Even PFF agrees that Rome Odunze has become Bears' WR1 after two weeks

One of the big questions entering 2025 was what the Chicago Bears could get from Rome Odunze.

He was a top ten pick in 2024, but his rookie season was up and down. Was it a product of the offense, or was he on track to be a disappointment? Through two weeks, it is becoming clear that Odunze has the talent to be a stud in the NFL.

Rome Odunze is ascending into a top wide receiver for the Chicago Bears

Pro Football Focus tends to agree. They ranked the highest graded receivers through two weeks, and Odunze cracked the top 20, coming in at number 19.

Odunze has been much better than last season, and nothing can tell the story more than his yards per route run, improving from 1.18 to 2.01. The best wide receivers in the NFL clear two yards per route run, and if he can maintain this throughout the season it wil be an exceptional mark. The passer rating that was noted is up from 86.9 last season.

What is interesting to note is that there are no significant changes in the way that he is being used. His slot rate is the same, his yards after the catch per reception are actually down, and so is his average depth of target.

The only difference is that he is being targeted much more. His target rate was 18.3% last season, but now it is up to 26%. Whether he is getting open, the quarterback trusts him more, or the coach is telling Caleb Williams to look for number 15, they are going to him more often, and he is not letting them down.

It will be interesting to see if he can continue this. DJ Moore has not been bad this season, but he does not appear to be on the same page as Caleb Williams. Still, he will be demanding targets at some point.

Beyond that, they hope to see rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III find bigger roles in the offense. Still, as of now, it looks like these pieces are all complementary to Odunze, who is starting to take advantage of his new role in the offense.

This is finally a breakout that the Bears needed.