Through the first three weeks of the 2026 regular season, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave ranks No. 2 in the NFL in receiving yards and is tied for No. 1 in the league in receptions.
In the team’s next contest, an emotional, nationally televised Monday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Olave could finish the day as the top wideout in the league.
The Falcons are a heavy man coverage team than most of the defenses New Orleans has faced thus far. Per Next Gen Stats, they play that type of coverage at the eighth-highest rate in the league.
They deploy that look just over 30% of the time. So, while still playing zone a majority of the time, the man looks are of a higher frequency than is typical across the league.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, whose chemistry with Olave has been on full display to open the season, has completed 68.6% of his passes against man coverage this year, and has thrown six of his eight passing touchdowns against the coverage as well.
The aforementioned chemistry with Olave plays a factor, too. Not only has Olave reeled in 75% of the passes that have come his way from Shough, they’ve also been excellent in tight-window throw situations.
Such receptions have come on throws that reach the receiver while a defender is within one yard in coverage.
Over a quarter of Olave’s targets have come in such situations, while the Falcons have seen nearly a third of their targets thrown at cornerbacks in tight coverage.
Teams are not afraid to test the Falcons’ cornerback group without star A.J. Terrell in the field. It’s likely that Shough won’t be either with the trust he’s built with Olave.
Olave’s fast start has been impressive, and all signs are pointing to that production continuing under the national eye on Monday night.
