Minnesota Vikings recently acquired tight end Josh Oliver was expected to mostly serve as a blocker in the run game after the team signed him, but offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said recently that Oliver could do more through the air than most realized. T.J. Hockenson will remain the primary pass-catching tight end in 2023, but Oliver's frame may fit perfectly in the team's red-zone pursuits. He made two impressive catches on Wednesday on the final day of mandatory minicamp practice, including an over-the-top grab in the red zone. The 26-year-old has caught just 26 passes for 230 yards in 35 career NFL games, so we aren't going to expect much from Oliver, and he won't be fantasy relevant unless Hockenson goes down with a significant injury.
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with free-agent tight end Josh Oliver on a three-year, $21 million deal on Monday, according to a source. Oliver will receive $10.75 million guaranteed and has incentives that can take the deal up to $24 million. He's one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and was a former third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Oliver was traded to the Baltimore Ravens two years ago and recorded just 14 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (nine starts) last year with Baltimore. The 25-year-old has only 26 receptions for 230 yards and two TDs in three NFL seasons, and he's unlikely to see many more targets in his new home behind T.J. Hockenson.
Josh Oliver Finds The End Zone Against Jacksonville
Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver led his team in receiving in Week 12 against Jacksonville, finishing with four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old had his first touchdown in over two months, so his season has been a disappointment. There's a shot Oliver may continue to stay involved in Week 13 versus the Broncos. However, there's a better chance he won't do much of anything moving ahead.
Josh Oliver Compiles 41 Yards Against The Commanders
Baltimore Ravens tight end Josh Oliver finished with two catches for 41 yards during the preseason win over the Washington Commands. He's played well enough in August and could end up cracking the 53-man roster. However, with Mark Andrews and the surging Isaiah Likely on the roster, Oliver isn't expected to appear on any fantasy radar in 2022-23.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jaylon Moore, who spent last season on the practice squad, was involved in every offseason practice and made highlight-reel-type catches in several of them. With a ton of receivers ahead of him on the practice squad, it's unlikely that Moore will make the roster. However, his improvement this year has been notable and impressive. Tight end Josh Oliver was the most consistent and involved tight end in the passing game this offseason. He presented himself as a big, athletic target who can create separation from defenders. Oliver is also healthy after being limited to just four games in his last two seasons. He'll represent valuable tight end depth behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle.
The Baltimore Ravens acquired tight end Josh Oliver from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, according to a source. Oliver is a former third-round pick that has played in just four games in the NFL over the last two seasons because of injuries. In his short time in the league, he's caught three passes for 15 yards and no touchdowns for the Jaguars. But if he can find a way to stay healthy, Oliver is a promising young tight end that could flourish in Baltimore. However, with Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle locked into their roles with the Ravens, Oliver will likely compete for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart in 2021 with Eric Tomlinson. The 24-year-old can be ignored in the vast majority of fantasy leagues.
The Jacksonville Jaguars placed 2019 third-round tight end Josh Oliver (foot) on Injured Reserve on Thursday. Oliver will have surgery to fix a broken foot. The 23-year-old out of San Jose State also missed 12 games in his rookie season in 2019 due to injury after he was a third-round pick. It remains to be seen if Oliver will be able to return later in the 2020 season, but for now you can ignore him in all fantasy formats. Tyler Eifert will be the team's primary pass-catching tight end, but he's lost most of his fantasy appeal over the years because he hasn't been able to stay healthy, either.
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Josh Oliver (foot) broke a bone in his foot and will have surgery, according to head coach Doug Marrone. There's no timetable on when Oliver will be ready to return, but there's a good chance that he won't be ready for the start of the 2020 season. The 25-year-old was a third-round pick in 2019 but missed 12 games due to injuries. Tyler Eifert should see most of the repetitions as the team's top pass-catching tight end to begin the season, but he also has a very extensive injury history from his time in Cincinnati and isn't a realistic tight end target in standard-sized fantasy leagues.
Jaguars Place Josh Oliver On IR, Sign Nick O'Leary
The Jacksonville Jaguars placed tight end Josh Oliver (back) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Monday after he injured his back in Week 11 against the Colts. He had just three catches for 15 yards in four games this year. The Jags signed tight end Nick O'Leary in a corresponding move. Seth DeValve missed the game with an injury, and Geoff Swaim and James O'Shaughnessy are also on Injured Reserve, so the team is hurting for depth at the position. O'Leary will join DeValve and Ben Koyack as the only tight ends on the active roster. You should be ignoring the position in fantasy in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie tight end Josh Oliver made his first NFL reception in Week 8, but he shouldn't be expected to play a larger role when the Jaguars play the Texans in Week 9. One issue is that Oliver -- who impressed enough in training camp to earn some preseason sleeper hype -- got a late start to his rookie year after dealing with a hamstring injury. The other is that the Texans allow the second-lowest catch rate to opposing tight ends. Oliver is worth a dynasty roster spot, but that's about it.
