Chicago

Bears

Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower called Odunze “a four-down player” while noting that he brought back one of his three returns for the Huskies for a touchdown during the 2023 campaign. The 6-foot-3 wideout was selected with the ninth pick of the 2024 draft, and while he’ll likely open the year a clear third in the pecking order of targets behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, Chicago is going to find ways to get the ball into Odunze’s hands.

Carter spent last season with the Raiders, appearing in all 17 games while catching four passes for 39 scoreless yards. For much of his six-year career, Carter’s primary contributions have been in the return game. He returned 35 kicks and punts for 494 yards and could flourish as a kick returner under the league’s new return rules. He’ll likely have to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster but should have a good shot at handling primary kick return duties this season.

Lewis will join a crowded tight end room that also includes Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. A first-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2006, Lewis is about as much of a veteran presence as a team can get. He’s caught just 10 passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns over the last two seasons and won’t be asked to do much outside of serving as added depth on a roster. From a mentorship standpoint, Lewis will have plenty to offer the young Bears, who are ushering in a new era under No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.

Eberflus seems high on Swift’s ability to play on any down and distance, saying Swift was somebody they needed to “operate on third down and even on first or second down and be a weapon in the deep part of the field and the short part of the field and take it the distance.” Eberflus also mentioned the possibility of splitting Swift out wide, noting that he can “run the full route tree.” Swift is in an offense that appears chock full of playmakers, with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze all expected to see significant work in the passing game, but the Bears’ commitment to Swift (three-year, $24 million contract) suggests he’ll see plenty of work as the team’s lead back. He’s not expected to be a complete workhorse, as Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson are also expected to see touches, but for a guy currently going as a low-end RB2 in fantasy drafts, there’s a good chance Swift out-performs his ADP it what should be a much-improved Bears offense.

Odunze was sidelined with a hamstring injury during the first round of OTAs but was seen on video catching a deep pass from Caleb Williams in what appeared to be 7-on-7 drills. Odunze will be battling for targets in a wide receiver room that features veterans Keenan Allen and DJ Moore but could contribute immediately as a deep threat — something he specialized in during his days at Washington. As far as fantasy is concerned, Odunze’s rookie ceiling could be capped by the presence of Allen and Moore, but he should be good for a few splash weeks, making him an enticing pick in best ball drafts.

Leatherwood spent the 2023 season on Cleveland’s practice squad but last appeared in an NFL game in 2022 with the Bears. Chicago claimed Leatherwood off waivers after the Raiders cut him just ahead of the season. Leatherwood was a disastrous pick for the Raiders. He began his career at right tackle but was quickly moved to right guard when that didn’t work out. The former first-round pick was a highly-regarded prospect entering the league but is now at risk of flaming out after just three seasons. He is far from a lock to make the Chargers’ roster at the end of training camp.

Odunze was seen working individually alongside Chicago’s OTA sessions this week, managing his ongoing hamstring tightness. Eberflus told reporters that the plan is for Odunze to “ramp back in there next week during the OTAs”, indicating a gradual return to full participation is expected.

Bears beat writers have reported plenty of Williams’ passes hitting the ground, difficulties getting set for plays, and constant pressure on the rookie from the Chicago defense. Greenberg said Williams was “under pressure while his receivers (which didn’t include Rome Odunze or Keenan Allen) tried to get open. There were a few just-missed interceptions. Sometimes, Williams couldn’t even get passes off as the secondary used its space advantage in the red zone to shut down receivers. We saw a lot of screen passes, many of which turned into scores. Occasionally, the offense struggled to line up or get a play off.” Hopefully a full summer of practices against a tough Bears defense will prepare Williams — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft — for live action competition starting with the Titans in Week 1.

Tonyan joined the Bears as a free agent last offseason and caught just 11 passes for 112 scoreless yards while playing primarily behind Cole Kmet. He’s a player with two seasons of 450-plus yards on his resume, including a productive 2020 in which he went for 52-586-11. With that said, Tonyan is once again looking to be banished to the bench behind T.J. Hockenson and veteran Josh Oliver. While it’s possible he’ll work his way onto the field in two tight end sets or due to injuries, he has little to no fantasy upside at this time.

Caleb Williams will experience his first Thanksgiving matchup, heading to Detroit in Week 13. The Bears have invested heavily into Williams, with Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and D’Andre Swift joining DJ Moore and company in what looks to be an exciting offense. They will face an established high-powered offense in Jared Goff and the Lions, who have not won on Thanksgiving since 2016. Fantasy managers will be glued to the screen Thanksgiving afternoon hoping to watch both offenses feast.