Week 2 vs. Buffalo Bills
Greg Olsen only caught 2 passes on 4 targets for 18 yards against the 49ers last week, as the Panthers ran the ball 38 times in a lopsided victory. Olsen should snap back to his consistent numbers moving forward, and it’s too early to panic with the elite veteran.
This week, Olsen will face a Bills defense that shut down the Jets offense last week, but did allow 5 catches and 59 yards to the tight end combination of Will Tye and Eric Tomlinson. Olsen is light years better than either of those players and should be active in all league formats.
Week 1 at San Francisco 49ers
Greg Olsen is coming off his third straight 1,000+ yard season and he remains one of the most consistent fantasy options in the league. Even at age 32, Olsen is a reliable target for Cam Newton, having started all 16 games since his second year in the league.
This week, Olsen should thrive against the 49ers, who ranked dead last in scoring defense a year ago. They also gave up 12.1 fantasy points to the tight end position per game. Olsen is a must-start every week regardless of matchup and this should be a good opener for him.
Fantasy Upside
Greg Olsen is one of the most consistent tight ends in fantasy football. He finished second to Travis Kelce (1,125) at the position with 1,073 yards and was fourth among tight ends with 80 receptions. Olsen has also been remarkably durable, separating him from the Jordan Reeds and Rob Gronkowskis of the world. He’s started all 16 games in each of his last five seasons, and he’s had at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three.
Fantasy Downside
Olsen turned 32 this year, so there’s always the concern he’ll start to decline, and the Panthers also added some talent in the passing game with rookies Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel. Both players could vulture targets from the reliable Olsen. Also, Olsen has never scored more than eight touchdowns in a season, and only had three last year. The Panthers run the ball and use quarterback Cam Newton a lot in the red zone.
2017 Bottom Line
Olsen should continue to be one of the best fantasy tight ends in the game. Despite having more weapons to work with, it’s hard to believe Newton will stop relying on his trusty tight end after five straight seasons with over 100 targets. With his durability and high volume of receptions, Olsen is one of the few players at the position you can plug-and-play. His fourth-round ADP is reasonable if Travis Kelce is already off the board. He also presents better value than the injury-prone Reed and Gronkowski, who are often drafted in the second and third rounds.
Week 17 vs. Tampa Bay
Greg Olsen had six catches for 59 yards last week against the Falcons, but was targeted a team-high 12 times and continues to be the favorite target for QB Cam Newton. He has at least seven targets in all but two games this season, and he just passed 1,000 yards receiving for the third straight year.
The Bucs have actually been pretty good against TEs this season, allowing only three touchdowns to the position all year. However, Olsen had a big day against them earlier in the year, catching nine balls for 181 yards in Tampa Bay. Olsen is a must start every week at the TE position and should be active in all leagues for the final week of the season.
Week 16 vs. Atlanta
Greg Olsen had six catches for 85 yards last week against Washington. He was targeted a team-high nine times on the day as the Panthers got their sixth victory of the season. Olsen hasn’t found the end zone since Week 9 against the Rams, but he continues to be heavily targeted and has over 80 yards in two straight games.
The Falcons have given up the fourth most fantasy points to the TE position this season, including eight touchdowns. The also allow the third most passing yards per game. In what should be an excellent matchup, Olsen should be active in all fantasy leagues as an elite option at the TE spot.
Week 15 vs. Washington
Greg Olsen didn’t find the end zone against the Chargers last week, but he did wind up with 87 yards on four receptions and led the team with seven targets. Olsen is second in the league among TEs in receiving yards this season and he remains the most reliable target for Cam Newton in the Carolina passing game.
This week, Olsen should benefit from a great matchup against Washington. Washington just allowed a total of 19 catches and 184 yards to the TE position against Philadelphia last week, and only the Bengals have allowed more yards to TEs this year. Olsen should once again be a featured part of the offense and should be a must-start in all league formats.
Week 14 vs. San Diego
Greg Olsen is still getting a high volume of targets – at least seven in all but two games this year – but he hasn’t had a really good game since Week 9 against the Rams and only had 30 yards on three receptions in a blowout loss to the Seahawks last Sunday. Still, he leads all TEs in receiving yardage this year and is tied with Kelvin Benjamin for the most targets in Carolina.
This week, he’ll face a Chargers defense that allows passing yards, but not a lot of touchdowns to opposing offenses. However, they’ve allowed four touchdowns to the TE position this year, along with 62 receptions and 679 yards, and the Charger offense should be able to score against the Panthers. This should keep Cam Newton passing, which is often a good thing for Olsen. He remains an elite option and is due to bust out of his cold slump.
Week 13 vs. Seattle
Greg Olsen has been in a bit of a slump recently, not scoring a touchdown since Week 9, but he remains an active part of the Carolina passing game and is one of the best in the league at his position. He had only four catches for 45 yards last week, but this is usually the low end of what you can expect from him as a high-floor fantasy TE.
This week, Olsen has a bad matchup against a Seahawks defense that has only given up two touchdowns to the TE position all season, but he should continue to be targeted heavily and remains a top option in all league formats. We have inside our top five this week and he should remain in your starting lineup.
Week 12 vs. Oakland
Greg Olsen only had 33 yards on four receptions against the Saints last week, disappointing considering the matchup, but he was targeted seven times and continues to be relied upon heavily in the Carolina offense.
Olsen is a must-start every week, but should be in for an excellent game against the Raiders. Oakland has allowed five touchdowns to the TE position so far this year, and only the Colts, Falcons, and Saints give up more passing yards per game. He should be active in all leagues as a TE1.
Week 11 vs. New Orleans
Greg Olsen had an off week against the Chiefs with only 39 yards, but he still caught five balls and was targeted eight times as the Panthers slipped to 3-6 on the season. Olsen remains one of the most consistent fantasy TEs in football and should continue to be heavily targeted in the Carolina offense.
This week, Olsen should have a great game against a Saints team that has given up the third most points to opposing teams this year and allows the most passing yards per game of any team in the league. Olsen is an elite option and should be started in all league formats.
