Chris Olave Week 1 Outlook - Panthers at Saints

By Derek Brown (FantasyPros), Wed, Sep 4th 2024, 8:38pm EDT

Olave might not have matched the hype last year with his production, but that doesn't mean that he had a bad season. Olave was the WR19 with new career highs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and fantasy points per game. Last year, among 81 qualifying receivers, Olave ranked 24th in YPRR and 16th in FD/RR. The change in the offensive system will help Olave and Carr this season. Carr last year was tied to two outcomes. It was either wind up and chuck it deep or check it down, as Carr ranked eighth in deep attempts while also having the sixth-highest check-down rate. In Weeks 1-12, New Orleans had the fifth-highest aDOT while ranking 14th in catchable target rate with the 16th-highest off-target rate. In Weeks 13-18, the Saints changed it up as their aDOT was the 11th-lowest, and the offense ranked first in catchable target rate with the lowest off-target rate. Motion, play-action, and more intermediate passing will help Olave this season with Klint Kubiak. Last year Carolina utilized single-high at the third-highest rate (63.3%). Among 85 qualifying wide receivers last year against single high, Olave ranked 10th in YPRR, 12th in fantasy points per route run, and seventh in FD/RR. Olave with line up against Jaycee Horn (60.7% catch rate and 88.2 passer rating) and Mike Jackson (68.8% catch rate and 93.5 passer rating) for most of the game.