WR Olamide Zaccheaus, PHI (1 Viewer)

OLAMIDE ZACCHEAUS WR, ATLANTA FALCONS

Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said he's "very confident" Olamide Zaccheaus and Russell Gage can step up in Julio Jones' (hamstring) absence.

Zaccheaus saw six targets two weeks again against the Bears, with Jones out, and nine target last week against the Packers after Jones aggravated his hamstring injury. Gage, meanwhile, has seen 16 percent of the Falcons' targets, mostly from the slot. Both Gage and Zaccheaus are reasonable fantasy options this week against the Panthers if Jones is declared inactive.

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Russell Gage

SOURCE: Vaughn McClure on Twitter

Oct 9, 2020, 1:41 PM ET

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Olamide Zaccheaus showing promise

All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that forced him to miss Atlanta's Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears. Jones was able to recover in time for the recent matchup with the Packers but re-injured his hamstring in the first half and didn't return. Jones didn't practice on Wednesday and if he's unable to go on Sunday against the Panthers, Ryan feels comfortable with his weapons because of what he's seen from Olamide Zaccehaus.

No one was expecting for Ridley to have zero catches against the Packers after the start he's had to the season. Without Jones on the field, Green Bay was able to zero in on Ridley and it was Zaccheaus who shined. Zaccheaus caught eight passes for 88 yards in Atlanta's 30-16 loss to the Packers. 

"Olamide has done a good job for us," Ryan said. "It's hard to be a body double for a guy like Julio because he's just not normal, you know? Olamide does a great job of it in terms of having great speed on the outside, very sure hands catching the football. He's also willing in the run game to go block. I think he's done a great job in the last few weeks given a little bit more playing time."

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Zaccheaus corralled eight of a team-high nine targets for 86 receiving yards during Monday's 30-16 loss to the Packers.

The second-year wideout from Virginia showed signs of fantasy relevance last Sunday against the Bears, playing 79 percent of the offensive snaps after Russell Gage exited with a head injury and catching four of six targets for 41 yards. Zaccheaus became Matt Ryan's preferred target after Julio Jones exited Monday night's loss with a hamstring injury, and Green Bay's defense decided to focus on containing Calvin Ridley. He had just four career catches for 125 yards in 12 appearances prior to Week 3, but he may provide deep-league utility if Jones proves unable to go in Atlanta's upcoming matchup against the Panthers.

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BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED: 2% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: If you were lucky enough to find Zaccheaus in the WW during the past two weeks, congratulations. It is not that it was hard (he's still rostered in just 2% of Yahoo! leagues...), but he definitely merited a chance given Julio Jones' injury woes of late. Starting in W3, Jones has missed one game entirely and played just 15 snaps this past Monday--also, Russell Gage could only play 6 snaps in W3. That has opened the door to Zaccheaus, who has turned into Atlanta's WR3 in the past two weeks... and has thrived at it.

The Falcons have quite a booming QB in Matt Ryan, and although the offense is a little overloaded with all of Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, and Russell Gage, injuries have made wonders to Olamide. Zaccheus had his first big chance in W3 and finished with a relatively good 6-4-41 line for 8.1 PPR points. Nothing to call home proud about, but still good for a true under-the-radar play.

Now, going into W4 it looked like Zaccheaus window of opportunity should be closed with Ridley/Gage/Jones available from the get-go. Jones, though, was limited to just 15 plays and Olamide led the team in snaps played (53), targets (9), receptions (8), and receiving yards (86). All of those marks were season-highs for the sophomore, who in just four games has already surpassed virtually all of his rookie-year stats.

Zaccheaus upside and viability in lineups are entirely linked to Jones' (hamstring) and Gage's (head) availability going forward. If any of those two misses time, then Zaccheaus makes sense as a WW addition in deeper leagues. Olamide was the Falcons WR1 on MNF with 16.6 PPR points, and that is probably his ceiling, but if he keeps getting opportunities he should be good enough to at least take on the FLEX role on your team.

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Insein said:

Took a flyer. That team has issues. Jones, Ridley and Gage have all  been injured. So why not grab and see. Dropped Hamler for him. 

