New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave is one of 16 WRs to go for over 1,000 yards receiving in their rookie season. But will Olave’s fantasy football season be even better in 2023? Let’s take a closer look.
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Chris Olave’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
A WR going for over 1,000 yards doesn’t always translate to future fantasy success, just ask any Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan who watched Michael Clayton’s career.
However, some of Olave’s numbers project well to him either maintaining the production from his rookie season or making the leap into fantasy breakout WR land in 2023.
According to Inside Edge, his average depth of target (aDOT) of 14.1 ranked third among the 60 qualified WRs. He also saw under eight targets per game last season.
Now add in the fact that he got an upgrade at QB with the arrival of Derek Carr and the table is set for an expanded role in 2023.
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The only variable that could derail this hype train is the potential return of veteran WR Michael Thomas. Thomas appeared in the preseason opener and looked healthy for the first time in a long time.
If Thomas can stay healthy — which is a big if — he can certainly cut into Olave’s target share.
Is Olave a Good Fantasy Pick?
Olave seamlessly transitioned from Ohio State to the NFL and didn’t miss a beat. He is a smooth operator that can beat you on all three levels of the field and projects to be in a far more consistent offense in 2023.
His vertical speed, route-running savvy, and release package all project well to sustained success in the NFL. But there are still some concerns with Olave at his current ADP.
Olave wasn’t great in the yards after catch department his rookie season and wasn’t the best red-zone threat, evidenced by his two targets inside the 10-yard line last season.
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If Thomas stays healthy, there is a chance Olave doesn’t return on his current price of the WR12 off the board. However, Thomas hasn’t been able to stay on the field very often over the last three seasons.
Olave has the skills to make the Year 2 leap at WR, jumping into low-end WR1 territory in 2023.
- PFN Consensus Rankings: 22nd overall
- ADP: 28th overall
