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
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has been a playmaker in his limited opportunity this season, catching 16 of his 18 targets for 222 yards and a touchdown to go with two rushes for six yards in eight games this season. Burden is seeing his reps increase as the season progresses and posted season highs in both snaps and routes in Chicago's Week 10 win over the New York Giants. The rookie second-rounder played 57.6% of the snaps, his first game with a snap share above 50%, and ran 46.3% of the team's routes. Head coach Ben Johnson said that Burden will see more targets moving forward as he continues to get more comfortable in the offense. The rookie out of Missouri had an exciting prospect profile with elite athletic traits and is worth adding off the waiver wire in 12-team leagues to see how his role expands.
Nov 11, 2025 1:30 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III hasn't seen a ton of success during the first half of his rookie season. In Week 10, Burden hauled in all three of his targets for 51 yards in the win over the New York Giants. That outing was actually one of Burden's better games this season. Afterwards, head coach Ben Johnson hinted that Burden is going to see more targets going forward. He continued by saying Burden is getting more comfortable with both the coaching staff and his teammates each week. The Bears do have a lot of mouths to feed on offense, so it's not shocking to see Burden having a limited role. It seems like the Bears plan to get Burden more involved, but fantasy managers should wait and see what happens. The 21-year-old is certainly worth stashing, but isn't anything more than a flex option for Week 11.
Nov 10, 2025 9:07 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) has been cleared from the injury report and will play in Week 10 against the New York Giants, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. Burden was inactive for Chicago's Week 9 win over the Bengals after suffering a concussion in Week 8 against the Ravens, but he will end up only missing one game. The rookie was removed from this week's injury report along with top wideouts D.J. Moore (groin, hip) and Rome Odunze (ankle, heel), which will make it tough to see consistent playing time. The 21-year-old has flashed in his limited opportunities this season, catching 13 of his 15 targets for 171 yards and a touchdown in seven games. Burden is an intriguing upside bet to have stashed on benches, but shouldn't be in most lineups for Week 10.
Nov 7, 2025 4:17 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) was a full participant in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, according to The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain. Burden was unable to play in last week's win over the Cincinnati Bengals due to a concussion he suffered the week prior, but with two full practices under his belt this week, it should only be a matter of time before he's cleared to return in Week 10 against the visiting New York Giants. Fellow wideouts DJ Moore (groin, hip) and Rome Odunze (ankle, heel) have been nursing injuries as well, but they shouldn't be in danger of missing this weekend's game. The 21-year-old Burden, a second-round pick in April, has shown glimpses of being a star, but he just hasn't had enough playing time to be a realistic starting fantasy option. He had a 100-yard game back on Sept. 21 and also found the end zone, but Burden has only cleared 50 yards one other time and doesn't have more than four catches or four targets in a game in 2025.
Nov 6, 2025 3:42 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Burden missed Chicago's Week 9 matchup in Cincinnati due to a concussion suffered during their Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The 21-year-old missed every day in practice last week, but it's a positive sign to see him back without any restrictions to open the practice week ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants. Burden has made plays in his limited opportunity this season, catching 13 of his 15 targets for 171 yards and a touchdown in seven games. Both Bears' top wideouts, Rome Odunze (heel, ankle) and D.J. Moore (hip, groin), missed Wednesday's practice. If either or both are unable to go in Week 10, Burden would likely see an uptick in routes and targets.
Nov 5, 2025 4:59 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) has officially been ruled out for his team's Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a concussion. Burden III suffered the injury during Chicago's Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was a non-participant in practice this week. The 21-year-old has recorded 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets across seven games so far this season. Without Burden III, top Bears wideouts Rome Odunze and DJ Moore should still command the majority of the team's wide receiver targets. Additionally, WR3 Olamide Zaccheaus could see a slight uptick in playing time and target share.
