The Daily Blitz: Jameis Winston

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Saturday, September 10, 2022

New Orleans Saints Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2022 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 1 roundup for the New Orleans Saints in our consensus 2022 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Who's on the hot seat: QB Jameis Winston

The Saints showed they weren't exactly all-in on Winston when they tried to trade for Deshaun Watson this offseason, and the short-term nature of Winston's contract backs that up. The Saints didn't go after a quarterback in the draft, but Winston has a lot to prove after starting only seven games last season before an ACL injury to his left knee. Winston needs a healthy and productive year to keep his job long-term, especially considering Andy Dalton has played well in the preseason while Winston recovers from a sprained foot.

NFL.com -- Rank: 13

Can the offense be trusted? The Saints will enter Week 1 against the Falcons with a deep and talented defense that should give opponents fits all season if it can stay healthy. The offense comes with legit upside, as well, but that remains much more of a projection. The blocking front took a hit with the loss of stalwart left tackle Terron Armstead in free agency, and the attack is no longer led by its visionary, Sean Payton. Then there's the uncertainty around Jameis Winston, a famously unpredictable quarterback who also happens to be returning from ACL surgery. If Winston gets protected and can avoid the backbreaking turnovers, he should be able to put points on the board with playmakers like Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and promising rookie Chris Olave in tow.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 6

The defense will carry this team to the postseason. It will be a nasty group. They just have to hope Jameis Winston doesn't turn it over.

The Athletic -- Rank: 20

The good news: Even after the Chauncey Gardner-Johnson trade, there are high hopes Dennis Allen's defense can still be one of the best in the league. If Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas remain healthy, maybe the offense can take advantage of a weak division.

The bad news: Defensive success is notoriously volatile year over year, and there are legit questions about the Saints' ability to protect Winston after Armstead's departure and Trevor Penning's slow start. Even worse, if things go south, the Saints don't own their first-round pick. Few teams enter 2022 with such a wide variance of possible outcomes, from an NFC South championship to a one-and-done year for Allen and the crew.

Nugget to remember: The offensive line is an extra concern because of Winston's playing style. No quarterback took at least three seconds to throw more often than Winston last season, per TruMedia.

The Ringer -- Rank: 18

The Trevor Siemian–Jameis Winston–Taysom Hill quarterback trifecta in New Orleans was a catalyst to a disastrous offense in 2021. The best-case scenario for 2022 is that even without now-retired coach Sean Payton, Winston leads a much-improved offense while throwing to a revamped receiving corps that includes a healthy Michael Thomas, first-round pick Chris Olave, and sure-handed slot receiver Jarvis Landry. Defensively, the hope is that everything stays the same, and new head coach Dennis Allen continues to maximize the team's talent like he did as the defensive coordinator for the last seven seasons.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 18

The Saints' trade of versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles was surprising. Gardner-Johnson could become a free agent next offseason, but he could have helped this season and the Saints didn't get much back (a 2023 fifth-round pick, the lowest of the Eagles' two 2024 sixth-rounders and a 2025 seventh-round pick). Gardner-Johnson wanted a new deal but it's not like he'd sit out all season. An odd move.

PFT -- Rank: 20

The departure of Sean Payton is being met with a surprising degree of nonchalance. It's a huge void, and it's still not clear whether anyone still on the coaching staff will be able to fill it.

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Sunday, September 4, 2022

New Orleans Saints Fantasy Football Projections 2022

Our 2022 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2022 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	489.2	308.7	3546.7	22.5	11.74	46.5	197.6	1.51	237.21
Andy Dalton	42.5	27.1	295.4	1.74	1.23	12.9	36.1	0.26	21.49

Jameis Winston: Winston has an improved group of pass catchers at his disposal with the return of Michael Thomas and the additions of first-rounder Chris Olave and free agent Jarvis Landry. As long as he remains aggressive without being careless with the football, there is some upside from his ADP.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	209.4	931.8	6.28	53.4	439.9	2.8	218.35
Mark Ingram	139.6	572.4	4.54	12.8	92.2	0.6	103.7
Dwayne Washington	38.8	161	1.07	3.7	28.8	0.2	28.45
Tony Jones Jr.	27.1	117.9	0.68	1.8	13.4	0.1	18.71
Adam Prentice	5.2	16.1	0.13	2.7	19.2	0.1	6.26

