Saints’ Shaheed Struggles in Week 1 Compared to Olave

New Orleans, LA – In the 2025 NFL season opener, Rashid Shaheed struggled to match the performance of his teammate Chris Olave in the Saints’ passing game.

Last year, Olave and Shaheed were often seen as the dynamic duo for New Orleans. However, this season’s start shows a noticeable gap in their contributions. In Week 1, Shaheed recorded a 19.6% target share and a 21.9% first-read share, ranking third on the team.

Despite having opportunities, Shaheed’s efficiency was lacking, finishing the game with only 33 receiving yards and 0.80 yards per route run. Unlike Olave, who was targeted once in the red zone, and Juwan Johnson, who garnered two red zone targets, Shaheed did not receive any red zone looks in the match against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Saints are hoping to see improvements in quarterback Spencer Rattler‘s play in future games. If Shaheed can enhance his per-route efficiency, he may regain value as a low-end PPR flex option. Meanwhile, the San Francisco secondary’s performance in Week 1 adds to the challenge for perimeter wide receivers, allowing the tenth-fewest PPR points per target.