Olamide Zaccheaus DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

With both quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) and Michael Penix Jr. (knee) ruled out for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be the team's emergency third QB behind Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. And with the Falcons having only two running backs active -- Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson -- Zaccheaus will also be the team's emergency third-string running back. While this does not move the needle at all in fantasy for Zaccheaus, it speaks to his versatility and athleticism on the football field. The 29-year-old former undrafted free agent from Virginia has never had more than 45 receptions, 533 yards, or three touchdowns in a single season in his seven years in the NFL with the Falcons, Eagles, Commanders, and Bears. Zaccheaus caught 39 passes for 313 yards and two scores in 16 regular-season games in 2025 with the Bears, and he opens up the 2026 season as the Falcons' WR3 behind Drake London and Jahan Dotson.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has been quietly moving up draft boards recently. In the latest unofficial depth chart, Zaccheaus is listed as a starter ahead of rookie Zachariah Branch. The expectation is that Zaccheaus will remain a starter to begin the season while Branch gets more comfortable as a pro. Down the road, Zaccheaus could lose playing time, but he might be a deep league option to begin the season. The Falcons are going to lean on Drake London and Kyle Pitts Sr. as their focal points in the passing game. They also have stud running back leading the charge on the ground. There might not be a ton of work for Zaccheaus, but he could be worth stashing in deep leagues to begin the year.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has quietly improved his redraft outlook by holding onto a starting role as the preseason winds down. Atlanta's latest unofficial depth chart still lists Zaccheaus with the first team, ahead of rookie Zachariah Branch in the slot. The game usage has backed that up. In the preseason opener, Zaccheaus played six of eight first-team snaps with Tua Tagovailoa, while Branch saw just one. The Falcons then sat Zaccheaus, Drake London, and Jahan Dotson against Indianapolis, and Branch remained mostly with the reserves. Zaccheaus also moved outside during a two-minute drill in joint practices so Atlanta could get Branch onto the field in the slot, showing there is at least a path for both to play. The 29-year-old caught 39 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns with Chicago last season after posting 45 catches for 506 yards and three scores with Washington in 2024. London, Dotson, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson will limit the ceiling, and Branch remains a threat to earn more work. Still, Zaccheaus has done enough to enter Week 1 as the favorite for a meaningful complementary role.