Bears' Luther Burden: Posts 46 yards in Week 12 win
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Burden caught three of five targets for 46 yards in Sunday's 31-28 win over the Steelers.
Burden continues to work ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus as Chicago's WR3 behind Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, and Burden's five targets tied fellow rookie Colston Loveland for third on the team against Pittsburgh. However, as long as Odunze and Moore are healthy, it's difficult to get behind Burden as a fantasy starter when he's competing with the likes of Loveland, Cole Kmet, D'Andre Swift and Zaccheaus for opportunities. Burden has looked great on his limited chances this season and will square off with the Eagles this upcoming Friday.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Stashes (WR Preview)
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I am not backing off of Burden. Last week was the first week this season that he ran more routes than Olamide Zaccehaus. Burden is available in 76% of leagues. I still believe he could become a must-start Fantasy wide receiver by the playoffs.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Inconsistent role continues
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Burden caught three passes for 27 yards on five targets in the Bears' 19-17 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Burden has alternated between usable and quiet performances, posting four games under 28 yards and three with at least 51 over his last seven contests. Until he earns a larger share of Chicago's passing volume, he'll remain a volatile depth option in fantasy lineups.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Stashes (WR Preview)
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Burden still isn't playing enough to garner flex consideration, but Head Coach Ben Johnson indicated that may be coming. It should be, because when Burden has been on the field, he has earned targets and turned them into production. His 2.74 yards per route run is almost a full yard better than any other Bears receiver.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Solid yardage total in win
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Burden caught three passes for 51 yards on three targets in the Bears' 24-20 win over the Giants on Sunday.
Burden has posted at least 51 yards in three of eight contests this season and has drawn between one and four targets in every game. His low target volume keeps him a depth fantasy option who is useful mainly as a bench stash in fantasy leagues.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Returning to face Giants
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Burden (concussion) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants.
After missing one game in concussion protocol, Burden is back to fill his usual role as the No. 4 receiver and (at times) kick returner. He's shown flashes of the talent that made him a top-50 pick in April, but the Bears seem pleased with Olamide Zaccheaus as their No. 3 receiver for now.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Gets in another full practice
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Burden (concussion) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Though Bears head coach Ben Johnson hasn't yet confirmed that Burden has cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, all signs point to the rookie wideout being able to play this Sunday against the Giants. After sitting out the Bears' Week 9 win over the Bengals while recovering from the head injury, Burden has turned in two full practices to kick off Week 10 prep. Meanwhile, fellow wideouts DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Rome Odunze (ankle/heel) were limited Thursday, so Burden could have a clear path to a top-three role if either or both of Moore and Odunze aren't available Sunday.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Listed as full participant
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Burden (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Burden appears to be near gaining clearance from the NFL's concussion protocol, the last step of which involves consultation with an independent neurologist. The rookie second-round pick was unable to suit up Week 9 versus the Bengals due to his injury. Meanwhile, both DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Rome Odunze (ankle/heel) missed Wednesday's practice, though both managed to play through their injuries versus Cincinnati.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Sidelined for another practice
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Burden (concussion) didn't practice Thursday.
Since exiting this past Sunday's loss to the Ravens with a concussion, Burden hasn't made enough progress through the NFL's five-step protocol to take part in any on-field work. At this stage, Burden appears to be facing an uphill battle to play this weekend in Cincinnati.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Burden (concussion) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice.
Burden didn't return to this past Sunday's loss at Baltimore after being concussed early in the third quarter. He was joined as a non-participant Wednesday by fellow WRs Rome Odunze (heel), DJ Moore (hip/groin) and Olamide Zaccheaus (knee). Burden himself will need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to have a chance to play Sunday at Cincinnati, but a DNP to begin Week 9 prep isn't exactly a great sign for upcoming active status.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Sleeper WRs
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D.J. Moore (groin) is expected to play in Week 7 against the Saints, but we don't know if he's 100 percent after spending time in the hospital after the Week 6 win at Washington. That could give Burden more playing time against the Saints. Burden just had season highs in targets (four) and receptions (four) against the Commanders, and he finished with 51 yards, which was second on the team behind D'Andre Swift. The Saints have allowed a pair of receivers to score at least 12.2 PPR points in the same game twice this season, with Seattle in Week 3 and New England in Week 6. I can see Rome Odunze and Burden doing that in Week 7 if Moore is limited.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Stashes (WR Preview)
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It's coming. I am not sure it is coming in Week 7, though if DJ Moore is out it might, but I do believe Burden will eventually become a wide receiver who plays a majority of the snaps in this offense this year. And what he has shown us in short spurts is enough to get excited about. Burden has 16 fewer targets than Olamide Zaccheaus but seven more yards. It is very common for rookie wide receivers to break out and win leagues in the second half. Burden looks like one of the best candidates.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Solid effort on MNF
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Burden finished with four receptions on as many targets for 51 yards in Monday's 25-24 win over Washington.
