New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave entered the 2026 season with plenty of expectations after earning second-team All-Pro honors last season.
After Sunday’s season opener against the Detroit Lions, it is difficult to imagine the Saints asking for much more from their star wideout.
Olave was one of the biggest reasons New Orleans was able to erase the 21-point deficit and nearly complete the incredible comeback, finishing with a career-high 182 receiving yards on 10 receptions. He was targeted
13 times and consistently gave Tyler Shough a reliable option as the Saints’ offense finally found its rhythm down the stretch.
For a Saints offense that struggled to get anything going early, Olave eventually became the spark it desperately needed.
The chemistry between him and Shough was especially encouraging, but it wasn’t surprising given what we’ve seen from the two this offseason.
Shough finished with a career-high 410 passing yards, and a large part of that production came from his willingness to continue looking Olave’s way when the Saints needed a big play. The two connected for several significant gains throughout the afternoon, including a 47-yard completion that helped New Orleans continue its comeback attempt.
Olave’s performance was also impressive considering the circumstances.
The Saints were shut out in the first half and eventually fell behind 21-0 before their offense finally came alive. Rather than disappearing when the game became difficult, Olave became increasingly important as New Orleans mounted its comeback.
The next step will be seeing whether Olave can stay healthy enough to turn this into a consistent season-long trend.
If Sunday was any indication, Olave could be in for a massive season.
Now, he will look to carry his momentum into Week 2’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
