Devaughn Vele Fantasy Stats

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele entered this offseason as one of the biggest sleepers in dynasty fantasy football. In his final four games of 2025, Vele had caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. It seemed like he might be a breakout candidate in 2026, but that trajectory came crashing down as the Saints added two receivers in the NFL Draft. Now, Vele is behind Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson on the depth chart, and he could also end up behind rookie Bryce Lance, who has the speed necessary to fill a Rashid Shaheed-esque role in New Orleans. It's a disappointing development for managers who acquired Vele at a low cost this offseason. With that said, he's still worth holding in deeper leagues, as he's proven that he can handle volume. This Saints' offense is quickly trending up, so he could still get onto the WR3/flex radar if Olave or Tyson were to miss any time.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was acquired via trade weeks before the start of the 2025 season after seeing scattered success as a rookie with the Denver Broncos. New Orleans gave up a fourth and seventh round pick for the 2024 seventh-rounder, but with so little time to learn the new system, he was rarely used early in the year, garnering only 54 yards on six catches before the team's Week 11 bye, despite the Saints passing at one of the league's highest volumes. In the four weeks coming out of the bye, his involvement increased substantially, twice leading the team in targets, offering a strong complementary option to Chris Olave, and becoming a trusted middle-of-the-field presence for Tyler Shough. Vele's season ended prematurely when a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve, but in those four post-bye contests, he averaged 4.8 receptions for 59.8 yards, and following his first full offseason with the team, he could see similar usage in 2026. The Saints invested real draft capital into Vele, and he has experience operating both from the slot and out wide, so he should be able to find a useful role even if New Orleans does take a receiver early in the upcoming NFL Draft. It should, however, be remembered that Vele came into the league as an older prospect and will turn 29 midway through his third season, so if he doesn't find sustained fantasy relevance in 2026, the window to do so will close quickly.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is an intriguing under-the-radar sleeper for 2026. Acquired from the Denver Broncos last year, Vele started to turn a corner following the Saints' Week 11 bye. In four games after the bye, he caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. Unfortunately, Vele injured his shoulder in Week 15 and missed the final three contests of the season. Despite his late-season injury, Vele produced enough when healthy to suggest that he might play a key role on offense in 2026. He's currently listed as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, slotting in behind Chris Olave. Quarterback Tyler Shough had a great rookie season, and there's reason to believe he can support two fantasy-relevant receivers next year. We know this Saints coaching staff likes Vele because they traded a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick for him, and we know there's a solid rapport between him and Shough. Could it translate to WR3/flex production in 2026? It's certainly possible, which means dynasty managers should consider buying low on Vele this offseason.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) caught 25 of his 39 targets for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in his second year in the NFL. Statistically, it was a step backward after he had 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns on 55 targets in 13 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign with the Denver Broncos. The 28-year-old finished his sophomore season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury, too. However, Vele had become a much bigger part of New Orleans' offense just before his season-ending injury in Week 15. In his final three games, Vele had 16 catches on 19 targets for 202 yards and one of his two touchdowns on the year. The former seventh-rounder by Denver has some momentum going into next season, but his role could change drastically based on what the team does in free agency and the draft.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season before the team's Week 16 matchup with the Jets. Vele suffered the season-ending shoulder injury during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers and had already been ruled out for Sunday. Vele had established a strong rapport with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, regularly seeing target shares in the high-teens to mid-20s, and his absence should see tight end Juwan Johnson step in as the team's number two pass-catching option behind Chris Olave. Olave, who has seen double-digit targets only once since Shough took over as starter, but has found the endzone in three of his last five games, could once again see the type of heavy volume that defined his early season and is RotoBaller's WR11 for Week 16.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, Sara Palczewski of Louisiana First News reports. Vele has been considered week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. He caught five of six targets for 69 yards up until that point. The 28-year-old reportedly avoided a major injury, but he could still end up missing the rest of the regular season with only three games remaining. Vele had been establishing a solid connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, recording 16 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown over the past three games. His absence will lead to more opportunities for top wideout Chris Olave, in addition to Kevin Austin Jr. and Mason Tipton against the Jets in Week 16.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) avoided serious injury to his shoulder, according to Nick Underhill, but he is still considered week-to-week, leaving his availability for the rest of the season in question. Vele exited during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers, having caught five of six targets to that point for 69 yards. He had formed a notable connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough of late, averaging 5.3 catches for 67.3 yards over the past three games while adding a touchdown. With Vele likely unavailable or limited for the duration of the fantasy playoffs, Chris Olave, who has quietly been the WR8 in Half-PPR scoring, should see an abundance of targets against the Jets and Titans, keeping him in must-start territory.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) exited during the fourth quarter of the team's 20-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Vele left the game due to a shoulder injury after hauling in five catches for 69 yards on six targets. The 28-year-old was spotted after the game with his left arm in a sling, reported by Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. With Vele in a sling, it will leave his availability in Week 16 against the New York Jets will be up in the air. Vele's status will become clearer when the Saints resume team practice on Wednesday.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded three receptions for 40 yards on five targets in the Week 14 victory against the Buccaneers. Both his targets and yardage led the team, as Vele has continued to carve out a larger role in the offense since Rashid Shaheed's departure. Over his last three games, he has totaled 14 receptions for 170 yards and one touchdown, averaging 12.1 yards per catch. He has also led the team in snap share each of the past three weeks, including 93% last week. Despite his increased role, Vele remains a risky option given the overall inconsistencies of the Saints' offense. He has the opportunity to produce a solid fantasy performance each week, but his floor is low, making him a weekly WR3/WR4 with matchup-dependent upside.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele should continue to see heavy utilization in the team's pass attack when they take on the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 15. The second-year pro has materialized as a decent second option in New Orleans since ex-teammate Rashid Shaheed was moved to Seattle. In fact, Vele has been the Saints' leading receiver through the last two games, out-producing Chris Olave and matching his snap total in both contests. While that isn't the most likely outcome moving forward, there's no doubt that the 27-year-old has built a solid rapport with rookie QB Tyler Shough, and he should continue to operate as the second or third option at worst in a Saints' offense desperate for playmakers. Vele is a better asset in PPR leagues.