NFL Mock Trade: The Saints Send Chris Olave To The Steelers

With the Saints falling to 1–6 on the season, they could consider trading star wide receiver Chris Olave to the first-place Steelers, who are in need of receiving help. In return, New Orleans could look to acquire valuable draft capital to aid their rebuild.

Sep 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) at Caesars Superdome. | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Chris Olave is currently ranked as the WR9 in fantasy football, averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game. He’s second in the NFL with 71 total targets, an average of 10.1 per game. While his volume has been strong, his efficiency has lagged slightly; Olave ranks 14th in receiving yards with 440 and is averaging 10.0 yards per reception on 44 catches this season. He also leads all Saints receivers in snaps with 398, ahead of Rashid Shaheed (326) and Brandin Cooks (321).

If Chris Olave were traded to the Steelers, his production might take a dip. Pittsburgh distributes wide receiver snaps differently than most teams. For example, DK Metcalf has nearly double the snaps (304) of Calvin Austin, who’s second on the team with 168. The Steelers also rely heavily on three-tight-end sets, with Jonnu Smith logging 211 snaps, Darnell Washington 200, and Pat Freiermuth 170. Given that Olave hasn’t been particularly efficient despite his high target share, he might transition into more of a supporting role in Pittsburgh rather than maintaining his current WR1 status with the Saints.

Mock Trade Details And Fantasy Football Impact

Steelers Acquire: Chris Olave

Saints Acquire: 2026 third round pick

Olave’s fantasy value would likely decline if he joined a Steelers team led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike Tomlin. DK Metcalf has a firm grip on the WR1 role, dominating the Steelers’ receiving corps with 22 receptions on 36 targets for 406 yards and four touchdowns. The next closest receiver in yardage is tight end Pat Freiermuth, who has 187 yards on 13 catches (17 targets) and two touchdowns, followed by wide receiver Calvin Austin III with 10 receptions on 17 targets for 139 yards and two scores.

While the Steelers’ offense overall has been stronger than the Saints', averaging 25.0 points per game compared to New Orleans’ 17.9, and 203.0 passing yards per game versus 197.7, the distribution of targets in Pittsburgh wouldn’t favor Olave. With Metcalf commanding such a large share of the passing game, Olave’s role and fantasy production would likely take a step back.

Fantasy Impact On The Saints:

With Olave on the move, the Saints’ remaining wide receivers, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, Devaughn Vele, and Mason Tipton would see an uptick in targets and overall involvement in the passing game.

Fantasy Impact On The Steelers:

With the arrival of Chris Olave, Calvin Austin III would likely be downgraded to a WR3 role, while rookie Roman Wilson would slide to WR4. Olave’s presence could also slightly reduce the target volume for the Steelers’ trio of tight ends, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth, as the offense adjusts to incorporate another high-volume receiver.

Final Thoughts

The arrival of Chris Olave in Pittsburgh would likely lower his fantasy football value. His production has been driven largely by a high target volume, something he wouldn’t replicate with the Steelers. DK Metcalf would remain the dominant receiver in the offense, limiting Olave’s opportunities and target share.

Meanwhile, the Saints would be fully committing to a rebuild, redistributing Olave’s vacated targets to Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and Devaughn Vele. Each of these receivers could see an increase in fantasy relevance and an opportunity to showcase their skills in an expanded role within the passing game.