Vikings' Josh Oliver: Secures two touchdowns in 2023
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Oliver appeared in all 17 games during the 2023 season, catching 22 of 28 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
A third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019, Oliver's targets, catches, yards and touchdowns all set or matched career highs. He saw action on 42 percent of the Vikings' offensive snaps after signing a three-year, $21 million deal with Minnesota last offseason. Oliver should once again play more of a blocking role behind T.J. Hockenson (knee) next season.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Week 17 Waiver Priority List
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Oliver could see an expanded role for the Vikings with T.J. Hockenson (knee) likely out in Week 17 against Green Bay. That could make Oliver a streaming option in deeper leagues. He has one game this season with more than three targets, which was Week 11 at Denver, and he caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in that game. He could be the No. 2 option in the passing game for Nick Mullens against the Packers with Hockenson and Jordan Addison (ankle) also hurt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Catches one pass in defeat
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Oliver recorded a 33-yard reception in the Vikings' 30-24 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
The backup tight end saw two targets and played on 19 offensive snaps. Starter T.J. Hockenson left the game early in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return, but depth tight end Johnny Mundt also saw 22 offensive snaps and three targets. Hockenson is undergoing an MRI on Monday, and if he has to miss time, it could mean a greater share of snaps for both Oliver and Mundt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Catches second TD of season
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Oliver had four receptions for 47 yards on four targets, including a three-yard touchdown, in Sunday's loss at Denver.
It was a rare offensive outburst from Oliver, who is mostly used as a blocker. It was his second touchdown of the season, and his reception and yard marks were season highs. While this could be a sign he'll have a greater receiving role in an offense with Joshua Dobbs fully integrated at quarterback, Oliver had just two targets in his first two games with Dobbs behind center.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Loses key fumble in loss
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Oliver had one reception for 15 yards on two targets but lost a fumble on Minnesota's opening possession in Sunday's loss to Kansas City.
Oliver lost the fumble on a reception which set up the Chiefs with good field position early in the first quarter, leading to a Kansas City touchdown. Oliver is a strong blocking tight end who doesn't get many targets, and losing a fumble won't help his case for more opportunities as a receiver.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Gets first TD of season
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Oliver had two receptions for four yards, including a four-yard touchdown, in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
Oliver is mostly a blocking tight end, as he went out on a route on just eight of 27 snaps on offense. He could be an occasional option in the red zone, but it was just his third touchdown reception in 38 career games.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Three receptions in Vikings debut
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Oliver brought in all three targets for 32 yards in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay.
Oliver started at tight end opposite T.J. Hockenson as the Vikings opened in a two-TE set. Oliver is mostly a blocking tight end in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense, but did go out for a pass on 13 of his 30 snaps. He won't generate enough targets for viable fantasy value in most leagues, but he could be a factor should Hockenson get hurt.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Expected red-zone factor
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Oliver is expected to be a factor in the Vikings' red-zone offense, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis.
Signed to a surprising three-year, $21 million in free agency after spending the last two seasons buried in Baltimore's run-heavy offense, Oliver has been a pleasant surprise in offseason workouts, per Lewis. Vikings OC Wes Phillips said that Oliver could do more through the air than most realized, and that he's built like a "rhinoceros" in the open field. Oliver is unlikely to see consistent targets as long as T.J. Hockenson is healthy, but it sounds like Minnesota has plans for Oliver in multiple-tight end sets, particularly in the scoring area.
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Vikings' Josh Oliver: Gets big payday from Vikings
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Oliver and the Vikings reached agreement Monday on a three-year, $21 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
A 2019 third-round pick, Oliver played only four games for his original team (Jacksonville) in two seasons but then developed into a solid backup tight end for Baltimore in 2021 and 2022. He's caught only 26 passes in 35 career games, and while he should see a few more targets in Minnesota, there's not much fantasy upside so long as T.J. Hockenson stays healthy. This move strongly suggests fellow free agent Irv Smith will sign elsewhere rather than sticking with the Vikings.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Sees role increase in 2022
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Oliver caught 14 of 25 targets for 126 yards and two touchdowns in 2022.
Oliver saw a role increase in his second year with Baltimore as he played nearly 500 snaps and recorded his first season with double-digit receptions despite the team bringing in two tight ends in the fourth round of the draft. Rookie Charlie Kolar being injured for much of the season helped Oliver carve out a bigger role, and he established himself as a useful blocker in Baltimore's run-heavy scheme. He's due to hit free agency this offseason, and with Mark Andrews already in the fold along with Baltimore's investments at tight end in the draft, it's possible he will be playing elsewhere in 2023.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Little involvement in Week 18
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Oliver played 32 of the Ravens' 75 snaps on offense in Sunday's 27-16 loss to the Bengals and failed to corral his lone target.
