Devaughn Vele
Wide Receiver #17
Devaughn Vele News
Devaughn Vele a Priority Waiver Add After Another Encouraging Outing
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was targeted six more times in Sunday's win over the Ravens, collecting five receptions for 64 yards. With one Week 2 game still to be played, Vele sits as the fantasy WR18 on the season, and as long as rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) remains sidelined, the third-year veteran can be trusted to provide a usable floor. In Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense, quarterback Tyler Shough has attempted the second-most passes through two weeks and leads the league with 662 yards; along with Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson, Vele is one of three New Orleans pass-catchers to top 50 receiving yards in both games this season. Vele was considered a priority add last week, so he may not be available in most leagues, but he should be scooped up wherever he remains unrostered.
Sep 21, 2026 9:25 AM EST
Devaughn Vele has Intriguing Upside for Week 2
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele could step into a bigger role in the offense during the Week 2 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Vele was impressive in the season opener when he hauled in seven of his nine targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Detroit Lions. The 28-year-old could be asked to step into a larger role this weekend with top wideout Chris Olave (hamstring) questionable for Sunday. If Olave is out, Vele would step into the WR1 role against this tough Ravens defense. Vele is mainly a deep league option, but he could be a passable WR3 if Olave is unable to play.
Sep 19, 2026 5:15 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Could See Bigger Role in Week 2
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele stepped up as the WR2 behind Chris Olave in Week 1's battle against the Detroit Lions, recording seven receptions on nine targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in the overtime loss. Surprisingly, Vele led the Saints' receiver room in snap percentage at 91%, playing five more snaps than Olave and 20 more than rookie receiver Bryce Lance. With Olave officially questionable with a hamstring injury, Vele would step in as the team's WR1 against a tough Ravens defense that allowed just 166 passing yards in Week 1 against Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts. If Olave does suit up, Vele should still have some appeal in deeper leagues, coming in at WR43 in Nick Mariano's Week 2 rankings. If Olave is ruled out, Vele becomes a viable WR3 with additional upside.
Sep 18, 2026 8:54 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Becomes a Must-Add in Most Leagues After Sunday's Big Performance
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught seven of nine targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough found Vele for a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cut the lead to 21-14. Vele lined up as the Saints WR2 behind Chris Olave and was second on the team in receptions, receiving yards, and targets. His longest catch of the day was a 31-yard reception, which led to a Saints field goal. The 28-year-old will see an uptick in snaps and targets in the short term with rookie Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on injured reserve. Vele logged 82 snaps, had 58 routes run, and had a good rapport with Shough in Sunday's loss. With Tyson injured, Vele carved himself out a role and could become a key part of the Saints' offense along with Olave, Juwan Johnson, and Travis Etienne Jr. Vele is RotoBaller's No. 3-ranked waiver wire pickup and will look to build on Sunday's performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
Sep 14, 2026 2:22 AM EST
Devaughn Vele an Intriguing Deep-League Flex Option in Week 1
Across 13 games in 2025, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. The 28-year-old saw minimal usage early in the year, but his production picked up following the Saints' midseason trade of former wideout Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks. With Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) on Injured Reserve to begin the year, Vele could once again be the WR2 alongside Chris Olave in New Orleans. In Week 1, the Saints have a favorable matchup on paper against a Detroit Lions defense that will be without both starting safeties in Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee). Across his final four games of 2025, Vele averaged over 12 PPR fantasy points per game. He profiles as an under-the-radar deep-league flex option in Week 1.
Sep 12, 2026 12:36 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Could Grab the No. 2 Job Early
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele has a real early-season opening with rookie Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve. Vele is listed with the first-team offense, and there is at least some evidence he can make use of the extra work. After Rashid Shaheed was traded last season, Vele caught 20 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown on 29 targets over his final five games before a shoulder injury ended his year. That stretch matters more than the full-season line of 25 catches for 293 yards. Chris Olave is still the clear top receiver, while Barion Brown and Juwan Johnson will compete for targets too, so calling Vele the automatic No. 2 option would go too far. The opportunity is there, though. Tyson must miss at least four games, and Vele already showed late last season that his production can climb when the Saints give him more to do. He has a chance to turn this early window into a much steadier fantasy role.
Sep 9, 2026 12:08 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Enters 2026 with a Clear Path to Early-Season Targets
Across 13 games (seven starts) in 2025, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. The 28-year-old got off to a slow start to his first season in New Orleans, recording just five catches across his first eight games with the team. However, Vele got hot in his final five games played before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, recording 20 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown on 29 targets. Vele's increased usage came after the Saints traded away then-WR2 Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline. Entering 2026, Vele could be in a similar situation early in the season. Projected Saints WR2 Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) will begin the year on Injured Reserve due to a hamstring injury, leaving a void in the team's wide receiver room behind star wideout Chris Olave. As a late-round sleeper, Vele is a worthy target for fantasy managers.
