Chris Olave 2023 Outlook: Rookie Splits Appear Promising for the WR1 in New Orleans
2 years agoChris Olave posted a 26.7% target share and a 29.3% target rate as a rookie. He also finished 3rd amongst all WRs in air yards share (40.8%), per PlayerProfiler. Those are some elite numbers, especially for a rookie. In fact, they topped what Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase did as rookies. This isn't to say Olave is Jefferson or Chase, but maybe he's closer than people are willing to admit. Despite throwing the ball just 30.1 times per game last season (7th-fewest in the NFL), Olave still finished as a low-end WR2. That was also despite catching just four touchdowns (5.6% rate). In the last three seasons, new Saints QB Derek Carr has fed his WR1 at least 9 touchdowns (Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow). As the unquestioned WR1 in New Orleans, expect Olave to have more than 11 red zone targets, which ranked just 40th amongst wide receivers in 2022. There's also room for increased opportunities in his sophomore season, as Olave ran just 27.1 routes per game as a rookie. That ranked 48th amongst WRs. He should be viewed as a safe WR2, with low-end WR1 upside in 2023.