Odunze finished with three receptions on five targets for 45 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason win over Kansas City.

EDGE Analysis

Odunze showed a marked improvement over his catch-less outing last week with Friday's team-leading performance. The 2024 first-round pick caught QB Caleb Williams' only passing touchdown while also finishing with Chicago's longest reception (37 yards). Odunze will attempt to build off of a modest 54-734-3 receiving line as a rookie when the Bears kick off the regular season against the Vikings on Sept. 8.

Odunze failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 38-0 preseason win over Buffalo.

EDGE Analysis

Chicago's offense looked sharp in its brief debut Sunday, but Odunze didn't contribute much offensively before giving way to the backups. The 2024 first-round selection has been earning rave reviews in camp, so don't let this bagel in an exhibition game sour his fantasy stock. Odunze will serve as the Bears' No. 2 wideout this upcoming season in what should be an improved offense under head coach Ben Johnson.

Odunze is expected to play along with the rest of Chicago's starters during Sunday's preseason game against the Bills, Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Bears did not play their first-team offense or defense during last Sunday's 24-24 tie versus Miami, so Odunze has yet to suit up this preseason. The second-year wideout collected 54 of 101 targets for 734 yards and three touchdowns over 17 games as a rookie, and he's stood out while catching passes from quarterback Caleb Williams during training camp practices. Odunze should be in line for a productive season as Chicago's No. 2 WR behind DJ Moore and ahead of second-round rookie Luther Burden and veteran Olamide Zaccheaus.

Odunze made a strong impression Thursday, hauling in a 14-yard gain over the middle to start the end-of-half drill. He also adjusted to a pass behind him, ripping it away from a defender to move the chains, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Odunze is trying to build on a 2024 rookie season where he posted 734 receiving yards, showing the contested-catch skills that helped him stand out at times last year. His growing chemistry with Caleb Williams suggests a path to steady production, particularly with his ability to win tough catches in traffic. That skill set makes him a viable mid-round fantasy target with upside if the Bears' passing game progresses.

Odunze said at the final day of mandatory minicamp Thursday that his goal for the 2025 regular season is to compile at least 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Odunze's expectations for 2025 would be an enormous step forward from the 54-734-3 receiving line he tallied on 101 targets across 17 regular-season appearances as a rookie, but enough went wrong for Chicago in 2024 that a true evaluation of last year's No. 9 overall pick is difficult to make. Unreliable pass protection, inconsistency from Caleb Williams and coaching so poor that the Bears deployed three different offensive coordinators all stood in the way of Odunze's production, but the team has since upgraded to head coach Ben Johnson, previously the Lions' mastermind OC, and added three new starters along the interior O-line, including All-Pro LG Joe Thuney. While the departure of Keenan Allen still leaves Odunze with significant target competition from DJ Moore, first-round rookie TE Colston Loveland (shoulder) and second-round rookie WR Luther Burden (undisclosed), overall, fantasy managers couldn't have asked for better offseason developments as the talented wideout targets a significant step forward.

Odunze caught both his targets for 18 yards in the Bears' 24-22 win over the Packers on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Even though Chicago selected Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 draft, he was the clear third receiver for the team behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Still, the rookie hauled in 54 of 101 targets for 734 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. Allen is headed for free agency, so Odunze could move into a larger role in the offense in 2025. With better coaching to help Caleb Williams improve as well, Odunze is a strong candidate for a second-year breakout.

Odunze (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

Odunze returned to full practice participation Friday after an illness kept him out the previous two days. He had one of his better games of the year the last time he faced Green Bay, catching six of 10 targets for 65 yards in a 20-19 loss in Week 11.

Odunze (illness) didn't practice Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

With no activity to speak of yet during Week 18 prep due to an illness, Odunze has only one more opportunity Friday to mix into drills before the Bears potentially tag him with a designation ahead of Sunday's contest at Green Bay. In his first matchup with the Packers back in Week 11, Odunze gathered in six of 10 targets for 65 yards, which is his fourth-highest yardage total of his rookie campaign.

Odunze was held out of Wednesday's walkthrough due to an illness.

EDGE Analysis

Fortunately for the rookie first-round pick, Odunze's status for Week 18 isn't in peril, as interim coach Thomas Brown told Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network. Odunze will have two more chances this week to get on the practice field before the Bears potentially give him a designation ahead of Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Odunze brought in one of four targets for 15 yards in the Bears' 6-3 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night.

EDGE Analysis

Odunze and Caleb Williams had trouble connecting for the most part, although the rookie receiver did have a 17-yard touchdown catch late in the second quarter nullified by an offensive holding penalty. Odunze's reception and yardage totals were his lowest since Week 4, but he'll have an opportunity to head into his first NFL offseason with some momentum when he faces the Packers secondary in a Week 18 road matchup.