Sep 4, 2026 6:34 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Climbing Up the Depth Chart with Teammate Sidelined
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is quickly climbing up the depth chart ahead of the 2026 season. With Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss significant time, Vele projects to be the Saints' No. 2 receiver for the regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 13. Not only does the depth chart itself look favorably upon the 28-year-old receiver, but so does the coaching staff. Before Tyson got hurt, head coach Kellen Moore said that he regretted not making Vele a bigger part of the offense throughout the first half of last season. He made the most of his opportunities following the Saints' bye week, though, catching 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and one touchdown across four games before getting hurt. During that four-game span from Week 12-15, Vele ranked as the overall WR23 in PPR leagues. Assuming he takes on a similar role and can maintain a similar rapport with quarterback Tyler Shough, Vele has high-end WR3/flex appeal early in the 2026 season, especially while Tyson is inactive. With an ADP of 231.2, the 6-foot-5 receiver is going undrafted in most fantasy leagues. Managers should consider spending their final draft pick on him, because he could be a legitimate fantasy starter for the first month or so this season.
Aug 28, 2026 9:00 PM EST
DeVaughn Vele to See More Work Early in 2026 Season
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is set for an expanded role early in the season. With rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) expected to miss significant time, Vele is positioned to be the team's second-leading receiver behind Chris Olave. The former Broncos receiver hauled in 25 of 39 targets for 293 yards and two touchdowns last season, but found a groove late with quarterback Tyler Shough. To add to Vele's value this season, Olave has struggled with concussions throughout his career and was part of the reason he slipped down fantasy boards last season. If Olave and Tyson miss time at any point this season, Vele becomes a starting-caliber receiver in most fantasy leagues.
Aug 21, 2026 8:52 AM EST
Devaughn Vele's Sleeper Case Just Got Stronger
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was already running with the top group before Jordyn Tyson's hamstring injury. Now the window is a lot wider. Tyson, the No. 8 pick in April, is expected to miss roughly two months and could open the season on short-term Injured Reserve. Vele at least has something on the r sum that says he can use the extra work. From Weeks 12 through 15 last year, he caught 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and a touchdown before a shoulder injury ended his season. His full 2025 line was 25 catches for 293 yards and two scores in 13 games, so most of his production came late. Kellen Moore said this spring that Vele was healthy and had a "really defined role," and the Saints treated him as one of their top three receivers before the preseason opener. At an ADP of 277, there is barely a price attached. Tyson should eventually return, but Vele has a real early-season opening now. He's a much more interesting final-round swing than he was a week ago.
Aug 19, 2026 10:25 AM EST
Devaughn Vele Expected to be WR3 in Saints Offense
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is expected to be the team's WR3 in 2026. Vele had just 293 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Saints, but he picked up steam at the end of the year. He totaled 19 of 26 targets for 239 yards and one touchdown in his final four games last season. While the additions of rookies Jordyn Tyson, Bryce Lance, and Barion Brown have increased the risk to Vele's stock entering his third season, his role in head coach Kellen Moore's offense seems cemented. With the injury history surrounding Tyson and current lead receiver Chris Olave, Vele could be in line for a major role in this offense if either were to miss time this season. Currently ranked WR86 in RotoBaller's rankings, Vele is a solid handcuff option to consider in deeper leagues.
Aug 7, 2026 6:53 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Could Get Lost in the Shuffle
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele showed some flashes of potential last season. He hauled in 25 receptions, 293 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games last season. Those aren't bad numbers for someone who served as the third or fourth receiver behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. It won't get easier for Vele with the Saints adding Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance through the draft this year. At best, Vele will be the distant third option in this offense next season. The 28-year-old might offer some deep league depth, but isn't someone that needs to be rostered to begin the season.
Jul 22, 2026 5:42 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Unlikely to Recreate Opportunity-Driven Late-Season Success
New Orleans wide receiver Devaughn Vele had a slow start to his Saints tenure, but was playing some of the best ball of his young career before a shoulder injury caused the team to shut him down for the final three games of the 2025 season. After showing flashes in Denver as a 2024 seventh-round pick, an influx of young talent allowed the Broncos to trade him to New Orleans ahead of his second season. While it's unlikely he'll be entirely shipped out of town again, the Saints' recent investments at the position could make it difficult to regain his starting role, having finished the year as the secondary option behind All-Pro Chris Olave. After a string of injuries left them dangerously thin at the position down the stretch, New Orleans spent three of its eight 2026 draft picks on wide receivers, including Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick and intriguing size-speed prospect Bryce Lance in the fourth round. Thrust into the largest role of his career out of necessity, Vele was able to provide emergency flex viability before his injury, but with a deeper depth chart being built around him, he is not a player who should factor into 2026 draft plans, and already 28 years old heading into his third season, his dynasty prospects remain slim.
