Olave will return as the No. 1 receiver for the Saints this season, and he should be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues. He's worth drafting as early as Round 6 in most formats. Olave will hopefully be featured this season by new coach Kellen Moore, who called Olave a "phenomenal player" at the NFL owners meeting in March. The problem for Olave is his quarterback situation could be awful with Derek Carr retired, and the Saints could go with rookie Tyler Shough or second-year Spencer Rattler as the starter, which isn't ideal. Olave also has to prove he can stay healthy after appearing in just eight games in 2024 due to multiple concussions. When healthy, Olave scored at least 16.7 PPR points in three outings last year, and he has top-20 upside since he averaged 14.5 PPR points per game in 2023. But you have to be cautious of potential poor quarterback play, which lowers the value for Olave coming into the season. Drafting him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver with a mid-round pick makes the most sense.
Olave (concussion) is participating in OTAs without restrictions and took reps returning punts Thursday, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reports.
Olave hasn't been tasked with fielding punts or kickoffs once since entering the league in 2022, so Thursday's special-teams reps likely don't forebode any actual upcoming usage in the return game. It's simply encouraging to note that the fourth-year pro looks completely healthy at spring practices, as Matthew Paras of NOLA.com reports, and that he's been available to assist with New Orleans' three-way quarterback competition that's the result of Derek Carr's (shoulder) recent retirement announcement. Olave has some experience playing with both Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener (oblique), the latter who could be out until training camp, but rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough is an entirely new name in the mix. The Saints exercised Olave's fifth-year option in April, so his rookie deal with the team now runs through 2026.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Fifth-year option to be picked up
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Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that the team plans to exercise the fifth-year option on Olave's (concussion) contract, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Olave, a 2022 first-round pick, now will have his rookie contract run through 2026, with its final year projected at a guaranteed $16.8 million salary. The star wideout missed the final eight games of 2024 due to a concussion -- his second of the season -- though he did resume practicing in full for the regular season's final two weeks. New head coach Kellen Moore called Olave a "phenomenal player" at the 2025 NFL owners meeting in early April, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, expressing that the team has a plan moving forward to factor "the circumstances he is in" from a medical perspective.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Questionable for Week 18
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay, Jeff Nowak of WWL Louisiana reports.
Long-time Saints beat reporter Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football says he'll be "pretty surprised" if Olave plays. Olave has been a full practice participant for the past two weeks and wants to play, but the Saints have concerns about both his concussion history and conditioning level. They'll need to active him from injured reserve Saturday if he's going to play Sunday.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Another full session Thursday
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) was a full practice participant Thursday, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
It's unclear if Olave is putting himself in a position for his first game action since Week 9, when he sustained a concussion, but he now has been listed as full on five straight injury reports. The Saints could make a ruling on his status as soon as they post their final Week 18 report Friday, but they also may keep the door open for him to suit up Sunday in Tampa Bay.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Another full practice
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) practiced fully Wednesday.
Olave now has been listed as a full participant on four consecutive practice reports, but he's yet to receive clearance from an independent neurologist after suffering a concussion Week 9 at Carolina. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi relayed Monday that Olave also needs to improve his conditioning level in order to put himself on a path to play Sunday against the Buccaneers, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. Nevertheless, Olave at least appears to have a chance at playing in the season finale, something that may be confirmed as soon as New Orleans posts its final Week 18 injury report Friday.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Olave is hoping to play in Week 18 at Tampa Bay after being out since Week 9 with a concussion. It would be great if Derek Carr (hand) played also, but Olave should be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues if he's cleared to return. The Buccaneers are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so hopefully, Carr or Spencer Rattler can help Olave finish the 2024 campaign on a high note.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Wants to return for Week 18
Rotowire
Olave (concussion), who remains on IR, wants to play Sunday versus Tampa Bay, but his return is contingent on his conditioning level and the go-ahead from the team's medical staff, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Olave hasn't played since Week 9, and the Saints have no chance to make the playoffs. Nonetheless, the veteran wideout wants to return for the team's season finale Sunday, according to interim head coach Darren Rizzi. Olave is expected to practice Wednesday, which will increase his odds of being activated ahead of Sunday, though at this point Olave's status remains up in the air.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Questionable, still on IR
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Olave (concussion), who remains on injured reserve, is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Raiders.
After the Saints designated Olave for return from injured reserve last week, he logged three consecutive limited listings before the team ruled him out for Monday's game at Green Bay. This time around, he's managed three straight full listings, giving him a chance to play for the first time since suffering a concussion Week 9 in Carolina. New Orleans will need to activate Olave from IR by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday in order for the wide receiver to get back on the active roster and potentially be available to the offense one day later.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.
