Bears' Burden III trending up for 2026 fantasy
With Ben Johnson making it clear he wants to get the ball to Luther Burden III more often this year, Patrick Daugherty explains why fantasy managers could be wise to make the young WR a priority draft target.
Video Transcript
When the Bears traded DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills last month, one of the easiest dots to connect in Chicago was a bigger 2026 role for second-year pro Luther Burden.
And Bears coach Ben Johnson has wasted no time in confirming the obvious, stating, we need to continue to get the ball in Luther's hands as often as we possibly can.
Pretty cut and dry there.
So clear intent from the coach, clear reasons for this intent.
He's only 22 years old still, was pretty efficient as a rookie, had some of the injury concerns that dogged him in Mizzou, but stayed largely healthy.
Is healthy right now, heading into what will be his second NFL campaign.
And without DJ Moore there, it's, quote-unquote, only Colston Loveland.
It's, quote-unquote, only Roma Dunze.
Still kind of a loaded skill core.
But Burden, this is a guy where if you were a little too early and hoping for him to be a wide receiver three last year, you're gonna be a little too late if you treat him as a wide receiver three this spring.
He's already in the top 24 by ADP in offseason drafts.
And Luther, a guy who can make plays at every level of the field, kind of a rolling ball, a butcher and eyes with the ball in his hand.
He has the right coach.
He has the right quarterback.
Maybe now he has the right skill core and target setup to live up to fantasy players' admittedly very high expectations in 2026.
