The latest Chris Olave injury update has the New Orleans Saints wide receiver officially questionable for Sunday’s Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens because of a hamstring injury. This could be a big loss moving forward for the Saints.
Olave was limited in practice Thursday and Friday after not appearing on Wednesday’s injury report. The initial report on the injury was encouraging, but Olave never progressed to a full practice before receiving his questionable designation.
Here’s where Olave’s status stands, when New Orleans should make a final decision, and what his injury could mean for fantasy football managers who have him on the roster.
Olave was added to the Saints’ injury report Thursday with a hamstring injury and participated on a limited basis. According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, Olave left Thursday’s practice as a precautionary measure, and the injury was not expected to be a significant problem.
Olave returned Friday but remained limited for the second consecutive practice. The Saints’ official Week 2 injury report lists Olave as questionable with a hamstring injury. The initial report offers reason for optimism, but consecutive limited practices mean his availability is not guaranteed.
There is not yet a definitive answer on whether Olave will play against the Ravens. He is questionable rather than doubtful or ruled out, and he was able to participate on a limited basis Thursday and Friday after being added to the injury report.
The report that Olave’s Thursday departure was precautionary is another encouraging sign. Still, the Saints have not confirmed that he will play. New Orleans and Baltimore kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, meaning the clearest answer should come when game-day inactives are announced approximately 90 minutes before kickoff. Until then, Olave remains officially questionable.
Olave was the centerpiece of the Saints’ passing game in Week 1. He drew 13 targets, catching 10 passes for a career-high 182 yards in New Orleans’ 31-30 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions.
Olave’s workload makes his availability particularly important against Baltimore. Quarterback Tyler Shough threw for a career-high 410 yards against the Detroit Lions, with Olave accounting for more receiving yards than any other Saints player.
If Olave plays without a significant limitation, his Week 1 usage gives fantasy managers a clear picture of his role. The bigger question is what happens if the hamstring keeps him out or limits his workload.
Fantasy managers have three possible scenarios to prepare for Sunday.
If Olave is active with no reported limitation, his 13 targets and 182 receiving yards in Week 1 show the type of workload he can command in the Saints’ offense.
If Olave is active but expected to be limited, the hamstring creates more uncertainty. Fantasy managers would have to weigh his normal target volume against the risk that New Orleans manages his snaps or that the injury affects his explosiveness.
If Olave is inactive, Devaughn Vele becomes one of the Saints pass catchers to watch most closely.
Vele already caught seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown against Detroit. Tight ends Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant could also see more opportunities if New Orleans has to replace Olave’s targets. Because the Saints play in the early window, fantasy managers should have time to adjust once the inactive list is released.
For more lineup decisions around the league, Stadium Rant’s Week 2 fantasy football starts and sits breaks down several other players facing important decisions this week.
No single player would be expected to replace Olave’s entire role. Honestly, New Orleans doesn’t really have the talent depth to realistically make that a possibility.
Vele is the most obvious Saints receiver to watch after catching seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. He already has an established role alongside Olave and showed he can produce when Shough looks elsewhere in the passing game.
New Orleans could also spread additional opportunities among its other receivers and tight ends rather than asking one player to absorb Olave’s 13 Week 1 targets. That makes Vele the most notable fantasy beneficiary, but the Saints would likely need several pass catchers to compensate for Olave’s absence.
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We should know the official Olave update, and answers will come Sunday morning. Saints-Ravens kicks off at 1 p.m. ET, so game-day inactives should be announced approximately 90 minutes before kickoff.
For now, three facts matter most: Olave is dealing with a hamstring injury; he was limited Thursday and Friday; and New Orleans officially listed him as questionable. The initial indication that his Thursday departure was precautionary is encouraging, but fantasy managers should check his status again Sunday morning before locking him into a lineup.
If Olave is cleared, the Saints get back the receiver who dominated Week 1 with 13 targets and produced 182 yards vs. the Lions. My article on the Saints upset in Week 1 was only a 2-point conversion from being correct. Now, if Olave is out, Vele and the rest of New Orleans pass catchers will have a significant amount of production to replace. I would take that statement into serious consideration and do your own due diligence as a fantasy manager. I have not steered any of my readers in the wrong direction yet.
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