Devaughn Vele
Vele is the Saints' every-down WR2 behind Chris Olave, and his usage has been steady through five games, though the Week 5 box score was quiet.
Role
Athlon's Week 5 snap table (published today) has him at 43 snaps and 96% against the Vikings, with Olave at 41. FantasyData had him at 278 of 306 offensive snaps (91%) through Week 4, the most among Saints skill players. He has been the No. 2 target behind Olave: 9 targets in Week 1, at least 6 in each of the first three games, and 9 in Week 4. Last Sunday he caught four of six for 26 yards. FantasyData also noted third-down production, with 109 receiving yards on third down through Week 4. Rookie Jordyn Tyson (hamstring, on injured reserve earlier) was reportedly expected back around Week 5. I did not find his current status or snap count, so I can't say whether he has taken work from Vele.
Optimists point to the snap share and the target floor. Vele is on the field almost every down, has been targeted at least six times in each of the first four games, and gets third-down work. Head coach Kellen Moore praised him publicly for his catches and his blocking. At 6-foot-5 he is a big target for quarterback Tyler Shough.
Skeptics point to the ceiling and the competition. Last Sunday's four catches for 26 yards show how fast the production can drop. He is a No. 2 behind Olave, who drew 18 targets in Week 1, so his volume depends on game script and Olave's health. Tyson's return from injured reserve could cut into his targets. Before this role he was a depth receiver, and he is 28, turning 29 in December.
Where analysts split
The open question is whether Vele keeps the volume once Tyson is healthy. Analysts at RotoBaller tied his target share to Tyson's absence, and I found no current reporting on Tyson's role since he came back. Beyond that, the coverage I found largely agrees that Vele is the WR2 in practice.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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