Alvin Kamara: It appears that any suspension resulting from Kamara's battery case will likely occur in 2023, although it remains an added layer of risk for those that use an early pick on him. He set a career high in rush attempts (240), despite playing a career-low 13 games in 2021. Kamara also set career lows in YPC (3.7), targets (67), receptions (47) and receiving yards per game (33.8). Excluding the four games he missed, however, Kamara was still the RB4 in half-PPR scoring (RB5 on per-game basis).

Mark Ingram: If Kamara is suspended during any part of the 2022 season, which seems unlikely (as noted above), Ingram should lead the backfield in workload and become a viable RB2/flex option during that stretch. If Kamara doesn't miss any time, however, the 32-year-old is likely to have minimal stand-alone value.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	73.7	895.2	5.5	1.3	5.2	0.04	160.13
Chris Olave	54.6	766.5	4.4	0	0	0	130.35
Jarvis Landry	51.2	609	3.6	5.2	31.2	0.31	113.08
Marquez Callaway	12.6	171	1.2	0	0	0	30.6
Deonte Harty	8.6	107.6	0.7	5.2	39	0.23	24.54
Tre'quan Smith	5.9	82.6	0.6	0	0	0	14.81

Michael Thomas: Thomas missed all of 2021 and appeared in only seven games in 2020. Before that, however, he led the NFL in receptions (149) and yards (1,725) in 2019. A return to league-leading production isn't likely, but he's a viable WR3 in fantasy. It appears his latest injury (hamstring) is unlikely to keep him out of the starting lineup in Week 1.

Chris Olave: The 11th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Olave is a polished route-runner with the speed to win vertically. While he isn't the biggest receiver and won't break many tackles, he'll make an immediate impact and is a viable WR4 as a rookie.

Jarvis Landry: Landry returns to his home state to form a talented trio of receivers with Thomas and Olave. Landry missed five games last season, but he had never finished with fewer than 72 catches or 101 targets in a season prior to that. His target share in 2022 may turn out to be a career low, but the five-time Pro Bowler has a history of outperforming expectations.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	27.2	303.5	2	0	0	0	55.95
Taysom Hill	15.1	176.7	1.3	25.8	134.2	1.03	52.62
Juwan Johnson	6.7	76.8	0.7	0	0	0	15.23
Nick Vannett	5.9	59.6	0.5	0	0	0	11.91

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Wednesday, August 10, 2022

New Orleans Saints Fantasy Football Projections 2022

Our 2022 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2022 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	489.2	308.7	3546.7	22.5	11.74	46.5	197.6	1.51	237.21
Andy Dalton	42.5	27.1	295.4	1.74	1.23	12.9	36.1	0.26	21.49

Jameis Winston: While Winston (foot) will miss a few days of practice, this injury isn't considered serious. When he is on the field, he'll have an improved group of pass catchers at his disposal with the return of Michael Thomas and the additions of first-rounder Chris Olave and free agent Jarvis Landry. As long as he remains aggressive without being careless with the football, there is some upside from his current ADP.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	206.8	920.3	6.2	51.7	428.4	2.8	214.72
Mark Ingram	139.6	572.4	4.54	12.3	88.4	0.6	103.07
Dwayne Washington	37.5	155.6	1.03	3	23.1	0.2	26.75
Abram Smith	31	131.8	0.78	5.2	38.4	0.3	26.1
Adam Prentice	5.2	16.1	0.13	2.7	19.2	0.1	6.26

Alvin Kamara: Kamara's battery case was delayed again, which could push an expected suspension forward to the 2023 season. Kamara set a career high in rush attempts (240), despite playing a career-low 13 games in 2021. He also set career lows in YPC (3.7), targets (67), receptions (47) and receiving yards per game (33.8). When active, however, Kamara should perform as a top-10 back or better. Excluding the four weeks he missed in 2021, Kamara was the RB4 in half-PPR scoring (RB5 on per-game basis over same span).