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Insein said:

Took a flyer. That team has issues. Jones, Ridley and Gage have all  been injured. So why not grab and see. Dropped Hamler for him. 

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Insein said:

With the Broncos Pats game postponed, Zaccheous is suddenly starting for me. No Julio this week so the potential is there. 

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Ray Barboni said:

Might be forced to pick up and start this guy ... full disclosure, I know nothing about him.

is he considered the play over gage? 

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Olamide Zaccheaus caught 1-of-4 targets for 13 yards in the Falcons' Week 5 loss to the Panthers.

A desperate last-minute WR4 on paper, Zaccheaus busted with the Falcons offense looking like the Jets. Matt Ryan was as bad as he's been in a decade, and Zaccheaus wasn't involved enough to back door into a respectable fantasy finish in garbage time. With Julio Jones possibly back next week, Zaccheaus can be dropped in standard-sized leagues.

- Rotoworld

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Falcons Olamide Zaccheaus ran a pass route on all 39 of Matt Ryan's drop backs in Week 5 against the Panthers. 

Zaccheaus caught 1-of-4 targets for 13 yards with Julio Jones (hamstring) out for Atlanta. Zaccheaus had drawn nine targets in Week 4 against the Packers; that volume vanished against Carolina. It was a disastrous outing for nearly everyone in the Falcons passing game. Ryan's struggles have reached concerning levels for the team. He's thrown a total of one touchdown and two interceptions over the past three games. Fantasy managers should hold on to Zaccheaus in case Jones misses more time. 

RELATED: 

Julio Jones

SOURCE: Adam Levitan on Twitter 

Oct 12, 2020, 8:56 AM ET

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Falcons placed WR Olamide Zaccheaus (toe) on injured reserve. 

Laquon Treadwell has been promoted from the practice squad in a corresponding roster move. Even with Julio Jones sidelined in Week 12, Zaccheaus caught just one ball for 11 yards. His Weeks 4 and 9 outbursts were largely flukes. The 2019 UDFA will be eligible to return in Week 16. Zaccheaus isn't a necessary Dynasty league hold. 

Dec 1, 2020, 3:04 PM ET

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robb said:

Okay......... at least he is a #3 WR (maybe #2) and option after Ridley & Pitts. What are your thoughts on his prospects going forward now with JJ gone?

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robb said:

Okay......... at least he is a #3 WR (maybe #2) in Atlanta and an option after Ridley & Pitts. What are your thoughts on his prospects going forward now with JJ gone?

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King of the Jungle said:

Watch for Frank Darby.

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As for the other ancillary offensive pieces like Russell Gage and Olamidee Zaccheaus, fade Gage and buy Zaccheaus as a value. Gage is going to see a massive boost in draft stock, but it’s unwarranted.

The Falcons slot WR averaged more fantasy points per game with a healthy Jones in the lineup (11.7) than without (10.4). His 19% target share did not change at all.

Meanwhile, Zaccheaus performed admirably relative to expectation when given more playing time. He averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game and out-produced Gage across the board. If you’re looking to capitalize on the Jones trade news, the value is taking Zaccheaus with an extremely late pick. The former 2019 UDFA could soon find himself with a starting role on the outside.

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NFL Beat Writers @32BeatWriters

"Zaccheaus made play after play today in both 11-on-11, 7-on-7, and 1-on-1 sessions. He looks quick, has showed off excellent hands, and generally looks confident on the field. Zaccheaus has also notably been lined up both in the slot and outside"

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Who is the Atlanta Falcons new No. 3 wide receiver? As of Wednesday, it would be hard to argue anyone other than Olamide Zaccheaus. 

Entering his third season, Zaccheaus continues to be a weapon downfield for the Falcons during training camp. Considering the glimpses of potential he's shown in two years, it's easy to see why coach Arthur Smith and the offensive staff have high hopes for a breakout season. 

"We put a lot on his plate, and he can handle it," Smith told reporters Saturday.  "He's a smart dependable football player who can play multiple roles. Those guys are valuable. He can play different positions on the fly. He's working to compete for a starting spot. That's what you want. He's dependable. That's what he has shown so far."  

