NO DeVaughn Vele
NFL player. Position: WR. Team: NO.
Quick Facts
- Position: WR
- Team: NO (New Orleans Saints)
- Bye week (2026): 8
2026 Outlook
Second-year receiver stepping into a more prominent role after the Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to Seattle mid-2025. In his 20 games after Shaheed's departure, Vele caught 25 passes for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns, establishing himself as a viable depth option. With Jordyn Tyson sidelined for approximately two months due to hamstring injury, Vele inherits WR2 duties and volume opportunities behind Chris Olave. Delivered in Week 1 with 7 catches on 9 targets for 63 yards and a TD against Detroit, validating the WR2 opportunity and making him a waiver-wire target in Week 2 (per fantasy-football-waiver-wire-week-2-picks). Fantasy-relevant in deeper formats given the confirmed volume and production (per Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson reportedly out two months with hamstring injury; What will...).
Week 1 Detroit matchup (Sept 9): Vele's Week 1 opportunity against Detroit is particularly attractive given the Lions' secondary weakness: safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph begin the season on the PUP list, while former first-round cornerback Terrion Arnold was released due to off-field issues. This leaves cornerback room with veterans Rock Ya-Sin and D.J. Reed on the boundary and Roger McCreary, Christian Izien in the slot. At 6-foot-5, Vele can line up outside or in the slot and has established chemistry with QB Tyler Shough—after Shough became the starter in Week 9 last season, Vele caught 20 of 29 targets for 254 yards (42.3 per game) and a TD. His Week 13 performance specifically showed his potential: 8 catches on 8 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown against a similar secondary. With first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson on IR, Vele is the clear WR2 for New Orleans and could see substantial target share given the finite pass catchers available. DraftKings lists him at +380 to score a touchdown in Week 1 (per It wouldn't shock me IF ... for NFL Week 1: Tua one-and-done as QB1, Patrick Mahomes under siege on 'MNF)).
During the joint practice with Dallas on August 19, Vele received a rest day while Bryce Lance worked with first-team reps as Saints WR2, indicating the team is rotating depth and giving Lance development snaps during this window (per Saints' Bryce Lance: Sees reps with starters Tuesday - CBS Sports).
September 11 – Committee passing game: As the Saints operate with Tyson sidelined, the passing game is expected to spread across multiple receivers and tight ends. Vele's intermediate-route profile remains valuable, but he'll share targets with Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, and Barion Brown rather than dominating WR2 volume (per Saints Passing Game Could Be By Committee Outside of Chris Olave).
Role / Depth Chart
Competing for WR2/WR3 snaps in Saints receiving corps. Primary beneficiary of Tyson's absence during first two months of 2026 season. Behind Chris Olave on the depth chart, competing with Bryce Lance and Barion Brown for intermediate and depth receiving work.
Injury Status
No known injuries as of preseason.
Recent News
- 2026-09-16 — Who Should I Start for Week 2? Jalen Coker, Devaughn Vele, Christian Watson, Terry... (Who Should I Start for Week 2? Jalen Coker, Devaughn Vele, Christian Watson, Terry...)
- 2026-09-17 — FLEX Finder Week 2: Running it back with Pat Bryant, Devaughn Vele (FLEX Finder Week 2: Running it back with Pat Bryant, Devaughn Vele)
- 2026-09-16 — Fantasy football Week 2 waiver wire: Kaelon Black, Devaughn Vele, streamers and more (Fantasy football Week 2 waiver wire: Kaelon Black, Devaughn Vele, streamers and more)
- 2026-09-14 — Fantasy football Week 1 recap, early waivers speed run: Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks (Fantasy football Week 1 recap, early waivers speed run: Devaughn Vele, Dontayvion Wicks)
- 2026-09-15 — 10 fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 2 - Broncos Wire (10 fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 2 - Broncos Wire)
- 2026-09-15 — Fantasy football Week 2 waiver wire: Kaelon Black, Devaughn Vele, streamers and more (Fantasy football Week 2 waiver wire: Kaelon Black, Devaughn Vele, streamers and more)
- 2026-09-15 — Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 2 picks: Players to target include Devaughn Vele... (Fantasy football waiver wire, Week 2 picks: Players to target include Devaughn Vele...)
- 2026-09-09 — Week 1 TD upside: Vele positioned as Saints WR2 vs. Detroit secondary weakened by safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph (PUP list) and released corner Terrion Arnold (per It wouldn't shock me IF ... for NFL Week 1: Tua one-and-done as QB1, Patrick Mahomes under siege on 'MNF))
- 2026-08-18 — Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson reportedly out two months with hamstring injury; What will... (Saints rookie Jordyn Tyson reportedly out two months with hamstring injury; What will...)