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This Rookie Wideout Might Be the Fantasy Football Steal of the Year

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 11:19 AM ET

One Bears rookie is getting fantasy football buzz before even taking an NFL snap

The countdown to kickoff is on, and so is the annual fantasy football gold rush. As camps get rolling and preseason chatter builds, fans and fantasy managers alike are dusting off their draft boards, looking for that one name no one else is circling. This year, that name might just belong to a Chicago rookie with a dynamic college resume and serious upside.

Pro Football Focus recently dropped its Fantasy Football: 5 sleeper wide receivers list , with analyst Nathan Jahnke highlighting Bears rookie wideout Luther Burden III as a name to know. Coming in with an average draft position of 13.05, Burden isn't just flying under the radar—he's flying low enough to dodge satellites.

And that’s exactly the kind of player who ends up winning leagues.

'Burden was one of Missouri‘s top two wide receivers for the past three seasons,' Jahnke wrote.

'In 2023, he earned the third-highest PFF receiving grade among Power-Five receivers, behind Malik Nabers and Malik Washington but ahead of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze.'

While 2024 saw a dip in production thanks to injuries and a run-heavy Tigers offense, Burden’s efficiency never truly wavered. He still flashed elite separation skills and lined up all over the field, showing off a complete route tree and positional versatility. Blocking? Sure, that needs work. But that’s not what fantasy points are made of.

The Bears snagged Burden as one of the biggest value picks in the draft, and now he’s poised to give Caleb Williams another dangerous option out wide. With new head coach Ben Johnson calling the shots, the offense is expected to open up—and Burden’s skillset fits right into that mold.

Fantasy managers looking for late-round upside should take note: this rookie could be more than just a sleeper—he could be a Week 1 problem for defenses.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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