New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave has been on fire this season, leading the NFL in yards per game with 122.8. Following Friday afternoon's practice, the fifth-year player credited Michael Thomas for the spark he has had to start 2026.
Specifically, Olave said that he hopes to catch 80% of his passes this year, which is what Thomas did in 2018 and 2019. To Olave, that's the standard. "The season he had, the career he had here, I feel like I want to be able to do that," he said to the media. "And with the amount of deep targets I'm getting, I feel like I could surpass that."
It was that 2019 season that Thomas set league and franchise records, with 149 receptions (NFL record) and 1,725 receiving yards (team record), and currently, Olave is on pace to match one and blow the other out of the water. Through four games this season, he has 35 receptions on 48 targets (72.9%) for 491 yards and one touchdown after four weeks. A little away from the big 80%, Olave is on track to surpass Thomas' prime seasons in his own way, with 149 receptions and 2,086 yards.
Chris Olave has been a building block for the Saints this season
The New Orleans Saints have only won one game through the first four weeks in 2026, and following a series of questionable performances, the team needs something to build on. So far this season, wide receiver Chris Olave has been that building block and has been the NFL's second leading receiver in total yards (491).
In the same presser where he credited Thomas, Olave said to the media that he feels fresh and ready to go. "I've been doing all the little things, taking care of my body, putting the right stuff in my system, the right food in my diet, just doing all the little things I can to try and control everything and go out there and make plays. Just trying to provide a spark, man, just trying to provide a spark for our offense."
That kind of work and focus is crucial for a player like Olave, who has had a history of injuries in his short time in the league. If he's anywhere close to healthy, it would at least turn the team in the right direction in any scenario. It's proved to be a good decision for him so far this season, because even with the team coming off back-to-back losses, Olave is on pace for a career season.
The Saints WR1 is set to continue his hot streak against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. When he takes the field, keep an eye on him, and you might just see Michael Thomas instead.
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