Rome Odunze is Primed to Outperform is ADP.
- David Buckley
- Jun 7
- 4 min read
Rome Odunze, a 5th round gem in redraft leagues.
Rome Odunze, the Chicago Bears’ second-year wide receiver, is shaping up to be a fantasy football steal in 2025. Currently drafted around the fifth round with an ADP of 52.6 (WR26) on Yahoo, he’s got the potential to soar past that value and deliver WR1 or high-end WR2 numbers. Let’s break down why Odunze is poised to crush his ADP, diving into his elite college and draft profile, new head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive track record, Caleb Williams’ growth with a revamped offensive line, and the massive target share opening up with Keenan Allen’s departure.
Odunze’s College and Draft Pedigree: A Star in the Making
Odunze was a stud at Washington, especially in 2023, when he hauled in 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading all Power Five receivers in yardage. His 75% contested catch rate was the best among his peers, showing he’s a magnet for tough grabs. Over his final two college seasons, he totaled 167 receptions, 2,785 yards, and 22 touchdowns, earning All-American honors. The Bears grabbed him 9th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, a testament to his elite potential. At 6’3”, 212 pounds, with a 4.45 40-yard dash, he’s got the size, speed, and hands to dominate. Pre-draft buzz compared him to Davante Adams for his silky route-running and ability to track deep balls.
Ben Johnson’s Offensive Magic: A Fantasy Goldmine
The Bears’ hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach is a game-changer for Odunze’s fantasy outlook. Johnson, who ran the Detroit Lions’ offense from 2022 to 2024, turned it into a fantasy machine. His Lions ranked 5th in points per game (26.6) in 2022 and 1st (33.2) in 2024, with 10 games topping 30 points last season. His play-calling leans on pre-snap motion, play-action, and spreading the ball to keep defenses guessing. This system produced four 1,000-yard receivers over three years, like Amon-Ra St. Brown, who posted 108 catches, 1,281 yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2024. Johnson’s pass-heavy approach, 54.7% pass plays in Detroit, should mean a ton of targets for Odunze, especially as he steps into a bigger role. Imagine Odunze getting schemed open for a 40-yard bomb, like St. Brown did regularly, or racking up 8-10 catches in high-scoring games. With Johnson calling plays, Odunze could easily push for 80-100 receptions and 1,000-1,200 yards, numbers that would vault him into WR1 conversations.
Caleb Williams’ Growth and the Beefed-Up Offensive Line
Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in 2024, had a bumpy rookie year but showed promise with 3,541 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions, per Pro-Football-Reference. The Bears’ offensive line was a mess, giving up a league-worst 68 sacks, which forced Williams into rushed throws and limited deep shots to Odunze. In 2025, the Bears went all-in to fix this, adding three key linemen in free agency, center Drew Dalman (three-year, $42M deal), guard Joe Thuney (four-time Pro Bowler, traded from Kansas City), and guard Jonah Jackson (traded from the Rams). These guys are legit. Dalman anchors the middle, Thuney’s a pass-blocking stud, and Jackson brings grit. Better protection means Williams can sit in the pocket and find Odunze on intermediate and deep routes, where his 14.2-yard average depth of target (15th among receivers in 2024) shines. For example, in a 2024 game against the Colts, a rare clean pocket let Williams hit Odunze for a 45-yard touchdown. With a stronger line, expect more of those plays, pushing Odunze toward 6-8 touchdowns and 1,000+ yards. Williams’ second-year leap in Johnson’s QB-friendly system should make him a better distributor, turning Odunze into a go-to weapon for fantasy points.
Keenan Allen’s Exit: A Target Share Explosion
Keenan Allen’s departure is a game-changer for Odunze. In 2024, Allen soaked up 121 targets, catching 70 balls for 744 yards and 7 touchdowns. With him gone, Odunze slides into the WR2 role behind DJ Moore and could see his target share jump from 18% in 2024 to 25-30% in 2025. In games without Allen last year, like Week 3 against the Colts, Odunze went off for 6 catches, 112 yards, and a touchdown, running routes on nearly every dropback. That kind of volume could translate to 80-100 receptions, 1,000-1,200 yards, and 6-8 touchdowns in 2025, especially in Johnson’s pass-happy offense. For context, Allen’s 121 targets last year fueled WR2-level fantasy production; if Odunze snags even 80-100 of those, he’s looking at top-15 receiver numbers.
Outperforming His ADP: The Path to WR1 Status
Odunze’s ADP of 52.6 (WR26) on Yahoo is a steal for his upside. His 2024 rookie stats, 54 catches, 734 yards, 3 touchdowns, were solid but held back by a bad offensive line and Allen’s presence. He still ranked 10th among rookie receivers in end-zone targets (14), showing he’s a red-zone threat. With Allen’s 121 targets up for grabs, three new linemen (Dalman, Thuney, Jackson) protecting Williams, and Johnson’s high-octane offense, Odunze’s ceiling is massive. A realistic stat line could be 90 receptions, 1,100 yards, and 7 touchdowns—numbers that would land him in WR1 territory, far outpacing his WR30 draft cost. For example, in 2023, Puka Nacua went from a late-round pick to WR4 with a target share spike in a pass-heavy offense; Odunze’s situation sets him up for a similar breakout. He could deliver 15-20 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues, making him a lineup lock.
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