Mark Ingram: If Kamara is suspended during any part of the 2022 season, Ingram would likely lead the backfield in workload. If so, the 32-year-old back would become a viable RB2/flex option during that stretch, but it's looking more likely that any suspension would occur in 2023.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	71.4	870.2	5.3	1.3	5.2	0.04	155.28
Chris Olave	53.1	745.4	4.2	0	0	0	126.29
Jarvis Landry	47.9	574.4	3.4	5.2	31.2	0.31	106.77
Marquez Callaway	19.3	247.8	1.6	0	0	0	44.03
Deonte Harty	8.6	107.6	0.7	5.2	39	0.23	24.54
Tre'quan Smith	5.9	82.6	0.6	0	0	0	14.81

Michael Thomas: Thomas missed all of 2021 and appeared in only seven games in 2020. Before that, however, he led the NFL in receptions (149) and yards (1,725) in 2019. While a return to league-leading production isn't likely this season, there's a good chance that he becomes a fantasy value for managers that draft him.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	30.6	341.9	2.3	0	0	0	63.29
Taysom Hill	11.8	138.3	1.1	25.8	134.2	1.03	45.93
Juwan Johnson	6.7	76.8	0.7	0	0	0	15.23
Nick Vannett	5.9	59.6	0.5	0	0	0	11.91

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Friday, October 1, 2021

New Orleans Saints Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the New Orleans Saints rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Average ranking: 15.0 (T-15th)
Best ranking: 12th (USA Today)
Worst ranking: 18th (NFL.com)

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Saints in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 15

The jury is still out on how effective Jameis Winston will be, since the Saints haven't been in a truly close game yet. He has yet to attempt more than 22 passes or throw for more than 148 yards in a game. That worked great in the Saints' two victories, since they would love to rely on their defense and run game while avoiding turnovers. And he still provides the deep ball threat, as he displayed with a 55-yard scoring pass in Week 1. But Winston did throw a pair of desperation interceptions when things weren't going well in Week 2 and got away with an ill-advised TD pass while being hit in Week 3. -- Mike Triplett

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

For a decade and a half, the Saints' greatest strength was obvious: Put the ball in Drew Brees' hands and let him go to work. The legendary quarterback has moved to the broadcast booth, leaving Sean Payton to find a new identity for the current Saints. In two of the three weeks this season (the first rule of the 2021 New Orleans Saints: don't talk about the Panthers game), the focal point has been a defense that rattles quarterbacks and sets the tone. We saw that on Sunday, a 28-13 win that featured three Mac Jones interceptions, including a Malcolm Jenkins pick-six. After an endless road trip prompted by Hurricane Ida, the Saints are ready for a joyful homecoming against the winless Giants.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 14

Winning at New England is a testament to Sean Payton as a coach. They had a lot to deal with to open this season, yet they are still 2-1. Impressive.

USA Today -- Rank: 12

How unfamiliar is New Orleans amid a 2-1 start? Not one player is averaging even four catches or 40 receiving yards per game.

The Athletic -- Rank: 16

Surprise! The Saints are surviving without Michael Thomas. It was one thing for Drew Brees to adjust to lengthy stretches without his No. 1 target last season, but now Jameis Winston has had to find other options, like Deonte Harris and Marquez Callaway. Harris is averaging nearly 19 yards per catch and Callaway caught his first touchdown of the season on Sunday. We knew the Saints would have to rely most heavily on Alvin Kamara (and indeed, Kamara leads the Saints in pass targets) but it's been a pleasant surprise to see other receiving options emerge.

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Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: QB Options Heading into Week 2

Every week, we examine players that may be available on your league's waiver wire that could help your team in the short and/or long term.

For a player to be listed, he must be rostered in 50 percent (or less) of Yahoo! leagues. The goal is to provide recommendations of players that have a greater chance of being available on your league's waiver wire. Of course, your league's size and settings could significantly impact whether these players (or better options) are available in your particular league(s).

With that said, here are some quarterback waiver-wire options to consider heading into Week 2 (Yahoo! % rostered in parenthesis):

[Note: Players listed below are sorted by our preference to add.]

1. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints (44%)

Two years removed from his 2019 YOLO campaign of 5,109 yards and 30 interceptions, both of which led the NFL, Winston has begun his tenure as the Saints starting quarterback with elite efficiency. Despite what should have been a difficult matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Winston and the Saints made it look easy as he threw five (yes, five!) touchdowns on only 20 pass attempts. Obviously, his 25.0 TD% will regress. While he only threw for 148 yards, Winston also added six carries for 37 yards.

The overall talent level of the pass catchers is a concern, especially while Michael Thomas is on the PUP list. But all of their games won't be 35-point victories either, so this week could mark his season low for pass attempts in a game. Winston is in the top-15 mix the rest of the way.

2. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (44%)

The same applies to Justin Fields, rostered in 51% of Yahoo! leagues and therefore ineligible for this post, but Lance's value increases weekly as we continue to move closer to a likely transition to the rookie as the starter. Lance took a few snaps and threw a touchdown on his only pass attempt in Week 1. Even though he gained only two yards on three carries, Lance has elite dual-threat upside that will allow him to become a weekly top-10 option once he replaces Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter.

The 49ers have a Week 6 bye, the earliest possible bye. Perhaps that makes for the most logical transition point. The only concern is the 49ers continue to employ a rotation where they use Lance on occasion, as the 49ers have one of the league's best rosters and Kyle Shanahan may prefer to keep the steady hand of a veteran quarterback until next season.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (39%)

Roethlisberger had a quiet Week 1 performance -- 18-of-32 for 188 yards and a score in an upset win over the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers may not lead the NFL in pass attempts again this season, but Big Ben has one of the most talented WR trios (Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Schuster) at his disposal and he will get softer matchups coming up. The Steelers will face the Raiders, Bengals and Packers in their next three games.

4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (7%)

While there may be no such thing as a moral victory, it surely was an impressive near comeback for the Lions on Sunday. Down big, Goff needed to sling it 57 times; only Dak Prescott (58) threw it more this week. The former No. 1 overall pick finished with week with nearly 30 fantasy points as he threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers. The Lions are going to be big underdogs most weeks (double-digit underdogs vs. GB in Week 2), which could lead to many more high-volume outings for Goff.

Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Advice Heading Into Week 2

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Saturday, September 11, 2021

New Orleans Saints Week 1 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the New Orleans Saints rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Average ranking: 17.2 (T-18th)
Best ranking: 15th (NFL.com)
Worst ranking: 19th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 1 roundup for the Saints in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 19

People on the hot seat: QBs Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill

Both QBs have a great opportunity to inherit a playoff offense in the wake of Drew Brees' retirement. And both have shown enough growth through three weeks of training camp to prove they deserve a legitimate shot at an NFL starting gig. But the runner-up in this battle will face a very uncertain future. Both are scheduled to be free agents after this season, and it's hard to imagine either one of them will find an opportunity this good on the open market next year. -- Mike Triplett

NFL.com -- Rank: 15

The damage caused by Hurricane Ida has forced the Saints to open their season in Jacksonville instead of New Orleans, an undeniable competitive setback for a team that has historically enjoyed one of the better home-field advantages in football playing under the roof at the raucous Caesars Superdome. Consider it just one more layer of uncertainty for a Saints team that has more question marks than perhaps ever before during Sean Payton's long and successful tenure with the team. One of those question marks surrounds Jameis Winston, whose golden opportunity for a career rebirth begins in earnest against the Packers.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 19

Jameis Winston opens as the starter at quarterback in the post-Drew Brees era, but you know the Taysom Hill gimmick will be a big part as well. Sean Payton loves the makeup of this team, but will the fallout from being displaced by a hurricane impact their start?

USA Today -- Rank: 16

Who wasn't a little jazzed about watching new QB1 Jameis Winston slinging it deep downfield in preseason, something we didn't see retired predecessor Drew Brees do effectively in recent years? But also hard not to be concerned for a team again relegated to itinerant status as it waits for New Orleans to become habitable following the wrath of Hurricane Ida.

