Breaking Down the Impact of Chris Olave's Rookie Season in Football: A Closer Look

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Our thoughts on 2022 NFL rookie wide receiver Chris Olave.

Measurables:

• 6' 187 lbs.

• 4.39 forty-yard dash.

• 32” vertical, 10’4” broad jump.

• 9.5' hands, 31' arm length.

"Chris is an excellent person ... just the big bro to everybody. - Jameson Williams"

Strengths:

• Olave can track the football and makes excellent adjustments at the point of attack.

• He flashes his hand late to mask the arrival of the ball.

• Great acceleration that eliminates a defender's cushion.

• He is skilled in his releases and the speed to threaten deep.

• Chris Olave is impressive on the sidelines with his body control and toe-tapping skills.

• He keeps plays alive and helps his quarterback by coming back to the ball.

• Olave should see the field quickly as he contributed on punt coverages every year.

• Chris Olave led Ohio State in receiving touchdowns for three straight seasons.

• He is a reliable target with only five drops on 101 targets in 2021.

Weaknesses:

• Olave is another skinny wide receiver that struggles in contested catch situations and can be underwhelming after the catch as he doesn’t force many missed tackles.

• Chris has speed, but he looks faster before the ball arrives.

• At times he will use his body to finish the catch.

• He fumbled four times in 2020 but finished 2021 with zero.

• Olave will need to add some size as he had trouble blocking anyone the same size or bigger.

Scouting Report

Chirs Olave is a polished and dependable wide receiver, but nothing sticks out as particularly remarkable. Olave is projected as both an NFL first-round rookie draft pick and a dynasty first-rounder. Wide receivers figure to go quickly in rookie drafts, and an average draft position of around 1.08 feels right. The risk level with this pick and Olave is neutral at this spot, and if you can draft him even later, you should get a good return on your investment. Chris graded above average on routes of ten-plus yards, and we expect him to be a big-play wide receiver but an inconsistent producer for fantasy purposes.