Chris Olave
WR – Ohio St.
6’1” 187 lbs
Age: 21
Notable College Production:
Summary:
Chris Olave is a smooth operator with legit speed to take the top off the defense. He is one of the more polished receivers in this class with great footwork, advanced routes, and an understanding of how to get open against different coverages. He’s not a physically dominant receiver but he is a consistent separator and shows the ability to track the deep ball well. His speed and route running should allow him to contribute early in his NFL career but he may lack the upside to develop into a true superstar at the next level. Olave is currently the fourth rookie WR being drafted on Underdog which seems appropriate.
Full Report:
Olave had a very productive career at Ohio State, setting the school record for touchdown receptions with 35. He commanded a solid target share while playing alongside multiple other NFL caliber receivers and was a reliable target for both Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. He could have declared and been a relatively high draft pick after his junior season but he returned to Columbus and had a really strong senior year. He only turns 22 in June so he isn’t an older prospect despite having four seasons of college experience.
Olave’s defining traits are his speed and route running. He ran a 4.39 second 40-yard dash at the combine and looks like he plays faster than that. He doesn’t really make defenders miss with fancy moves in the open field but he does have a good understanding of how to use his speed and angles to create yards after the catch. He is one of the best route runners in this class and should have the ability to create consistent separation at all three levels right away. This should allow him to play a variety of roles for his team and hopefully earn snaps and targets quickly as a result. He may end up as one of those players who is more valuable for real football than he is for fantasy football but he should still offer a nice weekly upside in best ball with his game breaking speed.
The most notable negative in his profile is that Olave is not physically imposing, he does not win with strength or size and isn’t great in contested catch situations. His hands are adequate but don’t appear to be a major strength. He profiles best as the #2 receiver in an offense where he is used to stretch the defense and win on timing routes. As a result, it seems unlikely he will turn into a fantasy superstar but you shouldn’t have to draft him to be one either. The good news is his skill set should translate to any offense which gives him a nice floor. There shouldn’t be much disagreement on Olave’s talent so it just remains to be seen where he is drafted to determine his ceiling for this year.