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

Why they're ranked here: Our panel apparently has quite different opinions on the Saints: One person put them at No. 7 and another at No. 26. Some have faith Sean Peyton can deliver another high-powered offense, now with Jameis Winston at the helm. Others aren't buying Winston and fear the defense could regress after an impressive 2020.

One big question: Can Winston clean up the turnovers? We all remember his 30 interceptions in his final year as a starter in Tampa Bay, but he ranked in the top 20 of passing DVOA in each of his four years as a starter before that. So can he get back to playing like he did in 2017, when he averaged 7.7 yards per attempt?

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New Orleans Saints 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup: Post-Draft Rankings

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Friday, September 3, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New Orleans Saints

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	518.2	335.5	3860.6	23.84	16.58	45.5	186.6	1.82	246.2
Taysom Hill	57.6	37.4	423.4	2.36	1.27	59.1	319.1	4.28	96.19

Jameis Winston: Perhaps both Winston and Taysom Hill will make starts during the season. Naming Winston as the starter, however, not only puts the better passer under center, but it allows the coaching staff to maximize Hill's versatility, especially given the state of their receiving corps. Two seasons ago in Tampa, Winston led the NFL in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions thrown (30) so ball security will be critical to keeping the starting gig.

Taysom Hill: Whenever/if he gets the opportunity to start, Hill will flirt with top-12 production. During his four starts last season, he performed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback every week. At a minumum, Hill should be owned in all two-QB and Super Flex leagues.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	186.5	857.9	7.74	79.8	724	4.2	269.73
Latavius Murray	92.1	409.8	2.86	23.9	179.9	0.9	93.48
Tony Jones Jr.	47.8	205.5	1.2	10.3	77.1	0.4	43.01
Ty Montgomery	6.8	29.9	0.17	10.6	128.5	0.6	25.76
Dwayne Washington	10.2	39.8	0.2	0.9	6.4	0	6.27

Alvin Kamara: No running back scored more fantasy points in half-PPR formats than Kamara in 2020. The versatile back had exactly 81 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons and then set a career high (83) in 2020. That said, he was on pace for an even better career-best number before Drew Brees (ribs) missed four weeks. The only three games that Kamara failed to reach three catches came with Taysom Hill under center. That said, Jameis Winston winning the starting job benefits Kamara.

Latavius Murray: Murray may flirt with stand-alone flex value -- especially during bye weeks -- Murray will become an elite play in any game that Kamara misses. In the two games that Kamara missed and Murray was active, Murray had a total of 62 touches, 307 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	65.4	835.4	4.8	0	0	0	145.04
Marquez Callaway	54.4	706.9	4.5	0	0	0	124.89
Tre'quan Smith	37.8	565.5	3.7	0	0	0	97.65
Deonte Harris	16.2	192.8	1.1	6.8	56.1	0.14	40.43
Lil'Jordan Humphrey	0.9	12.9	0.1	0	0	0	2.34

Michael Thomas: It was an injury-plagued 2020 season for Thomas, who failed to score in seven regular-season appearances. Thomas decided to postpone ankle surgery until June and he begins the season on the PUP list, which means that he'll miss at the least the first six weeks of the season. Drew Brees' retirement and his injury significantly diminishes his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.

Marquez Callaway: Callaway has generated loads of training camp buzz and then upped the ante in preseason games. He has the potential to be the team's most productive receiver for as long as Michael Thomas (ankle) is out. Either way, he's an upside sleeper pick.

Fun watching Marquez Callaway really take ownership of being the top dog at receiver right now. Playing with so much confidence.
— Luke Johnson (@ByLukeJohnson) August 6, 2021

Tre'quan Smith: Smith posted career numbers in receptions (34) and yards (448) in 2020. Even with Brees retiring, Smith should set new career highs, but it's possible/likely that Callaway outperforms him.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	38.2	428.4	2.8	78.74
Juwan Johnson	20.7	265.6	1.7	47.11
Nick Vannett	5.2	53.6	0.4	10.36

Adam Trautman: Set for an expanded role with Jared Cook now in L.A., Trautman is a breakout candidate. Not only does he move to the top of the TE depth chart, but plenty of targets are up for grabs with Michael Thomas starting the season on the PUP list and Emmanuel Sanders now in Buffalo.

