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FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

Ben Johnson: Luther Burden Is A "Stud"

By Jared Smola | Updated on Tue, Apr 29 2025 1:59 PM UTC
Luther Burden III Headshot

Bears HC Ben Johnson sounded very excited about rookie WR Luther Burden in the team's post-draft press conference. "Stud," Johnson said of Burden. "He’s a playmaker waiting to happen. ... For 6 foot and 200+ pounds, it’s rare to see someone with his movement skills. He can stop on a dime and accelerate just like that. Give him a little bit of space, and he can make big things happen. A dangerous player and weapon. ... I see big things in his future."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Burden joins a crowded Bears pass-catching corps alongside WRs D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze and TEs Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. But it's certainly worth considering that Moore, Odunze, and Kmet are holdovers from the previous coaching staff. The Ben Johnson regime spent its second ever pick on Burden. 

It's also worth noting that Burden is a primary slot receiver, running 88% of his routes from the inside over the last two years. That's exciting in Chicago, where the slot receiver figures to play a big role in Johnson's offense. He's noted multiple times this offseason that the slot is an important position in his scheme.

If Burden wins the primary slot job, he'll have a real chance at 2025 fantasy value.

Jared Smola Author Image
Jared Smola, Lead Analyst
Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks sixth among 158 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.
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