As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of Chris Olave.
Chris Olave’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
I will be the first to admit I was skeptical of Chris Olave’s NFL prospects, given that he was a four-year college player. The track record of non-early declares is not great. Fortunately, we are all gifted with the ability to absorb new information and change our opinions. I’ve seen enough — Olave is definitively good at football.
As a rookie, Olave’s role was supposed to be as the WR3 behind Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry. Well, when you’re drafted to play behind two older wide receivers, sometimes you end up thrust into the starting role quicker than expected. That’s exactly what happened.
Thomas and Landry are done. Thomas is done because his body can no longer handle the rigors of the game of football. Landry is done because he’s an older veteran, and that’s what happens to wideouts on the wrong side of 30.
Olave had a stellar rookie campaign. He caught 72 of 119 targets for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. He averaged 13.2 ppg, finishing as the overall WR25. His performance bodes extremely well for his future prospects.
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Wide Receiver
What was most encouraging about Olave is how much he was used downfield. Volume remains king, but we love to see splash-play upside — something his predecessor in New Orleans did not possess.
Olave’s 14.0-yard average depth of target was inside the top 10. His 29 deep targets were the fourth-most in the league. He saw a 26.7% target share as a rookie, which was inside the top 15, and Olave was targeted on 29.3% of his routes run (inside the top 10). And he did this all with subpar quarterback play.
Despite playing four years at college, Olave was not an old rookie. He will be 23 years old this season. Olave should only get better over the next two to three seasons, and I would be stunned if he didn’t post at least a high-WR2 season by 2025.
Chris Olave’s Fantasy Ranking
Olave is exactly the type of player dynasty managers should be looking for. He is the end game.
The Saints’ QB situation is much improved with Derek Carr at the helm. At 32 years old, he can be their starter for the next half-decade or more. And he’s proven capable of producing an elite WR1.
Olave’s ceiling is in the top five. He’s a surefire WR1 in dynasty leagues, currently checking in at WR10 (No. 28 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings.
While I understand it’s not realistic to get him ahead of any of the guys above him, it would not shock me at all if Olave posted WR1 seasons for the better part of the next decade.
I absolutely love Olave. He will be someone I aggressively target in 2023 redraft leagues, and he is someone fantasy managers should jump at the chance to select in dynasty startup drafts.