending down before last week. However, if Odunze misses Week 15, Burden could be a starting option in fantasy leagues. He faces a Browns secondary that will be without top cornerback Denzel Ward, who's out with a calf injury. Burden's value depends on whether or not Odunze will play in Week 15, as the rookie could go from a low-end WR3 to a bench option depending on his availability.
Dec 13, 2025 11:12 AM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III led the team in receiving in Week 14, hauling in four of six targets for 67 yards in the 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers. With Rome Odunze (foot) inactive last week, Burden handled the duties as the lead receiver for the first time in his NFL career and played well against the strong Packers secondary. Burden has increased in snaps in every game since Week 11, playing a career-high 71% in Week 14. The 2025 second-round pick is making his way up the depth chart in Chicago, and fantasy managers should be fully aware of his emergence. He faces the tough Cleveland Browns defense, which has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Week 15 will be a tough test for Burden, but he's checked every box so far, except for becoming a reliable option for fantasy managers to count on.
Dec 11, 2025 10:11 AM EST
With Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined by a foot injury for his team's Week 14 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, rookie wideout Luther Burden III stepped into a larger role. The 21-year-old earned six targets for the second straight week and hauled in four receptions for 67 yards. After failing to reach five targets in any of his first eight games this season, Burden III has now seen at least five targets in four straight weeks. On a more negative note, Burden III was out-snapped by veteran wideout Olamide Zaccheaus in Week 14. That signals Odunze's absence doesn't mean an automatic promotion for Burden III into Chicago's WR2 role alongside DJ Moore. Still, Burden III has flashed big-play upside throughout the season, and his workload remains on an upward trajectory. He's worth rostering in deeper fantasy formats and could be a solid flex option in Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns if Odunze remains sidelined.
Dec 8, 2025 10:40 AM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III will step into the No. 2 receiver role against the Green Bay Packers with Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined. This elevated role comes at an opportune time for the rookie, who had already been seeing his workload steadily increase. With both DJ Moore and Odunze on the field over the last four weeks, Burden totaled 19 targets, 13 catches, and 157 yards. Now that Odunze is sidelined, he should handle even greater volume. The Bears are a run-first offense, so it's not guaranteed that Moore or Burden will break out this week. However, if there's a time for it to happen, it will be with Odunze inactive. Burden, a Missouri product, ranks as the overall WR36 in RotoBaller's Week 14 fantasy rankings. He should be deployed as a low-end WR3/flex against a Green Bay defense that allowed over 300 passing yards to Detroit in Week 13.
Dec 7, 2025 10:21 AM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III enters Week 14 with starting value for the first time this season. In the previous four games, Burden has tallied 13 receptions for 175 yards, which ranks third among Bears' pass catchers, only behind Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland. Now, Odunze (foot) is out for this week's matchup and is currently "week to week" with a stress fracture in his foot. With Caleb Williams' number one target out, the rookie receiver has a chance to step up in a big way this week. The only thing holding him back from being a must-start option this week is the lack of passing volume from the Bears in recent weeks and a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers should consider Burden a boom or bust WR3 in Week 14.
Dec 6, 2025 10:12 AM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has at least three catches in four straight games and has at least five targets in each of his last three. He led the team with four catches in their Black Friday win over the Eagles on a windy day in Philadelphia. While his yardage totals have been mediocre, the second-round rookie from Missouri is getting enough looks to eventually show off his big-play potential. Burden is clearly operating as the team's third receiver behind Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, playing over 50% of snaps the last two weeks ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus. Burden will remain a risky flex play against Green Bay in Week 14 with so many other options in the offense, but if you are looking for receiver depth, he's one of the top widely available options.
Dec 2, 2025 9:18 AM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III showed explosiveness in Week 12, totaling 61 yards on four total touches in the 31-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Burden has emerged in recent weeks, playing more snaps than Olamide Zaccheaus in the last two weeks. While the second round selection has showcased his untapped potential in 2025, he still sits behind Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and tight end Colston Loveland in the line for targets. Not only is his target competition stiff, but the Bears have been one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL, ranking fifth in the NFL in rush attempts this season. The Bears face the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, who have struggled more this season than expected. Burden remains a bench stash for now, as his fantasy value hopes to grow later in the season.
