Kalif

Raymond

Raymond had a quiet day, but made a huge 13-yard catch on the final drive that ended with a Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal. Luther Burden exited the game with a head injury late, and if Burden can’t go in Week 11 after the bye, Raymond will be an intriguing dart throw for that contest. If Burden can go, he’s tough to trust in redraft formats.

Raymond’s lone “carry” came on a third-and-long in the fourth quarter in a three-point game, with the play ruled a rush attempt following a slightly backwards toss on a quick swing pass to the perimeter. Raymond did the rest as he turned on the jets for a 39-yard gain to the five, which D’Andre Swift would punch in for the second of his three rushing scores on the evening. Raymond remains unlikely to match his early-season exploits but can be stashed in case of injury to Luther Burden, Rome Odunze, or Colston Loveland.

Raymond ran a pass route on 18 of the Bears’ 45 drop backs and didn’t see a target until the second half. He has been mostly phased out of the team’s passing offense since profiling as Chicago’s de facto WR1 over the first couple games of the season. Raymond, who has just 30 receiving yards over his past three games, can be left on the waiver wire ahead of Week 7.

Raymond’s fast start to the season has now been erased to the tune of just five catches for 12 yards over the past two weeks. Even with Caleb Williams (hamstring) looking likely to return for Week 6 against the Falcons, Raymond’s brief moment in the 2026 fantasy sun has come and gone.

Raymond has now led the Bears in receiving in two of the team’s first three games, with Week 3 his best performance yet on the back of a 41-yard touchdown through busted coverage. It isn’t likely the career role player will lead the team in receiving throughout the season, but the early returns on investment must have fantasy managers ecstatic for those that either drafted him in the final round or scooped him off the wire following Week 1.

For whatever reason, Raymond again lead the Bears’ receiver corps in production, though Luther Burden did out-target him on fewer snaps. Cold comfort. Although Raymond out-snapped Burden, he was on the field 16 fewer plays than Rome Odunze. Pro Football Focus’ Nathan Jahnke charted Raymond as seeing more time in “12" personnel than his sophomore teammate. We would like to say this is bound to change going forward, but coach Ben Johnson had no problem featuring veteran Olamide Zaccheaus in 2025. Raymond is struggling to create WR4 value of his own, but he is certainly hampering Burden and Odunze’s production ahead of Week 3 against the Eagles.

Raymond, who ran a route on 23 of 40 Caleb Williams drop backs, led the Bears in targets, catches, and receiving yards, while Colston Loveland went catchless and Luther Burden was an afterthought. Raymond’s route participation suggests he’ll be a rotational player in the run-first Chicago offense. That should make him a risky option in any sort of fantasy league. Even so, it’s clear Raymond has taken something similar to the D.J. Moore role and could be useful in fantasy this year.

Per Hammond, Odunze “came up hobbling during an install period at the start of practice,” with what appeared to be a right leg injury. Apparently, Odunze “wasn’t overly concerned” and tried to continue practicing, but Bears trainers removed him from the field. That last bit is encouraging. Hopefully, Odunze’s Week 1 availability has not been jeopardized. Bears TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden would benefit if Odunze cannot play. Odunze is backed up by WR Kalif Raymond.

Jahdae Walker could position himself as the No. 3 with a second-year jump, and third-round pick Zavion Thomas is also in the mix. This room will probably split the snaps enough to make them unappealing from a fantasy perspective, but it’s possible someone emerges as a WR4-type.

Raymond was mostly a role player and a special teams standout during his five years in Detroit. Last season Raymond had 24 receptions for 289 yards and a touchdown while drawing three starts for the run-heavy Lions. In Chicago, Raymond — entering his age-32 season — will likely function as a role player in Ben Johnson’s run-centric offense. He could see starter’s snaps if the Bears struggle with receiver injuries in 2026.