Oct 31, 2025 3:35 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) remains in the league's concussion protocol and missed a second straight practice this week on Thursday. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Olamide Zaccheaus (knee) was listed as limited after picking up a DNP tag on Wednesday. Burden suffered a concussion in the Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and is now trending toward missing the Week 9 contest in Cincinnati against the Bengals this Sunday. Top wideouts Rome Odunze (heel) and DJ Moore (groin, hip) also missed practice on Wednesday, but they both were back on the field on Thursday and should be able to suit up this weekend. If Burden doesn't get cleared from the league's concussion protocol, Zaccheaus would serve as Chicago's WR3 if he's active against the Bengals. Fantasy managers should not be planning on having the 21-year-old Burden available as a flex play in deeper leagues.
Oct 30, 2025 3:31 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. He initially exited in the third quarter and entered concussion protocol before being ruled out. The rookie finishes the game with just one catch for a loss of one yard. Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Olamide Zacchaeus will continue to operate as the Bears' top three receivers going forward. Burden is at risk of missing next Sunday's game against the Bengals, as he would need to clear concussion protocol in less than seven days to play.
Oct 26, 2025 3:36 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III continues to struggle to carve out a consistent role in the offense through five games. Burden has just 11 catches for 150 yards and one touchdown, ranking sixth on the team in targets. Despite preseason buzz and speculation that his role would expand after the Week 5 bye, Burden played only 22% of the snaps in Week 6, while Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus each logged over 85%. He'll face a Saints secondary that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025. Although the matchup is favorable, Burden's limited playing time keeps him off the fantasy radar in Week 7.
Oct 18, 2025 12:17 PM EST
Not only did Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III see his largest workload in Monday night's win over the Washington Commanders, but he could see even more involvement moving forward with teammate DJ Moore (groin) injured. Burden saw a season-high four targets in Week 6, catching all four for 51 yards in the 25-24 victory over Washington. Moore injured his groin during the game and was taken to a local hospital for overnight observation before missing Wednesday's practice. If Moore is unable to play this weekend against the New Orleans Saints, Burden would become Chicago's clear No. 2 passing target behind Rome Odunze in a plus matchup. The 21-year-old has been inconsistent in his first NFL season, but the upside is obvious after he caught three passes for 101 yards and his first touchdown on Sept. 21 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Oct 16, 2025 2:07 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has shown a high ceiling in his first five games in the NFL, and it looks like he could have more work coming his way in the coming weeks. After a bye week in Week 5, he led all Bears' wide receivers with 51 receiving yards on his four catches on four targets in Monday night's win over the Commanders. Burden had 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 against the Cowboys, but then had a down game in Week 4 with two catches for a total of -2 yards. Olamide Zaccheaus actually led the team with six targets, while D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze each had one more than Burden. However, with Moore's status uncertain after spending the night in the hospital, Burden could step into a more involved role in Week 7 against the Saints. The rookie brings a high ceiling if he's on the waiver wire and is worth a speculative pickup in standard-sized leagues since the Bears are past their bye and have favorable matchups against the Saints, Ravens, Bengals, and Giants in the next four weeks.
Oct 14, 2025 11:01 AM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III has had limited opportunity so far through four games, but has made the most of them. He's caught seven of eight targets for 99 yards and a touchdown on the year, with most of that coming in Week 3 against Dallas when he caught all three targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. He strangely has negative receiving yardage in two of the other three games, but has looked explosive in his time on the field. His snap share hasn't risen to a very interesting level quite yet, sitting at 25.2% for the season. His snap share unfortunately didn't tick up in Week 4 after his breakout Week 3 game, but patience is to be encouraged with Burden. There are still plenty of mouths to feed in Chicago, but Burden is talented enough to emerge as a factor in Ben Johnson's offense. He's a great stash candidate until things change.
