Josh Oliver 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 29
- Height / weight
- 6'5", 264 lb
- Experience
- 8th season
- Drafted
- 2019 R3, #69
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 2.5
- Pos rank
- TE51
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 vs. Dolphins, Sun Oct 4, 4:05 PM ET 9th vs. TEs, favorable
Josh Oliver Rest-of-Season Outlook
depth TE on the sideline for now
On injured reserve, biceps.
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE49 last season at 3.7 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 3 games he's TE51 at 2.5 PPR points per game, against 3.7 over 15 games last season (TE49). He's running behind last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 55th of 81 in route participation (27.8%), 53rd of 82 in target share (4.1%) and 49th of 82 in efficiency (1.06 yards per route run). Route participation is the soft spot. Carson Wentz is his quarterback.
He's on injured reserve, biceps. Until he's back, his value is a bench spot at most.
The next favorable matchups are the Dolphins in Week 4 (9th against TEs) and the Saints in Week 5 (3rd against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
Oliver remains a blocking specialist first, and the route data confirms it: just 151 routes across 12 games in 2025, a 27.8% route share, and a 4.1% target share that ranks him as a deep afterthought in Minnesota's passing hierarchy. His 0.073 WOPR and 1.06 yards per route are replacement-level for the position, and 19 targets simply can't sustain weekly relevance no matter how efficient he is. That said, the underlying efficiency is genuinely strong, a 0.604 EPA per play and 63.2% success rate, plus a clean 78.9% catch rate on 15 grabs.
The entire fantasy case is touchdown-dependent. He turned six red-zone looks and two end-zone targets into a career-high four scores, which is how a player with 160 yards still mattered occasionally. Strip away the variance-prone TDs and there's nothing to draft here; treat him as a touchdown-or-bust streamer only when the matchup and goal-line script align.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 81 tight ends who played at least six games. Each bar is one tight end, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Route participation
Target share
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 3.4
- Drop rate
- 0.0%
- Red-zone targets
- 6
- Route participation
- 27.8%
- YAC per reception
- 6.8
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Dolphins in Week 4 and the Saints in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.Wk 4 MIA, 9thWk 5 NO, 3rdWk 7 IND, 7thWk 8 DET, 1st
Risk
- InjuryHe's on injured reserve, biceps.
- Limited route participation27.8% route participation, 55th of 81 TEs in 2025.
All Josh Oliver stats & analysis
TEs like Josh Oliver
Josh Oliver Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Josh Oliver's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Josh Oliver projects as a depth TE on the sideline for now for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in TE-premium leagues and waiver-wire material in 12-team and 10-team leagues. His route participation (27.8% route participation, 55th of 81 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Josh Oliver's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Josh Oliver is the TE51 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in depth TE territory, waiver-wire material in 12-team leagues.
Will Josh Oliver get more targets?
Josh Oliver's targets are holding steady: 0.5 a game over his last two games against 1.7 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Josh Oliver's fantasy football upside?
Josh Oliver's upside: his ceiling this season is 4.2 PPR points (Week 1, TE31) and the Dolphins in Week 4 and the Saints in Week 5 are top-10 matchups for TEs.
What could hurt Josh Oliver's fantasy value?
Josh Oliver's risks: he is on injured reserve, biceps and his route participation (27.8% route participation, 55th of 81 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Josh Oliver's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.