Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave Are Playing, Because the Saints Offense Literally Has No Other Choice

The New Orleans Saints are rolling into MetLife Stadium with their two best offensive weapons held together by athletic tape and cold medicine. According to Ian Rapoport, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Chris Olave are both listed as questionable but are expected to play against the New York Giants.

This is the classic NFL questionable tag, a designation that basically means a player is either missing a limb or just skipped Thursday practice to get a massage. In this case, Kamara is dealing with a back issue and Olave is fighting off an illness, but neither is going to leave the Saints' offense out to dry.

"Ian Rapoport reported both players are expected to play."

New Orleans desperately needs them on the field after last week's brutal 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Olave has been the engine of the passing game this season, racking up 39 catches for 537 yards and a touchdown. Taking him out of the lineup would turn the Saints' passing attack into a glorified punt unit.

Kamara playing through pain is practically a weekly tradition at this point. The veteran running back has spent the last few years shrugging off hip, rib, and ankle issues just to keep the chains moving. A back injury is never fun for a guy who gets tackled for a living, but assuming he would sit out a crucial game is usually a bad read on his toughness.

For anyone staring at their fantasy apps or looking at player props, this update is a massive relief. You can keep both guys in your plans, though you might want to monitor the pregame warmups just to make sure Olave is not actively coughing on the football.

The Saints kick off against the Giants late Sunday afternoon, and they need a win to wash out the taste of that Vikings loss. Expect Kamara and Olave to get their usual volume, assuming their bodies hold up for four quarters on the notoriously unforgiving MetLife turf.