New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season before the team's Week 16 matchup with the Jets. Vele suffered the season-ending shoulder injury during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers and had already been ruled out for Sunday. Vele had established a strong rapport with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, regularly seeing target shares in the high-teens to mid-20s, and his absence should see tight end Juwan Johnson step in as the team's number two pass-catching option behind Chris Olave. Olave, who has seen double-digit targets only once since Shough took over as starter, but has found the endzone in three of his last five games, could once again see the type of heavy volume that defined his early season and is RotoBaller's WR11 for Week 16.
Dec 19, 2025 2:45 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, Sara Palczewski of Louisiana First News reports. Vele has been considered week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. He caught five of six targets for 69 yards up until that point. The 28-year-old reportedly avoided a major injury, but he could still end up missing the rest of the regular season with only three games remaining. Vele had been establishing a solid connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, recording 16 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown over the past three games. His absence will lead to more opportunities for top wideout Chris Olave, in addition to Kevin Austin Jr. and Mason Tipton against the Jets in Week 16.
Dec 17, 2025 4:46 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) avoided serious injury to his shoulder, according to Nick Underhill, but he is still considered week-to-week, leaving his availability for the rest of the season in question. Vele exited during the fourth quarter of a Week 15 win over the Panthers, having caught five of six targets to that point for 69 yards. He had formed a notable connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough of late, averaging 5.3 catches for 67.3 yards over the past three games while adding a touchdown. With Vele likely unavailable or limited for the duration of the fantasy playoffs, Chris Olave, who has quietly been the WR8 in Half-PPR scoring, should see an abundance of targets against the Jets and Titans, keeping him in must-start territory.
Dec 16, 2025 2:14 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) exited during the fourth quarter of the team's 20-17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Vele left the game due to a shoulder injury after hauling in five catches for 69 yards on six targets. The 28-year-old was spotted after the game with his left arm in a sling, reported by Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. With Vele in a sling, it will leave his availability in Week 16 against the New York Jets will be up in the air. Vele's status will become clearer when the Saints resume team practice on Wednesday.
Dec 14, 2025 8:23 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded three receptions for 40 yards on five targets in the Week 14 victory against the Buccaneers. Both his targets and yardage led the team, as Vele has continued to carve out a larger role in the offense since Rashid Shaheed's departure. Over his last three games, he has totaled 14 receptions for 170 yards and one touchdown, averaging 12.1 yards per catch. He has also led the team in snap share each of the past three weeks, including 93% last week. Despite his increased role, Vele remains a risky option given the overall inconsistencies of the Saints' offense. He has the opportunity to produce a solid fantasy performance each week, but his floor is low, making him a weekly WR3/WR4 with matchup-dependent upside.
Dec 13, 2025 1:25 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele should continue to see heavy utilization in the team's pass attack when they take on the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 15. The second-year pro has materialized as a decent second option in New Orleans since ex-teammate Rashid Shaheed was moved to Seattle. In fact, Vele has been the Saints' leading receiver through the last two games, out-producing Chris Olave and matching his snap total in both contests. While that isn't the most likely outcome moving forward, there's no doubt that the 27-year-old has built a solid rapport with rookie QB Tyler Shough, and he should continue to operate as the second or third option at worst in a Saints' offense desperate for playmakers. Vele is a better asset in PPR leagues.
Dec 11, 2025 11:15 AM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele led the team in receiving for the second straight game in Week 14's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hauling in three of his five targets for a team-high 40 yards. Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough totaled just 144 passing yards on 20 attempts, so there wasn't much volume for Vele and the Saints' pass-catchers to work with. Vele matched No. 1 wideout Chris Olave for the team lead in targets, and he seems to be establishing a connection with Shough over the past three games. The 27-year-old receiver has been the most productive Saints pass-catcher for fantasy during that stretch, averaging 12.3 PPR points per game with 14 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. In leagues where he is available, Vele is worth targeting as an emerging player in the Saints offense heading into Week 15's matchup against the division-rival Carolina Panthers.
Dec 8, 2025 11:30 AM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught all eight of his targets for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Dolphins. He has emerged as the Saints' top receiver behind Chris Olave, recording 15 targets over his last two games and playing at least 87% of snaps in each contest since Rashid Shaheed's departure. Olave (back) is questionable to face Tampa Bay, and if he is unable to play, Vele would step in as the top wideout in what should be a pass-heavy offense against a Buccaneers defense allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the league. If Olave suits up, Vele becomes a more volatile WR3/WR4.
Dec 6, 2025 12:44 AM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele has been earning more playing time over the past three games, and in the last two specifically, he has been making the most of his opportunities. Over the past two weeks, he has earned 15 targets and hauled in 11 of them for 130 receiving yards and one touchdown. Over the past three games for the Saints, he has played 87 percent or more of the snaps, whereas before Week 10, he hadn't played more than 51 percent. The departure of Rashid Shaheed opened the opportunity for Vele to step up. He has built a solid relationship with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, and because of that, he has worked his way onto the radar as a relevant fantasy option moving forward. Chris Olave remains the Saints' clear No. 1 receiver; however, Vele has seen his value rise and is worth a look in deeper formats.
