If you were drafting in redraft leagues this offseason, you likely knew the risks about New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave. After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career, injuries derailed his third campaign, and brought a lot of questions. Major health problems and an unknown product taking snaps at quarterback are difficult to weigh against his massive upside. So, now we must again ask the question: can you trust Chris Olave as a fantasy football starter?
Week 1 Breakdown
The Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals felt like the perfect Olave experience. He was targeted 13 times, caught seven balls for 54 yards, and also left the game briefly with a chest injury after being lit up by rookie cornerback Will Johnson.
Despite the brief absence, Olave still led the Saints in targets and tied with Rashid Shaheed for the most snaps among their wide receivers. In PPR leagues, an 11.4-point performance will be start-worthy in all but the shallowest formats. And if you’re playing in a league where 11.4 points isn’t at least flex-worthy … what are you doing?
However, Week 1 was a stark reminder of the risks. With Olave’s injury history, especially the concussions, the train can come off the tracks in a heartbeat. So, is he worth the risk?
The Verdict
Fantasy football is a risk-reward sport. If you’re unwilling to start Olave because of the injury risks, it’s best to find a trade offer and move on entirely. Because if he’s on your team, he needs to be in that lineup.
In Week 1, newly minted starting quarterback Spencer Rattler threw 46 passes, targeting Olave on 28% of those looks. This isn’t going to be a good Saints team this year; if they find themselves trailing, Rattler will have to cut it loose, and a lot of balls will go Olave’s way. He can be a week-to-week PPR WR2 or an elite flex, but the injury risks aren’t going away. Either ride him until the wheels fall off, or get off the ride entirely.
