Rookie Profile: Rome Odunze, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
This is the Rookie Profile for Rome Odunze, a wide receiver from the University of Washington. He is from Las Vegas, Nevada, and was a 4-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School.
During his Freshman year, Rome played in only four games and made six catches for 72 yards. According to NCAA rules, players can only participate in a maximum of four games if they want to take a redshirt year. Washington decided to redshirt Odunze to preserve his year of eligibility.
During his first year as a redshirt freshman, Odunze demonstrated some of the potential that made him a highly touted prospect. He recorded 41 receptions, 415 receiving yards, and four touchdowns in nine games, leading the Huskies in receptions. This was a positive development for Odunze and a step in the right direction.
In 2022, Kalen DeBoer took over the program, greatly benefiting Odunze. He doubled his total from the previous year, finishing with 72 receptions, 1,145 yards, and 7 touchdowns. This helped him make a name for himself and catch the attention of NFL scouts.
As a redshirt junior, Rome Odunze raised his game to a new level. He led all of college football in receiving yards with 1,640 yards and 92 receptions, scoring 13 touchdowns in total for the year. Odunze’s performance firmly established him as one of the top players in college football. He dominated on a national stage during the college football playoffs, putting up an impressive 11 receptions and 211 yards against Texas and Michigan.
Odunze, the ninth overall pick for the Chicago Bears, is Washington’s most high-profile wide receiver since Reggie Williams.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 1 Pick 9
- The third wide receiver of the Big Three has been picked among the top ten in this year’s draft class. When a receiver has a proven history of production, comes from a strong football background, and is selected with a high draft pick, he will likely hold long-term dynasty insulation. Odunze is already a top-12 dynasty asset and will remain an insulated asset for the next two years. Investing in a rookie wide receiver who has been drafted inside the top 10 is one of the safest bets you can make in dynasty.
Landing Spot- Chicago Bears
- Rome Odunze has found the perfect landing spot as he joins forces with one of the most promising quarterback prospects of all time, Caleb Williams. Although he may face stiff competition from D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in his first year, Rome’s long-term prospects are excellent. He is a top choice for dynasty managers looking to secure a reliable WR1 for the next decade. Even if he doesn’t perform at his best in his first year, his connection with Caleb Williams will be a source of excitement for dynasty managers for the majority of this decade.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Starting X Wide Receiver
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
Rome Odunze could be the starting X wide receiver for the Chicago Bears as early as week 1, but may not have an immediate impact due to the competition for targets. However, this won’t affect his dynasty value after year one. As a rookie, he is skilled enough to challenge both D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen for targets. Depending on how the Bears’ coaches deploy their wide receivers, they may play more 11 personnel than fantasy managers are expecting. Rome’s potential may not be as high as Marvin Harrison’s in year one, but he has a high floor even in a crowded wide receiver room. In rookie drafts, Rome is being selected around 1.06 and falls in the 1.04 to 1.07 range of picks.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe Sneak Peek Video of Rome Odunze
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