Olave now has been listed as full on back-to-back injury reports, which has left the wide receiver "day-to-day," as interim coach Darren Rizzi told Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football on Thursday. Sidelined since suffering a concussion Week 9 at Carolina, Olave seemingly has a good chance to return to action Sunday against the Raiders. However, the Saints still have one practice report to post this week, and how he's listed there may reveal his odds to be activated from injured reserve by Saturday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline to do so.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Turns in full practice
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
After the Saints designated Olave for return from injured reserve last week, he managed three limited sessions before the team ruled him out ahead of Monday's loss to Green Bay. He wouldn't have had any restrictions if New Orleans had practiced Wednesday, so he appears as if he's closing in his required meeting with an independent neurologist before he would be removed from the five-step concussion protocol. Olave will need to be activated from IR by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday in order to have a chance to play Sunday versus the Raiders.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Won't return in Week 16
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Olave (concussion) has been ruled out for Monday's contest at Green Bay.
The Saints designated Olave to return from injured reserve Thursday, which he followed up with three consecutive limited practices during Week 16 prep. Without a full session under his belt, he has yet to make his way through the concussion protocol and thus will miss a sixth straight game. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest/illness) is listed as questionable for Monday's game, which leaves Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis, Cedrick Wilson and Mason Tipton as the healthy wide receivers on New Orleans' active roster.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Designated to return
Rotowire
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said that Olave's (concussion) 21-day window in which to return from injured reserve has been opened, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports. Olave officially was limited at Thursday's practice.
Rizzi also told Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune that Olave "got some great news. He went for a recheck like we talked about. He was cleared for football activities." Olave has been sidelined since suffering a concussion Week 9 at Carolina, missing the Saints' past five games in the process. His odds to play Monday at Green Bay aren't known, but Rizzi noted Olave is "probably doubtful" to return to action Week 16, per Paras.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Shifts to injured reserve
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After suffering his second concussion in a month, and third concussion in a calendar year, this was expected. The star target will be out at least until mid-December, at which point it's possible the team will decide whether it's worth bringing back Olave altogether given New Orleans likely won't be in the playoff hunt. Expect more information regarding his playing status to come later in November.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Ruled out for Week 10
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Interim coach Darren Rizzi said Friday that Olave (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Falcons, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Rizzi also told Hendrix that a stint on injured reserve is "on the table" for Olave as the wide receiver meets with specialists to determine the best course of action after he suffered a concussion this past Sunday at Carolina that resulted in a visit to the hospital. The Saints have a Week 12 bye on the schedule, so it likely would behoove them to make an IR decision this week with the four-game caveat in mind. With Cedrick Wilson (shoulder) also ruled out for Week 10, Mason Tipton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jermaine Jackson are the healthy wide receivers on the Saints' active roster.
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Saints' Chris Olave: No practice Wednesday
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Olave (concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Olave was on the receiving end of a big hit this past Sunday at Carolina and was carted off the field before heading to a Charlotte-area hospital for further evaluation. He was diagnosed with a concussion, leaving him subject to the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries. In the short term, Olave's ability to merely get back on the practice field will be a positive first step in his recovery.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Out of hospital
Rotowire
Olave has been discharged from a Charlotte, N.C. hospital and will return to New Orleans with his teammates following Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Olave needed a cart to get off the field following a big hit in the middle of the first quarter. Diagnosed with a concussion not long after, he'll be subject to the protocol for head injuries in order to suit up again. The Saints play next Sunday versus the Falcons.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Logs 107 yards in return
Rotowire
Olave had eight receptions (on 14 targets) for 107 yards during Sunday's 26-8 defeat to the Chargers.
Olave eclipsed 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. He also logged a season high in targets and matched his season high for receptions. This all took place in a game during which Olave temporarily exited for a concussion check and rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was benched for second-year signal-caller Jake Haener midway through the third quarter. With No. 2 wideout Rashid Shaheed now out for the season with a meniscus injury, Olave could continue to see an increase in targets moving forward. He'll hope to have another productive outing with QB1 Derek Carr (oblique) expected to return for next week's game versus the Panthers on Sunday, Nov. 3.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Full practice Thursday
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Olave (concussion) practiced in full Thursday, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Olave sustained a concussion Sunday, Oct. 13 against the Buccaneers and sat out last Thursday's loss versus the Broncos, but he's made quick work this week by following up Wednesday's limited session with all activity one day later. It's unclear if he's made his way through the protocol for head injuries, but he'll need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to return to action Sunday at the Chargers.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Back at practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Olave (concussion) was present at practice Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Assuming Olave took part in some drills, it would mark his first visible on-field work since sustaining a concussion Oct. 13 against the Buccaneers. The Saints have lost fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed for the season due to meniscus surgery, and quarterback Derek Carr continues to be sidelined with an oblique issue, so getting Olave back will be key for the team's passing game. The Saints will release their first Week 8 injury report later Wednesday, when it will be known how much work Olave was able to handle.
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Saints' Chris Olave: Remains in concussion protocol
Rotowire
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Monday that Olave remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Olave was unable to suit up last Thursday versus Denver, and he'll still need to gain full clearance -- including from an independent neurologist -- in order to be eligible to play Sunday versus the Chargers. With Rashid Shaheed having undergone season-ending knee surgery and the availability of quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) still uncertain for Week 8, it would provide a key boost for New Orleans' offense if Olave managed to gain clearance in time to play in Los Angeles. Mason Tipton, Cedrick Wilson and Bub Means otherwise will be in line to lead the Saints' wide receiver room.
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