Jul 7, 2026 5:36 AM EST
Is it Time for Dynasty Managers to Move on from Devaughn Vele?
Across 13 games in 2025, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. Vele played a minimal role in his team's passing game early in the year, but he emerged as a larger piece after the Saints traded wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the 2025 trade deadline. Across a four-game stretch from Week 12 to Week 15, Vele recorded 19 receptions for 236 yards and a score on 26 targets. However, Vele suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 15 and may now be facing another uphill battle for playing time in New Orleans in 2026. The Saints were aggressive in pursuing wide receiver talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, using a first-round pick on Jordyn Tyson and day three selections on wideouts Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. Although Vele is only in his third NFL campaign, he's already entering his age-29 season and likely offers limited upside for dynasty managers.
Jun 12, 2026 8:28 AM EST
Devaughn Vele's Upside Takes a Hit After the NFL Draft
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele entered this offseason as one of the biggest sleepers in dynasty fantasy football. In his final four games of 2025, Vele had caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. It seemed like he might be a breakout candidate in 2026, but that trajectory came crashing down as the Saints added two receivers in the NFL Draft. Now, Vele is behind Chris Olave and Jordyn Tyson on the depth chart, and he could also end up behind rookie Bryce Lance, who has the speed necessary to fill a Rashid Shaheed-esque role in New Orleans. It's a disappointing development for managers who acquired Vele at a low cost this offseason. With that said, he's still worth holding in deeper leagues, as he's proven that he can handle volume. This Saints' offense is quickly trending up, so he could still get onto the WR3/flex radar if Olave or Tyson were to miss any time.
May 5, 2026 7:46 AM EST
Will Devaughn Vele See a Larger Role in Second Season with Saints?
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele was acquired via trade weeks before the start of the 2025 season after seeing scattered success as a rookie with the Denver Broncos. New Orleans gave up a fourth and seventh round pick for the 2024 seventh-rounder, but with so little time to learn the new system, he was rarely used early in the year, garnering only 54 yards on six catches before the team's Week 11 bye, despite the Saints passing at one of the league's highest volumes. In the four weeks coming out of the bye, his involvement increased substantially, twice leading the team in targets, offering a strong complementary option to Chris Olave, and becoming a trusted middle-of-the-field presence for Tyler Shough. Vele's season ended prematurely when a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve, but in those four post-bye contests, he averaged 4.8 receptions for 59.8 yards, and following his first full offseason with the team, he could see similar usage in 2026. The Saints invested real draft capital into Vele, and he has experience operating both from the slot and out wide, so he should be able to find a useful role even if New Orleans does take a receiver early in the upcoming NFL Draft. It should, however, be remembered that Vele came into the league as an older prospect and will turn 29 midway through his third season, so if he doesn't find sustained fantasy relevance in 2026, the window to do so will close quickly.
Apr 12, 2026 5:15 AM EST
Devaughn Vele Worth Buying Low in Dynasty Leagues?
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele is an intriguing under-the-radar sleeper for 2026. Acquired from the Denver Broncos last year, Vele started to turn a corner following the Saints' Week 11 bye. In four games after the bye, he caught 19 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 12.2 points per game in PPR leagues during that span, ranking as the overall WR21. Unfortunately, Vele injured his shoulder in Week 15 and missed the final three contests of the season. Despite his late-season injury, Vele produced enough when healthy to suggest that he might play a key role on offense in 2026. He's currently listed as the No. 2 receiver on the depth chart, slotting in behind Chris Olave. Quarterback Tyler Shough had a great rookie season, and there's reason to believe he can support two fantasy-relevant receivers next year. We know this Saints coaching staff likes Vele because they traded a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick for him, and we know there's a solid rapport between him and Shough. Could it translate to WR3/flex production in 2026? It's certainly possible, which means dynasty managers should consider buying low on Vele this offseason.
Mar 21, 2026 5:04 PM EST
Devaughn Vele a Sleeper Candidate Heading into 2026?
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) caught 25 of his 39 targets for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games (seven starts) in his second year in the NFL. Statistically, it was a step backward after he had 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns on 55 targets in 13 games (seven starts) in his rookie campaign with the Denver Broncos. The 28-year-old finished his sophomore season on Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury, too. However, Vele had become a much bigger part of New Orleans' offense just before his season-ending injury in Week 15. In his final three games, Vele had 16 catches on 19 targets for 202 yards and one of his two touchdowns on the year. The former seventh-rounder by Denver has some momentum going into next season, but his role could change drastically based on what the team does in free agency and the draft.
Feb 25, 2026 6:28 PM EST
Devaughn Vele Placed on Injured Reserve
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
Devaughn Vele Ruled Out for Week 16
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
Latest Fantasy News
