Luther Burden Finally Joins Top 3 WRs

By Matt Schauf | Updated on Sun, Nov 16 2025 11:15 PM UTC

Sunday might have finally brought the change we've been waiting for in the Chicago offense, even if it wasn't obvious in the receiving numbers. Rookie WR Luther Burden supplied an uneventful 3 receptions for 27 yards among five targets. But that tied him for second on the team in targets and catches for the game. And Burden finished well ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus in usage for the first time all season.

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Burden ran a season-high 22 routes just a week after setting his previous high at 20. He also worked as the slot leader for the first time all season, the role Zaccheaus has played more than anyone else for the season.

Burden's lead began in the first half, where he played 54.5% of Chicago's offensive snaps vs. just 9.1% for Zaccheaus.

The rookie entered the game much closer to the slot rates of Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore than to that of Zaccheaus. Here's the share of each player's pass snaps spent in the slot before Week 11, according to Pro Football Focus:

Zaccheaus 56.5%
Burden 40.9%
Odunze 39.4%
D.J. Moore 32.9%

Burden's Week 10 high in snaps coincided with Moore leaving early for a shoulder injury, and thus didn't signal any trend toward Sunday's usage.

Moore's Injury Not an Issue

Moore opened the week missing Wednesday's practice with that shoulder injury that ended his Week 10 early. But he finished the week with a full Friday practice and no game designation, and then he led Bears wideouts in playing time and routes against the Vikings.

Moore drew just three targets and finished with 1 catch, 18 yards, and minimal fantasy impact. But the shoulder didn't appear to be a factor.

Waiver Wire Targets

Burden's worth stashing this week where still available. He's still not a great bet for weekly fantasy value, in an offense that entered Week 11 ranked just 21st in receptions per game. But there's room for him to keep climbing.

Odunze easily leads all Bears in targets for the season. Zaccheaus entered Sunday as No. 2, with Moore third and trailing Odunze by 21.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.