Luther Burden
Burden enters his second year as Chicago's presumptive WR1 in Ben Johnson's offense, coming off an elite rookie efficiency profile — second-best rookie yards-per-route-run in 20 years, behind only Odell Beckham Jr. He's a talent-driven asset whose target share (projected around 22%) is currently clouded by a groin injury and a crowded skill-position room with Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze.
The two-week arc is dominated by one injury: a groin strain that will cost Burden most or all of training camp. Early in the window (Fantasy Football Today) the story was pure upside — elite rookie efficiency, Ben Johnson's public praise, true WR1 target share. Once the groin injury broke, shows split hard: Harris Football Podcast and Fantasy Focus Football (Clay calling him the most overvalued WR of the offseason) argue his 4th-round ADP is now too rich, while The Ringer and Fantasy Football Happy Hour push back that it's a minor tier drop at most given his efficiency and DJ Moore's exit clearing volume. Fantasy Life, Fantasy Football Today, and Yahoo Fantasy Forecast sit in the middle, flagging real competition for targets from Loveland and Odunze and suggesting the injury could redirect volume elsewhere in camp.
The line: Groin injury clouds elite efficiency profile — worth a round-plus discount now, but re-buy if he's full-go by Week 1.
▼ Fantasy Feast: NFL Fantasy Football Podcast: Mentioned as another Bears player dealing with an injury, adding to Chicago's camp concerns. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Football Today: His lingering groin injury could push more target volume to Colston Loveland, raising Loveland's ADP. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Life Show: Hosts scored him 6-7, citing his late-season dominance last year but concerns over a fresh groin injury and competition from Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze for targets in Chicago's crowded skill group. listen ↗
▶ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Reportedly shut down until Week 1 with an injury; still liked long-term but currently overvalued relative to Odunze. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Focus Football: Groin injury will keep him out all preseason; Clay calls him the most overvalued player in fantasy this offseason at his 4th-round ADP. listen ↗
▼ Fantasy Footballers - Fantasy Football Podcast: Will miss the entire preseason with a grade-two groin strain but is expected back for Week 1; hosts raised his risk rating in drafts but didn't drop him in rankings. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry: Expected to miss about a month with a re-injury risk, but both hosts view it as only a minor tier drop, not a major fade, given strong per-route efficiency and DJ Moore's departure. listen ↗
▶ Fantasy Football Today: Has a groin injury that could linger; hosts say buy the dip if you still believe in his talent, but it drops him below the Waddle/Moore/Evans tier for now. listen ↗
▶ FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast: Mentioned as one of the players who was reportedly injured over the weekend, causing concern among the hosts during preseason camp injury news discussion. listen ↗
▼ Harris Football Podcast: Suffered a real groin injury expected to cost about a month of camp; dropped 4-5 spots at WR and about a round overall. listen ↗
▶ The Ringer Fantasy Football Show: Suffered a groin strain that will cost him most/all of training camp; hosts expect only a modest ADP drop (maybe half a round) if he's healthy by season start. listen ↗
▼ Yahoo Fantasy Forecast with Matt Harmon: Suffered a groin injury in camp and will 'miss a little bit of time'; hosts say it's a reason to pump the brakes given his rising ADP. listen ↗
▲ Fantasy Football Today: Had the second-best rookie yards-per-route-run in 20 years behind only Odell Beckham Jr.; Ben Johnson has been vocally hyping him, and he's projected as the Bears' true WR1 with a ~22% target share. listen ↗
Follow Luther Burden
Get every take on him — and the rest of your roster — before waivers on Tuesday and before lineups lock on Sunday. Free through the season.
Sign up free