Dec 3, 2025 10:01 AM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele had a monster game in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins, recording eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. The 27-year-old has now earned 15 targets over his last two games played and emerged as the clear WR2 in New Orleans alongside star wideout Chris Olave. In three games since former Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, Vele has played 87%, 89%, and 88% of New Orleans' offensive snaps. Vele has proven to be a moderately productive player when given the opportunity. Across 24 career NFL games, he's hauled in 58 receptions for 659 yards and five touchdowns on 83 targets. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Vele is worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into his Week 14 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Dec 1, 2025 10:23 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele had a breakout game in his team's Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, recording eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. Vele was acquired by New Orleans from the Denver Broncos before the start of the 2025 season. He spent most of the early portion of the year buried on the team's depth chart, recording just five targets over his first six games. However, New Orleans traded away wideout Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline and released veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks in late November. In recent weeks, Vele appears to be ascending into his team's WR2 role alongside Chris Olave. He's now recorded 23 targets over his last five games, including consecutive weeks with at least seven targets. Given his emergent role in New Orleans, Vele could be worth a look on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues heading into a Week 14 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nov 30, 2025 9:23 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele has seen increased opportunities in the passing game over the last few games. Over the last four games, Vele has seen 15 targets, but has only managed to haul in five receptions. None of the Saints offensive players outside of Chris Olave (back) and Juwan Johnson have experienced much success this season. Currently, Olave is questionable for the Week 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins due to a back injury. His absence from this contest is the only way for Vele to be worth a look as a starting option in Week 13.
Nov 29, 2025 1:35 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele has yet to carve out a significant role in the Big Easy, recording just six receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown on the season. However, with the team set to waive veteran Brandin Cooks, there will be additional opportunity for Vele to contribute in the offense. He has received eight targets in his last two contests and was on the field for a season-high 87% of snaps in the Week 10 win against the Panthers. With the Saints lacking a clear-cut WR2 behind Olave, Vele will compete with Mason Tipton for targets, though Tipton played just 34% of snaps in their last game. Given the potential increase in role, he's worth monitoring in deep leagues.
Nov 22, 2025 12:32 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele should become a bigger part of the team's passing attack, starting in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, after the Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday. Vele played only 29% of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams and was not targeted at all. However, in the Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 27-year-old played a season-high 51% of the snaps and was targeted a season-high five times. Expectations must be tempered in a Saints offense being run by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, but there's no denying that Vele will see a playing time increase in the second half of the season with Shaheed no longer in town. The former seventh-rounder of the Denver Broncos has only five catches on his 10 targets this year for 39 yards and a touchdown in eight games played.
Nov 5, 2025 1:19 PM EST
The New Orleans Saints shipped wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, meaning that Devaughn Vele will have a shot at WR2 duties for the Saints, starting in Week 10 against the division-rival Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Veteran Brandin Cooks should also see an expanded role behind No. 1 Chris Olave. Still, despite the expected playing-time boost for Vele, he's probably only worth a waiver-wire pickup in deeper fantasy leagues in a Saints offense that is averaging just 15.3 points per game, which is second-worst in the NFL. Vele played 29% of the offensive snaps in the Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and wasn't targeted at all by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough in the passing game. The former seventh-rounder by the Denver Broncos in 2024 out of Utah has five catches for 39 yards and one touchdown in his eight games in New Orleans this year.
Nov 4, 2025 3:35 PM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught one of his five targets for 10 yards in their Week 8 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vele played a season high 51.4% of the snaps and had his most targets in a game since Week 12 of last season with the Broncos. The 27-year-old was traded to the Saints for a fourth-round pick in late August and has mostly held a depth role through eight games, catching five of 10 targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. Barring a trade to either Chris Olave or Rashid Shaheed, Vele is unlikely to be relevant for fantasy purposes this season.
Oct 29, 2025 12:38 AM EST
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (hip) is officially active for Sunday's Week 4 contest against the Buffalo Bills. He had been listed as questionable after logging three limited practices this week. The 27-year-old has merely occupied a depth role when healthy, catching two passes for 16 yards through two games, though he did add a touchdown. He and Trey Palmer will continue to compete for the No. 4 role behind established receivers Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks. Vele can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
Sep 28, 2025 11:50 AM EST
The New Orleans Saints have acquired wide receiver Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection. Vele was a seventh-rounder in 2024 who exceeded expectations as a rookie, catching 41 of 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. However, the former Utah standout's role in the Denver offense diminished late in the season as Marvin Mims Jr. started receiving more targets. With Mims, Courtland Sutton, and Troy Franklin all returning and rookie third-rounder Pat Bryant coming in this year, the Broncos have decided to move on from Vele for a solid return on investment. Going from Bo Nix to either Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough will be a major downgrade at quarterback for Vele, but he could be a bigger part of a Saints offense that doesn't have much at receiver after Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks.
Aug 20, 2025 7:13 PM EST
The Denver Broncos released their initial unofficial depth chart on the team's website, and wide receiver Devaughn Vele is listed as a reserve. Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. are listed as Denver's two starting wide receivers. Vele started seven of the 13 games he played for the Broncos as a rookie in 2024 and recorded 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns for the season. However, Vele's target share dipped over the final five weeks of 2024, a stretch that coincided with a much heavier workload for Mims Jr. While Vele and Mims Jr. fill different roles within Denver's offense, this early look at the depth chart could be an indication that the team is planning to carry over its wide receiver usage trends from the end of 2024 into 2025.
Aug 7, 2025 5:48 PM EST
Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele "looks like the clear WR2" early on in training camp, according to Ryan Edwards of KOA Colorado. Vele played in 13 games for Denver as a rookie last season, recording 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton entrenched as their WR1, but opportunity exists behind him. In addition to Vele, the top contenders for targets in the wide receiver room are Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and rookie Pat Bryant. A former seventh-round pick, Vele isn't as explosive as the speedy Mims and might not have the upside of Franklin or Bryant. However, he's a big-bodied target who started seven games as a rookie. Vele could be an intriguing late-round pick in fantasy if he can seize the WR2 job in Denver and run with it.
Jul 24, 2025 2:42 PM EST
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