Rome Odunze 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Rome Odunze 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
When Rome Odunze was drafted No. 9 overall by the Bears—and ever since—the overall consensus from the fantasy football community was that he is going to be this year’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Meaning he will be stuck behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen as the WR3, get few targets, and be almost irrelevant for fantasy. However, that is not my read on the situation, especially after how well he has performed in training camp. Odunze has been everything you would expect out of a top-10 wide receiver. He’s been making just as many highlight plays as Marvin Harrison Jr and Malik Nabers. His connection with quarterback Caleb Williams has been obvious. Remember, Williams and Odunze were spending time together prior to either of them being drafted by the Bears. It was clear they wanted to play together in the NFL and now it’s happening.
Odunze was a dominant wide receiver in college. He caught more than 200 passes for 3,000 yards and scored 26 touchdowns over his last three seasons at Washington. He checks all the boxes from size, play strength, and athleticism, to route running and football IQ. He’s a prototypical alpha x-wide receiver who has the versatility to line up anywhere in the formation. Odunze could defy the skeptics and start in two-receiver sets in Chicago. If that happens, it is full-go for fantasy football. He will dominate down the field, along the boundary, and be a red zone monster.
2024 Outlook
But what about Keenan Allen? Allen is great. He proved last year he absolutely can still play the wide receiver position at a high level. However, I expect he will be mostly contained to the slot, occasionally rotating into two-receiver sets with Odunze. But Allen is into his 30s and certainly nowhere near the explosive playmaker that Odunze is. And even if Odunze isn’t commanding 150 targets, he can do a lot with the opportunities he does get. Going back to the JSN comparisons, Odunze is a completely different player. He will be targeted down the field, in the red zone, and will eat up yards after the catch. JSN is more of a slot guy who works close to the line of scrimmage and doesn’t receive the high-value targets that Odunze thrives on.
So in fantasy drafts, I’m betting on the talent. Odunze is an incredible prospect with big-time playmaker written all over him. I’m drafting that guy.
How do you feel about Rome Odunze’s outlook in 2024? Join us on Discord and let’s discuss!
NEXT: Malik Nabers 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
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