Though the Ravens played the regular-season finale without top tight end Mark Andrews -- who sat out for rest purposes -- Oliver wasn't a major beneficiary. Oliver's 43 percent snap share actually took a step back from his 60 percent mark against the Steelers one week earlier, as Isaiah Likely (88 percent, 8-103-0 receiving line on 13 targets) and Charlie Kolar (44 percent, 4-49-0 on six targets) instead took advantage of Andrews' absence. Because the Ravens value Oliver's blocking skills and ability to contribute on special teams, he's still likely to be active for Sunday's rematch with the Bengals in the wild-card round.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Goes without target in Week 14
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Oliver played 42 of the Ravens' 61 snaps on offense and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 16-14 win over the Steelers.
Oliver turned some heads when he recorded four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' Week 12 loss to the Jaguars, but the absence of No. 2 tight end Isaiah Likely for that contest played a major role in Oliver's breakthrough performance. With both Mark Andrews and Likely available for the Ravens' subsequent two contests, Oliver has faded almost exclusively into a blocking role when he's taken the field. He's played 66 combined snaps on offense over the past two weeks and hasn't been targeted once.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Excels in expanded role
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Oliver recorded four receptions on six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-27 loss to the Jaguars.
Oliver stepped into an expanded role with Isaiah Likely (ankle) sidelined, and he excelled with the opportunity. He tied for the team lead in receptions and led in receiving yards. Oliver's performance was highlighted by a 12-yard touchdown catch that came late in the fourth quarter, though he also caught a 40-yard pass from Lamar Jackson early in the third quarter. Although Oliver entered Sunday's game with only seven receptions, the Ravens have been in need of pass-catching options much of the season, so if Likely remains out Oliver could maintain his expanded role.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Likely to step in as No. 2 TE
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Oliver is expected to serve as the Ravens' No. 2 tight end behind starter Mark Andrews in Sunday's game against the Jaguars with Isaiah Likely (ankle) ruled out for the contest, Ryan Mink of Baltimore's official site reports.
Baltimore also has Nick Boyle and Charlie Kolar available as options at tight end, but the former serves mainly as a special-teams contributor and blocker on offense, while the latter has yet to make his NFL debut. Oliver, meanwhile, has already held a steady role on offense all season, even on the occasions both Andrews and Likely have been available. He's played no fewer than 30 percent of the offensive snaps in any of Baltimore's 10 games to date and has drawn at least one target in each of the past six contests.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Makes two grabs Sunday
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Oliver caught two passes for 21 yards on three targets Sunday against the Giants.
The veteran nearly reeled in his third target but officials ruled that it was not a catch. Still, Oliver was as involved as he's been all season in the passing game and his 21 yards marked a season-high. Oliver has played at least 30 percent of the snaps in each game this season but has only drawn targets in three of six outings. Baltimore hosts Cleveland in Week 7.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Draws first targets of season
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Oliver reeled in both of his targets for eight yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-26 win over the Patriots.
While filling a depth role at tight end behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, Oliver's offensive snaps shares have ranged between 32 and 50 percent through three weeks. His workload is unlikely to change so long as both Andrews and Likely are available, but Oliver was at least able to make the most of his limited time on the field Sunday by collecting his first two targets of the season. He turned one of them into a one-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, marking the first time that he's found paydirt since entering the NFL in 2019.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Quiet year in Baltimore
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Oliver caught nine of 15 targets for 66 yards in 2021.
An offseason acquisition from the Jaguars, Oliver suited up for 14 games with the Ravens. Mark Andrews came into the year as the alpha among the Ravens' tight ends and only solidified his standing in that regard, which left few opportunities for the rest of the position group when the team went with single tight end sets. Oliver averaged just 4.4 yards per target on his limited opportunities and played the third-most snaps at his position on the team. He is due $1 million in base salary in 2022, the final year of his rookie contract. If Nick Boyle returns to full strength, Oliver will have to battle with Eric Tomlinson for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Back from COVID list
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Oliver was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, Clifton Brown from the Ravens' official website reports.
The backup tight end was removed from the COVID list Tuesday and was moved to the exempt/COVID-19 list, allowing him to resume activities but not be placed on the 53-man roster. Oliver has operated as a depth option behind starter Mark Andrews all season, making just eight catches for 65 yards in 13 games this season.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Notches season highs
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Oliver caught two of five targets for 29 yards against the Bengals on Sunday.
This was Oliver's best game of the season, as he notched season highs in yards (29), snaps (19) and targets (5). He has seen more than 15 snaps in back-to-back weeks, but Sunday was likely an anomaly in terms of his target volume. Baltimore is on bye before returning Week 9 to face Minnesota.
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Ravens' Josh Oliver: Packs bags for Baltimore
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The Jaguars traded Oliver (foot) to the Ravens on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Oliver spent the 2020 season on injured reserve with a foot injury, but he'll presumably be healthy for the 2021 campaign. The 2019 third-round pick played just four games during his rookie season, recording three receptions for 15 yards. He'll handle a depth role at tight end behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle (knee) in Baltimore.