Remember in 2019 when he went undrafted? Who knew that two years later, Zaccheaus would be more than just the guy who scored a 93-yard touchdown as a rookie?

Every practice, he looks stronger, quicker, and more agile than the year before. Maybe this was always within his abilities. But sometimes, it's hard to see the upside when another player is in the way. 

"There's no Julio [Jones], so we have to adjust," Zaccheaus said Tuesday. "We understand that it's a business, People come and go. Our position group is tight-knit, so we just rely on each other. That trust is our backbone. That's important to us on game day. That's what we fall back on."

Jones, who was traded to the Tennessee Titans earlier this offseason, leaves behind the No. 1 job for the first time since being drafted in 2010 out of Alabama. Fellow Crimson Tide alum Calvin Ridley showed he could take over the mantle as the next leading receiver following a 90-catch, 1,374-yards campaign in 2020. 

The former No. 3, Russell Gage, continues to be a name on the rise as the new second-in-command. Last season, Gage was the breakout star, recording career-bests in receptions (72), receiving yards (786), and touchdowns (4). 

Does this make Zacchaeus the de facto third option? 

In a similar fashion to those above, Zaccheaus looks consistent in his route-running, ability to read coverages, and getting off blocks. He knows that with a strong camp, the reps will come. The more reps his way, the better his overall production.

"I'm going to come here and work hard for the team no matter what," Zaccheaus said. "I'm going to give 100-percent effort no matter what I'm asked to do. I'm all about building the team morale and helping the team win."

Zaccheaus wants to build off his fast start entering Week 2 of training camp. He also wants to be more than guy the "long touchdown guy." 

"Dependability'' is a great word to describe a wide receiver's job on offense.  It's a word Zaccheaus hopes to be known for in 2021. 

Said Zaccheaus: "It's Year 3 now. That was a play I made my first year. I'm trying to take one day at a time and stay in the present."

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Harry ATL @hamul2020

One player you think that will surprise by playing at an elite level on offense and defense?

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Kevin Knight @FalcoholicKevin

Well idk about elite, but we'll say "better than expected".

Offense: WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Defense: CB Fabian Moreau

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Olamide Zaccheaus caught one of three targets for 15 yards in the Falcons' Week 4 loss to the Football Team

Zaccheaus slowed down in Week 4 after posting 32 yards and a touchdown in Atlanta's Week 3 win against the Giants. Zaccheaus will be the Falcons' primary slot receiver for as long as Russell Gage (ankle) is sidelined. He shouldn't be rostered in most 12-team leagues though. 

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Olamide Zaccheaus caught 3-of-3 targets for 58 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons' Week 9 win over the Saints. 

With Calvin Ridley (personal) remaining away from the team, Zaccheaus finally caught a few passes, more than doubling his season touchdown total in the process. Both scores came from within the six-yard line. With Ridley sidelined, it is going to remain a weekly rotation for looks behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts, one Russell Gage figures to win more weeks than not. There is zero re-draft case to be made for rostering Zaccheaus.

- NBC SportsEDGE

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WR Olamide Zaccheaus signed his right of first refusal tender with the Falcons. 

Zaccheus will make around $2.4 million this season playing on the tender. In 2021, he recorded 31 receptions for 406 yards and three scores for an Atlanta offense that continually struggled to move the ball. On a Falcons roster with little pass-catching talent, Zaccheaus could fall into considerable volume in 2022. The Falcons spending an early-round pick on a wideout in the NFL Draft could change that calculus. 

SOURCE: Orlando Ledbetter on Twitter 

Apr 19, 2022, 10:38 AM ET

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Eagles signed WR Olamide Zaccheaus, formerly of the Falcons.​

Zaccheaus's role steadily grew in Atlanta since joining the team as a UDFA in 2019. He was credited with a start in 13 games last year and appeared in all 17 contests. Zaccheaus parlayed the expanded gig into career highs across the board with a 40/533/3 receiving line. Though not an exciting name for fantasy managers, Zaccheaus is a viable WR3 who can also pitch in on special teams. He will compete with Quez Watkins for a role on three-receiver sets unless the Eagles make a sizable investment at wideout during the draft.
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Apr 19, 2023 at 4:52 PM ET

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