Fantasy Football Player Notes

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.

Shaheed flashed a big-time upside last year. While he was the WR45 in fantasy points per game last season, he had five weeks of WR2 of better finishes in weekly scoring. Last year, he drew a 13.6% target share and 23.5% air-yard share while ranking 43rd in yards per route run and 45th in receiving yards per game out of 81 qualifying receivers. Shaheed operated as the field stretcher, ranking 10th in aDOT and 15th in deep targets. This isn't the matchup to likely roll Shaheed out there as a flex option. If he's the deep shot specialist again, Carolina will make it a point to shut those down with their two high coverage. Last year, the Panthers held passers to the third-fewest deep passing touchdowns and seventh-lowest deep completion rate.

Cooks was the WR43 in fantasy last year. In Weeks 6-18 last year, among 83 qualifying receivers, Cooks ranked 45th in receiving yards per game, 61st in target share, 57th in yards per route run, and 44th in first downs per route run. In Week 1, he faces a Browns' secondary that led the NFL in single-high usage last year (65.4%). Against single-high last year, Cooks had a 16.3% target share, 1.79 YPRR, and 0.087 FD/RR. None of these metrics are awe-inspiring. Cooks is a sit for Week 1 that will run about 64% of his routes against Denzel Ward (51.5% catch rate and 77.3 passer rating) and Martin Emerson Jr. (49.3% catch rate and 53.3 passer rating).