The New Orleans Saints offense has been missing a spark for a quite a bit of time following the retirement of future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees. One clear issue has been the decline of what was once a tremendous group of receivers. Former Saints Head Coach Sean Payton was always lauded for his ability to recruit undrafted and bottom round receivers and turn them into 1,000-yard stars. Fortunately for the Saints, it looks like their best option will be available in Week 13 against the Lions.
Injury Designation for New Orleans Saints Star
Chris Olave has been a productive member of the New Orleans offense after being drafted 11th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has been undergoing the concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12. Olave was having a monster game for 114 yards at the time of the concussion.
Per Adam Schefter, Olave is listed as questionable with a concussion and will be able to play against the Detroit Lions in Week 13.
Saints’ WR Chris Olave, listed as questionable for Sunday due to his concussion, is expected to play vs. the Lions, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 3, 2023
Since he was drafted, Olave has been a consistent player even with the quarterback drama that has engulfed the Saints. This season with an above-average quarterback in Derek Carr, Olave has shined with 771 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Derek Carr has not been shy to offer his praise of the young wide receiver as he said “The City of New Orleans should be very happy to have Chris.”
Impact on New Orleans Saints Playoff Hopes
Olave being in the lineup will be a huge impact for the Saints as they are currently tied for first place in the pitiful NFC South division with the Atlanta Falcons. Aside from today against a physical Detroit Lions team, the Saints finish their schedule with no opponent having a winning record. This puts them squarely in the drivers seat of the playoff discussion and will help alleviate some concerns around the city of New Orleans.
No one has been more concerned than Saints head coach Dennis Allen, who with a 5-6 record, should be feeling the hot seat he is in heading into the offseason. Although Allen inherited an absolute trainwreck in terms of the Saints salary cap situation, he is struggling to capitalize on aging stars such as Cameron Jordan and Tyrann Mathieu in order to keep the Saints in playoff contention. While the Saints have a solid shot to make it to the playoffs in their weakened division, it is safe to say they will not last long given their poor record.
Fantasy Implications for the New Orleans Saints
While Olave is listed as going to play, injury designations tend to play significant roles on how players can impact a game. Given that Olave’s injury is a concussion however, it is likely that his clearance will allow him to play with no restrictions or diminishment. Look to see Olave and quarterback Derek Carr excel against a Detroits Lions defense that has struggled for the majority of the year.
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