The New Orleans Saints are expected to have Chris Olave on the field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, even as the star wide receiver battles a lingering back injury. Multiple national reports indicate Olave, officially listed as questionable, is expected to suit up in Week 14 after testing the injury pregame.
Olave appeared on the injury report this week after dealing with back spasms that limited him in last week’s game. He opened the week with no practice, then returned for limited work on Thursday and Friday, enough to keep him on track for game day clearance.
The Saints have already ruled out star running back Alvin Kamara, leaving an offense that has struggled most of the season even more dependent on Olave’s ability to win outside and down the field.
What Olave’s Status Means for the Saints’ Offense
At 2-10 and heavy underdogs on the road, New Orleans needs everything it can get from its best healthy playmakers, and Olave tops that list. The fourth-year wideout has been the Saints’ most consistent receiving threat in 2025, leading the team in targets and yardage for an offense that has otherwise lacked explosive plays.
Even if he’s active, there’s an expectation Olave may not be at 100 percent. Reports have suggested the Saints could manage his workload, potentially rotating in depth options behind him to keep the back issue from flaring up mid-game.
That increases pressure on tight end Juwan Johnson, who has seen a recent spike in targets and is trending as a recommended fantasy start thanks to volume and matchup. Slot and underneath options also figure to see more work if the Buccaneers tilt coverages toward Olave, especially on obvious passing downs.
Tampa Bay’s defense has been vulnerable through the air at times but enters this matchup as a clear favorite. The Buccaneers are 7-5 and sitting in the NFC playoff race, while the Saints are simply trying to evaluate younger pieces and avoid further injuries in the closing stretch.
Fantasy Football, Stats & Saints-Buccaneers Context
From a fantasy perspective, the expectation that Olave will play keeps him squarely in starting consideration. Analysts project him for a typical WR2 workload, noting that he produced a touchdown last week despite the back issue and limited yardage.
Managers should still factor in some risk: a potential snap count, the possibility of an in-game setback, and the chance New Orleans’ offense struggles to sustain drives without Kamara. In PPR formats, Olave’s target volume keeps his floor relatively high, but the ceiling may be capped compared to a fully healthy week.
For the Saints, this game is less about playoff positioning and more about seeing how their core pieces respond in a tough road environment. For the Buccaneers, it’s a chance to solidify their postseason standing as more than a touchdown favorite at home.
If Olave can battle through the injury and still command attention from Tampa Bay’s secondary, he gives New Orleans at least a puncher’s chance to keep this one competitive, and gives fantasy managers reason to keep him in lineups.
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