Thursday, September 21, 2023

New Orleans Saints Week 3 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 3 roundup for the New Orleans Saints in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Player: WR Michael Thomas
Current contract situation: Under contract through the 2023 season

Thomas' contract automatically voids in 2025, but he's essentially playing on a one-year deal with the way his contract is structured. Thomas and the Saints reworked his contract in March due to massive roster bonuses that would have gone into effect this year, and they'll face a similar situation in 2024. This makes it an important season for Thomas, who played in only 10 regular-season games from 2020 to 2022 due to injuries. -- Katherine Terrell

NFL.com -- Rank: 10

The Saints went the first 118-plus minutes of the season without allowing a touchdown -- against the Panthers on Monday, they became the final NFL team to surrender one this season. That's a testament to how good their defense is, but it's been a lot more effort on offense. Depending on the severity of the Jamaal Williams injury, New Orleans could be a little shorthanded in Green Bay on Sunday, with Alvin Kamara still suspended for another game. Tony Jones Jr. gave the Saints a spark in short-yardage situations, but they might need more big pass plays like the ones they got from Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed late in Week 2. You can see Derek Carr's frustration at times, but this passing game is still getting its timing down.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 9

Their defense is going to win a lot of games for them. The offense needs to do more, but that defense has a nasty look about it.

USA Today -- Rank: 8

The defense looks to be in midseason form, having held 10 consecutive opponents to 20 points or fewer. The offense does not, but QB Derek Carr is still acclimating and awaiting Alvin Kamara's return — which could be key given New Orleans' depleted running back room.

The Athletic -- Rank: 11

OK, so the Saints aren't getting it done with offense. New Orleans is averaging 18 points per game, which ranks 26th in the league. But how about Derek Carr? The new Saints quarterback is averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, which ranks fifth in the league so far. Second-year wide receiver Chris Olave already has 198 receiving yards.

FOX -- Rank:

This might be the ugliest 2-0 start in the league, but all wins count the same. Running back injuries are starting to become a problem for the Saints, as they wait for Alvin Kamara to return from suspension. And the offensive line continues to struggle in pass protection. But the wide receivers are really fun, and the New Orleans defense has allowed just one touchdown in two games.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 9

The Saints have some explosive players. They're going to have to figure out why they're not turning yards into more points though. For the second straight week it felt like they should have scored way more. But they'll gladly take the 2-0 start.

PFT -- Rank: 19

September wins are money in the bank, and the Saints are squirreling away victories that could make a huge difference in January.

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