Chris Olave

According to Schefter, WR Jordyn Tyson, who’s been on IR with a hamstring injury, is still weeks away from returning to action.  Tyson is not likely to return until at least Week 7, although with the Saints’ bye in Week 8, “a potential Week 9 return might be the most logical course of action for the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft.”

Tyson’s prolonged absence leaves a thin Saints WR corps relying heavily on star WR Chris Olave and WR Devaughn Vele alongside rookie Bryce Lance and UDFA Kevin Austin Jr.  While the stud Vele offers steady secondary contributions, this QB Tyler Shough-led offense desperately needs a healthy Tyson to unlock its ceiling, already averaging 281.3 passing yards per game.  For fantasy football gamers, stash Tyson on your IR if available, as the high-upside rookie, with his 92nd-percentile College Dominator rating & 80th-percentile Speed Score, profiles as a major impact weapon down the stretch once healthy.  ~Jason Diaz

Saints star WR Chris Olave will play vs. the Ravens, despite leaving practice earlier in the week for a hamstring injury. Nick Underhill reported at the time it was precautionary, and it seems he was right. Olave was the WR5 in Week 1 in a shootout vs. the Lions, putting up 182 yards on 10 receptions. Olave ranked No. 8 in First Read Target last year and remains the focal point of the Saints offense.

There should be no snap count for Olave so you can start him with confidence. This is a major boost for all pieces on the Saints offense – yes, even Devaughn Vele, who would have had to face the Ravens top CB if Olave was unable to go.

Hmmmmmm. Anytime fantasy football’s most coveted big play wide receivers leaves practice with a lower body injury, we need to pay attention despite optimistic reports regarding Chris Olave‘s hamstring.

Olave’s Friday practice participation will be a must-watch on social media. Meanwhile, acquiring Devaughn Vele on waiver wire in shallow league, and Bryce Lance in deep leagues, as cheap fantasy football WR insurance.

Operating as second year QB Tyler Shough‘s second favorite target, Devaughn Vele reeled in 7 of 9 targets, for 69 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s narrow loss to the Saints. Vele’s outing included two eye popping full extension highlight reel catches, one of which went for a touchdown that brought the Saints within a score after getting shut out in the entire first half.

Trailing only the recently extended longtime alpha Chris Olave, Vele emerged as a reliable target in a close game. With rookie first round pick Jordyn Tyson sidelined for at least a month with a severe hamstring injury, Vele offers plenty of fantasy football upside in the Saints’ high-flying offense after spending the summer as one of the cheapest WRs on the market. Vele will be a popular add on fantasy football waiver wires post-Week 1.

The Jordyn Tyson hamstring injury is now a two-month problem, and that puts his rookie season launch in serious jeopardy after the Saints selected him eighth overall. PlayerProfiler has Tyson at a 63.6 ADP and WR31, with elite prospect metrics including a 94th-percentile Catch Radius, 97th-percentile College Dominator, and 99th-percentile college target share, so the talent profile remains compelling despite the injury risk.

Tyson is now on the fast-track to first round bust status. He is a roster clogger in best ball and redraft leagues and should be slow-played in fantasy football dynasty leagues. With Tyson sidelined, Chris Olave should see a slight uptick in volume, Devaughn Vele and Juwan Johnson are best-positioned to absorb the vacated targets, and Barion Brown now has a clear path to WR3 duties.