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Chris Olave vs Ryan FlournoyWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Chris Olave is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.6 PPG to Ryan Flournoy's 7.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Chris Olave is the better fantasy play this season.

Chris Olave is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 13.6 PPG and 1,160 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Ryan Flournoy (7.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Chris Olave as the starter and Ryan Flournoy as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRNew Orleans Saints#9PPG LEADER
Chris Olave
PPG
13.6
Games
16
Rec
100
Rec Yds
1,163
Rec TDs
9
Targets
156
Bye
Week 8
WRDallas Cowboys#55
Ryan Flournoy
PPG
7.2
Games
13
Rec
40
Rec Yds
475
Rec TDs
4
Targets
56
Bye
Week 14

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Chris Olave
Ryan Flournoy

Head to Head

13.6 PPG7.2 PPG
16 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Chris Olave: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #9 at the position). Ryan Flournoy: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #55 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Chris Olave is producing at 62% of elite pace and Ryan Flournoy at 33%. That ranking gap means Chris Olave carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Chris Olave vs Ryan Flournoy: The Full Breakdown

Chris Olave and Ryan Flournoy are at different tiers heading into 2026. The New Orleans Saints wide receiver averaged 13.6 PPG in 2025, a full 6.4 points per game ahead of Ryan Flournoy's 7.2 with the Dallas Cowboys. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

A 6.4-PPG gap gives Chris Olave the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Target volume is the story here. Chris Olave saw 156 targets in 2025, while Ryan Flournoy drew 56. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Chris Olave, even in weeks where Ryan Flournoy posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Chris Olave has his bye in Week 8, and Ryan Flournoy rests in Week 14. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at wide receiver for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Chris Olave at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Ryan Flournoy is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Chris Olave (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Ryan Flournoy (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

  • Chris Olave outscored Ryan Flournoy by a projected 109 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Chris Olave played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ryan Flournoy's 13. That durability gap means Chris Olave contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Chris Olave scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Chris Olave saw 156 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Chris Olave vs Ryan Flournoy: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatChris OlaveRyan Flournoy
PPG (Half-PPR)13.67.2
Games Played1613
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)21894
Receptions10040
Rec/Game6.33.1
Receiving Yards1,163475
Rec Yds/Game72.736.5
Receiving TDs94
Targets15656
Target Share/Game9.84.3
Age2526
Experience3 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 14

Summary

Chris Olave outscored Ryan Flournoy by 6.4 PPG in 2025 (13.6 to 7.2). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Chris Olave or Ryan Flournoy in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Chris Olave has the edge at 13.6 PPG compared to Ryan Flournoy's 7.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Chris Olave and Ryan Flournoy average in 2025?

Chris Olave averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Ryan Flournoy averaged 7.2 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 6.4 points per game.

When are Chris Olave and Ryan Flournoy's bye weeks in 2026?

Chris Olave (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Ryan Flournoy (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Chris Olave or Ryan Flournoy a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?

Chris Olave outscored Ryan Flournoy by 6.4 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.

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