Yes, you probably want Lede, not OpenWRT or dd-wrt. I used lede to flash some old routers last year, and on the whole the experience was similar to my last interaction with OpenWRT only better (more evolved).
I would like to add that you can usually in place upgrade from OpenWRT to LEDE. Though making a config backup and a backup of the list of additional packages you installed is highly recommended. Beside of that just flash and reinstall all additional packages.
Also the devs of ddwrt do not take security seriously. Requests to include sane defaults for cipher list, dropbear etc. have been met by derision and an outright refusal to do anything about it.
For example, the Kong variant updates for http and checksum despite repeated requests to deliver over https. I’ve got quite a few other examples but sadly on mobile right now.
Specifically, here is where all updates are coming from: https://downloads.openwrt.org/chaos_calmer/15.05.1/ar71xx/ge...
No updates since March 2016.
EDIT: Has development has moved to the LEDE project? I don't understand what's happening in the OpenWRT/LEDE split. There appears to be a fairly clean upgrade path, though: https://forum.lede-project.org/t/upgrade-from-openwrt-to-led...