The Chicago Bears have found their groove on the ground - and it's paying off in a big way. After a sluggish start to the season, the Bears have surged to second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 153.8 yards per game.
That ground attack has been the engine behind an offense now putting up 26.1 points per game, good for eighth in the league. But as head coach Ben Johnson pointed out recently, this team isn’t winning because of its passing game - it’s winning in spite of it.
That’s a pointed message, and it doesn’t just land on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. It echoes through the entire passing unit - wide receivers included. And for Olamide Zaccheaus, that message might be hitting closer to home than anyone else in the room.
A Critical Stretch for Zaccheaus
Zaccheaus is heading into free agency at the end of the season, and with the way things are trending, his future in Chicago is anything but guaranteed. The Bears are getting younger and more dynamic at wide receiver - and fast. Rookie Luther Burden III is making a strong case to leapfrog Zaccheaus on the depth chart, and the numbers back it up.
Let’s start with the basics: Zaccheaus holds a Pro Football Focus grade of 59.5, ranking 71st out of 84 qualifying wideouts. Burden?
He’s sitting at 73.2 - 26th in the league. That gap isn’t just cosmetic; it reflects a real difference in impact and efficiency.
Despite playing 156 fewer snaps, Burden has already eclipsed Zaccheaus in receiving yards, 328 to 273. They each have one touchdown, but Burden has done more with less - just 26 catches compared to Zaccheaus’ 35.
That kind of production-per-touch is exactly what coaches and front offices love to see from a young player. It’s also the kind of thing that makes a veteran like Zaccheaus expendable if he doesn’t turn things around.
The Numbers - and the Depth Chart - Don’t Lie
The Bears aren’t short on talent at receiver. D.J.
Moore continues to be the WR1 this offense can rely on, and Rome Odunze has lived up to expectations as a rising star. Add in Burden’s emergence, and suddenly the room is getting crowded.
That puts pressure squarely on Zaccheaus to prove he belongs - not just in the rotation, but on the roster at all heading into 2026.
And it’s not just about production. Zaccheaus has struggled with drops, already tallying four on the season. In an offense where every pass attempt is under a microscope, especially with a rookie quarterback still finding his rhythm, those missed opportunities stand out in a big way.
The Road Ahead Is No Cakewalk
The Bears are sitting in the driver’s seat with the NFC’s top seed, winners of nine of their last ten. But they’re not in the clear just yet. Down the stretch, they’ll face the Packers twice, a tough Lions squad, and two of the league’s stingiest defenses in the 49ers and Browns.
That stretch run is going to test Caleb Williams - and by extension, his receivers. Every route, every target, every catch will matter more than ever.
For Zaccheaus, it’s an opportunity to flip the narrative. But it’ll take more than just a few solid games.
He’ll need to be reliable, efficient, and explosive - something he hasn’t consistently shown this season.
If he can’t rise to the occasion, the writing may already be on the wall. With Moore, Odunze, and Burden all locked in as core pieces, Zaccheaus is running out of runway to prove he’s worth keeping around in the Windy City.