Who Should I Start? Khalil Shakir or Rome Odunze

Saturday, February 14, 9:44 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has put up strikingly similar stat lines over each of the past two seasons, averaging 93 targets, 74 receptions, 770 yards, and four touchdowns as the top wideout in what is usually thought of as a high-powered offense. While Shakir has provided a safe fantasy floor for the better parts of the past three seasons, it's unlikely he takes a huge leap forward in year five and would likely benefit from a more naturally fitting supporting role. After publicly disparaging 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman, the Bills have been repeatedly tied to wide receivers in what projects to be a very strong draft class. Any high-profile additions to the position will likely find work at the expense of Coleman. At the same time, Shakir could benefit from softer coverages while still seeing five to seven looks per game. While he will likely never profile as a fantasy league-winner, Shakir's floor is secure and could actually rise if Buffalo's offense can take a step under new head coach Joe Brady.

Thursday, January 29, 12:00 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was a popular preseason breakout candidate in fantasy football going into his sophomore campaign in 2025, mainly because of new head coach Ben Johnson. Fantasy managers who drafted Odunze were stoked early on, as he caught 20 of his 35 targets for 296 yards and five touchdowns in the first four weeks. That's where the good news last season ended, as the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher only had one 100-yard game and scored just one more touchdown all year to finish with a 44-661-6 line in 12 games. Odunze missed the final five games of the regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot, and he caught four of his 12 targets for 88 yards in two postseason contests. It was a disappointing end to what could have been a second-year breakout. The good news is that he won't need surgery on his foot, and his chemistry with rising young quarterback Caleb Williams is strong. There's still a lot of upside with Odunze, but the emergence of young receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland could cap his ceiling in the years to come.