Greg Olsen

Fantasy Upside

This is going to be quite the strange site. After nine years in Carolina, Greg Olsen now takes his talent northwest to the Seahawks. Seattle has gotten the tight end more involved recently, as Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister both saw some work during the 2019 season. Now you get a veteran like Olsen who still has some fuel left in the tank after nearly missing the top 12 fantasy tight ends in 2019 and that was with missing two games. Olsen will be more than just a veteran presence for Seattle.

Fantasy Downside

Olsen obviously isn't a spring chicken here. He's 35 years old and has had different injury issues over the last three seasons. After nine seasons of playing all 16 regular season games, Olsen has played 30 total games in the last three seasons. 2019, however, was certainly a bounceback in that aspect after he missed 16 games total between 2017 and 2018. The aforementioned Dissly and Hollister will also still be around.

2020 Bottom Line

Olsen is ready for a fresh start and 35 years old after his emotional finish with the Panthers. It's also quite possible this is the last we'll see of Olsen on the football field (it's a near-guarantee we'll see and hear him in the broadcast booth after his playing days are over, especially after calling a game during the Panthers' bye week last season). He should immediately connect well with Russell Wilson and have room to work on the field with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on the outside.

Week 13 vs. Washington Redskins

Greg Olsen had a decent day against the Saints last week, catching five of the seven balls thrown his way for 44 yards. Those aren’t big numbers by any means, but considering the wasteland of tight ends the past couple of seasons. Those are passable as fringe TE1 numbers in any given week. Olsen has steadily caught 18 balls over his past three games, though he’s failed to find the end zone since September 22nd against the Cardinals.

This week, Olsen will face a Washington defense that has been torched by tight ends this season. They rank 28th in aFPA to the position and have allowed three touchdowns to tight ends in just the last two games. He’s a must-start in a great matchup at a position without a lot of quality fantasy options.

Week 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Greg Olsen had a nice game last week against the Packers, catching eight passes for 98 yards. He was second on the team with 10 targets and continues to be a quality option in the passing game and a reliable safety valve for quarterback Kyle Allen. Olsen doesn’t have the same seam-stretching talent he displayed early in his career, but he’s a savvy route-runner and should be a steady option for the remainder of the season.

This week, Olsen faces a Falcons defense that actually ranks 12th in aFPA to opposing tight ends, despite giving up the sixth-most passing touchdowns this season overall. Olsen shouldn’t be considered an elite option in any week, but his steady targets make him a quality plug-and-play tight end in a league where there’s a dearth at the position. Fantasy owners should leave him in their lineups.