Burden bounced back nicely from the disappointing two-catch performance we saw prior to Chicago's Week 5 bye. The rookie slot receiver finished with more receiving yards than DJ Moore (42) and Rome Odunze (32) as QB Caleb Williams distributed the ball more evenly amongst his talented group of receivers Monday. Burden's production has fluctuated wildly on a week-to-week basis, making it hard to bank on his production against the Saints in Week 7.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Targeted twice in victory
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Burden recorded minus-four yards on two receptions in the Bears' 25-24 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Aside from Burden's 101-yard effort in Week 3 against the woeful Dallas defense, he has a total of minus-three yards in his other three games. Until his role in the offense grows, Burden's floor makes him difficult to place in fantasy lineups.
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Bears' Luther Burden III: Stashes (WR Preview)
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All it takes is a little bit of a splash from a rookie like Burden to get us excited. His snap share and opportunity share were both season-highs in Week 3. While you can't start him based on such a limited role, his 65-yard touchdown should be a reminder about just how much upside there is once he's a full-time player. This is exactly the type of player you want on your bench.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Breaks out against Dallas
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Burden recorded three receptions on three targets for 101 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-14 win over the Cowboys. He added one rush for seven yards.
Burden was relatively quiet through his first two games as a pro, but he caught a 65-yard touchdown on a flea-flicker late in the first quarter as the highlight of his potential breakout performance Sunday. He also chipped in a 29-yard reception to set up another Chicago touchdown two possessions later. Burden was still prioritized behind Rome Odunze and DJ Moore in terms of targets, which casts doubt on the sustainability of his role moving forward. However, Moore has been used primarily in the short areas of the field, so Burden could be another explosive playmaking option to complement Odunze.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Light usage in NFL debut
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Burden caught his lone target for minus-3 yards and returned one kickoff for 44 yards in Monday's 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
The No. 39 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Burden had an underwhelming debut. He took the field for just 18 of the Bears' 67 snaps on offense, ranking fourth among Chicago receivers behind Rome Odunze (63 snaps), DJ Moore (56) and Olamide Zaccheaus (30). Burden could eventually supplant Zaccheaus for a regular spot in three-receiver sets, but quarterback Caleb Williams will first have to prove that he can support multiple pass catchers on a weekly basis before Burden emerges as a viable fantasy option.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Two catches against Miami
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Burden caught two of three targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 24-24 preseason tie against the Dolphins.
Burden was reasonably productive considering he played only the first half and the Bears didn't dress starting quarterback Caleb Williams. Burden could open the regular season as Chicago's No. 3 wide receiver behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze if the rookie second-round pick beats out Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay. Chicago's next preseason game will be this coming Sunday against the Bills.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Expected to play Sunday
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Burden and fellow rookie Colston Loveland are expected to play in Sunday's preseason opener against the Dolphins, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Several of the Bears' offensive starters will be absent from Sunday's contest, including Caleb Williams, D'Andre Swift, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. Per Briggs, Burden figures to see plenty of reps Sunday, and he'll operate as the WR1 with Moore and Odunze in street clothes.
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Bears' Luther Burden: Participating in team drills
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Burden (hamstring) is taking part in team drills at Tuesday's practice, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic reports.
Burden missed OTAs, minicamp, and the first four days of training camp due to a hamstring injury sustained during rookie minicamp back in May, but head coach Ben Johnson said the 39th overall pick in the 2025 Draft is ready to be eased into team drills "slowly but surely," per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. Johnson said the wideout is "a little behind right now," but it at least appears that Burden's health is no longer impeding his development. He still has plenty of time to display his playmaking abilities in training camp and the preseason, and to potentially push Olamide Zaccheaus for the No. 3 receiver role behind DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.