Oct 1, 2025 12:42 AM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III flashed big-play ability in Week 3's blowout win over the Cowboys, catching all three of his targets for 101 yards and a touchdown. He also logged a season-high 31% snap share, showing growth in his role. Despite the breakout performance, Burden's overall usage still limits his fantasy relevance. Through three games, he has played just 25% of the snaps, well behind Rome Odunze (95%), D.J. Moore (88%), and Olamide Zaccheaus (48%). Burden gets another favorable matchup in Week 4 against a Raiders secondary that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. However, until his role becomes more consistent, Burden remains unstartable in fantasy this week.
Sep 27, 2025 12:12 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III had a breakout game in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. Burden III hauled in all three of his targets for 101 yards and a score in his team's first win of the 2025 season. Burden III had recorded just two catches for two yards through Chicago's first two games of the season, so this could be the breakout game that propels him into a more consistent role in the Bears' offense. The 21-year-old has plenty of target competition around him in Chicago, so it will be tough for fantasy managers to trust him until he proves this is more than a one-week blip. Still, the talented rookie is a player to monitor heading into Week 4.
Sep 21, 2025 9:34 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has had a quiet start to his NFL career, totaling just two catches for two yards through his first two games. With a limited offensive role, head coach Ben Johnson noted the team needs to design a package of plays specifically for the rookie. The second-round pick has played only 22% of snaps so far this season, as Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus dominate the starting roles. A potential opportunity arises this week with the Dallas Cowboys in town, a defense that has struggled mightily in 2025, allowing the most points, yards, and receiving yards in the league so far. While Burden isn't yet fantasy relevant, producing efficiently with his limited workload could help him grow his fantasy value moving forward.
Sep 20, 2025 12:37 PM EST
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said the team wants to get more packages on offense for rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III, according to Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune. "Going into this week, we're going to have a lot more competition," Johnson said when asked about Burden and rookie first-round tight end Colston Loveland. Johnson wasn't pleased with the offense's performance, particularly some of the veterans, in the 52-21 blowout loss to the Lions in Week 2, which could lead to more opportunities for both Burden and Loveland in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys. Burden had just one catch for five yards on two targets on Sunday, while Loveland didn't catch his only target. The 21-year-old Burden has been the clear WR4 through two weeks and has drawn just three targets in two games. Until further notice, he belongs on the waiver wire in most redraft leagues.
Sep 15, 2025 5:04 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III opened his NFL career quietly, finishing with one catch for -3 yards in the Bears' 27-24 loss to the Vikings. As expected, Burden wasn't a starter in Week 1 under head coach Ben Johnson, instead rotating in behind Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus. He logged a 27% snap share and a 22% route participation rate, both fourth among Chicago's wideouts. The matchup in Week 2 is favorable, as the Bears face a Lions defense that allowed the most receiving yards to wide receivers in 2024, but Burden remains firmly off the fantasy radar. Until he can leapfrog Zaccheaus and carve out a larger role, he's more of a developmental stash than a lineup option.
Sep 12, 2025 11:20 PM EST
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III makes his NFL debut on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. Drafted in the second round of 2025, Burden brings plenty of long-term excitement, but his early-season fantasy outlook is limited. Chicago's pass-catching group is crowded, featuring Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, and two capable tight ends in Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland. For now, Burden slots in as the WR4 in Ben Johnson's offense, which leaves little room for consistent targets out of the gate. While his talent makes him a name to monitor for the future, Burden carries minimal fantasy value in Week 1 and should remain on fantasy teams' benches.
Sep 6, 2025 2:48 PM EST
Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III is making an early mark with his run blocking. The former Missouri standout has shown a knack for driving defenders into the second level and clearing lanes for the ground game. While Burden still has work to do as a route runner and must sharpen his concentration in contested situations, his physicality and willingness to block stand out. Chicago coaches value receivers who contribute beyond catching passes, and Burden's effort could earn him more opportunities. With his athletic upside, the rookie has the tools to eventually become a reliable playmaker.
Aug 28, 2025 10:37 PM EST
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