Nov 27, 2025 7:57 AM EST
Across the first 10 games of his NFL career, Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has recorded just 22 receptions for 295 yards and one touchdown on 28 targets. However, Burden III has been playing some of his best football in recent weeks. Over his last three outings, the 21-year-old has hauled in nine catches for 124 yards on 13 targets. Perhaps most importantly, Burden III could be overtaking Bears veteran Olamide Zaccheaus for the WR3 role in Chicago alongside Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. Over the last two weeks, Burden III has earned 66 offensive snaps compared to just 33 for Zaccheaus. The presence of Odunze and Moore caps Burden III's upside. Still, the rookie has flashed big-play ability and appears to be carving out a more stable playing time floor. Burden III should be a waiver-wire target in fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams heading into a Week 13 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nov 24, 2025 10:19 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has officially supplanted Olamide Zaccheaus as the WR3 in this Bears' offense. Over the past two games, Burden has played more snaps than Zaccheaus and has caught six passes for 78 yards in those games. Despite the Bears' running more two-TE sets in Week 11, Burden managed to play his second-most snaps of the season (44%), while Zaccheaus played his lowest (14%). Burden also faces a great matchup in Week 12, as the Steelers' defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. This week could be the one that fantasy managers view as the "Luther Burden Breakout Game", but without a configured role in this Bears' offense, he's labeled as a high-upside WR5 in Week 12.
Nov 22, 2025 9:54 AM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has earned a bigger role on offense going forward, according to head coach Ben Johnson. "You get what you earn. And I think he's earned the increased snaps," Johnson said. Burden only played 44% of the offensive snaps in the Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings, but it was only the second time all year he has played over 40% of the snaps, and they have come in back-to-back weeks. The 21-year-old pass-catcher caught three of his five targets against Minnesota for 27 yards. The second-rounder out of Missouri has six grabs on eight targets the last two weeks for 78 yards. Burden has been inconsistent in his first year in the NFL in an offense with plenty of mouths to feed, but it sounds as though he'll have a chance to jump DJ Moore for the WR2 in Chicago before the year is over. Fantasy managers looking for WR depth could do worse than Burden. He's rostered in only 9% of Yahoo leagues.
Nov 19, 2025 5:44 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has been wildly inconsistent in his first year in the league in an offense with weapons galore for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. The 21-year-old second-round selection out of Missouri only has three games with over 50 receiving yards, has scored just one time (back on Sept. 21), and has three games with negative yardage. Burden has been extremely hard to trust as a flex option in fantasy leagues as a result, but he might be worth stashing on your bench as we approach the final stretch of the 2025 season. In the last two games, Burden has played over 40% of the offensive snaps for the first time all year, leading to six receptions on eight targets for 78 yards. In the Week 11 win over the Vikings, he caught three passes for only 27 yards, but his five targets were a season high and tied for second on the team. At only 8% rostered in Yahoo leagues, fantasy managers may want to take a peek at the talented young wideout with upside in an improving offense.
Nov 17, 2025 11:31 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is starting to ascend as the fantasy playoffs near. Last week, Burden hauled in all three targets for 51 yards, outperforming both D.J. Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus. Something to look into, Burden played 52% of the snaps in Week 10, which was by far his largest snap share of the season. Moore and Zaccheaus saw their snap count dip in Week 10, and if Burden can continue to produce, his role will grow even further. He faces a tough Vikings secondary, which has allowed the eighth fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. Burden is on the brink of breaking out, but a tough matchup on the slate could hurt his fantasy value in Week 11.
Nov 15, 2025 12:54 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III is in line for more opportunities moving forward after a strong performance in Week 10 against the Giants and positive coachspeak from head coach Ben Johnson after the game. Johnson spoke glowingly of Chicago's rookie second-rounder, saying that "he's the guy that's starting to get more targets" and adding that the trust level between Burden and quarterback Caleb Williams "continues to ascend." The 21-year-old is certainly deserving of more work with how efficient and dynamic he's been with his limited looks. Out of 115 wide receivers with at least 15 targets this season, Burden's 12.3 yards per target ranks fourth highest, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. Burden's stock is trending up, and he's a strong hold in 12-team leagues.
Nov 13, 2025 12:31 AM EST
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