Juwan Johnson: Converting from wide receiver to tight end, Johnson has earned glowing reviews this offseason and is poised for an expanded role, giving him some sleeper appeal. In fact, it wouldn't be that big of a surprise if it were Johnson (not Trautman) that turns in better receiving production in 2021.

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Thursday, August 19, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New Orleans Saints

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	376.1	243.5	2801.9	17.3	12.04	42.5	174.3	1.7	184.83
Taysom Hill	157.4	102.3	1156.9	6.45	3.46	72.4	391	5.25	150.52

Jameis Winston: Taysom Hill drew four starts when Drew Brees was sidelined last season. Earlier in the offseason, most expected Winston to be named the starter with Brees decided to hang up his cleats this offseason. Now that training camp is underway, however, the team in the midst of a legitimate quarterback competition.

Perhaps both quarterbacks will make starts during the season, but I believe Winston will begin the season as the starter in part so that New Orleans can maximize Hill's versatility, especially given the state of their receiving corps. Two seasons ago in Tampa, Winston led the NFL in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions thrown (30) and ball security will be critical to keeping the starting gig (should be named the starter).

Taysom Hill: Whenever/if he gets the opportunity to start, Hill will flirt with top-12 production. During his four starts last season, he performed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback every week. At a minimum, Hill should be owned in all two-QB and Super Flex leagues (even if he isn't named the starter).

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	204.9	942.5	8.5	72.6	653.2	3.7	269.07
Latavius Murray	139.9	622.6	4.34	25.4	201.9	1.1	127.79
Ty Montgomery	20	88	0.5	10.4	118.8	0.6	32.48
Devonta Freeman	7.5	29.3	0.19	2.6	21.8	0.2	8.75
Alex Armah	5	11	0.3	1.4	9.9	0.1	5.19

If the Saints utilize Taysom Hill as their starter, it would likely cap Kamara's upside and lead to more volatility in his weekly production. In 11 games with Brees, Kamara was a top-10 weekly producer in all but one game last season. In four games with Hill, Kamara posted weekly finishes (half-PPR) of RB25, RB36, RB9 and RB9, respectively.

Latavius Murray: Provided Murray isn't a cap casualty, he flirts with stand-alone flex value -- especially during bye weeks -- when both Kamara and Murray are active. For any week(s) that Kamara may miss, however, Murray becomes a must-start play. In the two games that Kamara missed and Murray was active, Murray had a total of 62 touches, 307 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

Ty Montgomery: The Saints have moved Montgomery to receiver. While ESPN lists him as a WR, he is still listed at RB in Yahoo! leagues.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	70	870.9	5	0	0	0	152.09
Tre'quan Smith	38.9	581.9	3.6	0	0	0	99.24
Marquez Callaway	35.4	451.3	2.6	0	0	0	78.43
Deonte Harris	15.2	184.1	1.1	7.5	61.9	0.15	39.7
Juwan Johnson	12.1	162.3	1	0	0	0	28.28
Chris Hogan	2.1	27.7	0.2	0	0	0	5.02
Lil'Jordan Humphrey	0.9	11.9	0.1	0	0	0	2.24

Michael Thomas: It was an injury-plagued 2020 season for Thomas, who failed to score in seven regular-season appearances. Thomas decided to postpone ankle surgery until June and now he's likely to miss the start of the 2021 season. While Thomas appears to be "ahead of schedule," it's unclear how much time he will actually miss.

Before 2020, Thomas had improved every season -- 1,137 yards (2016), 1,245 (2017), 1,405 (2018) and 1,725 (2019). In his last full season (2019), he led the NFL in both receptions (149) and yards (1,725). Drew Brees' retirement and his injury significantly diminishes his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.

Tre'quan Smith: Smith posted career numbers in receptions (34) and yards (448) in 2020. Even with Brees retiring, Smith should set new career highs with Emmanuel Sanders leaving for Buffalo and Thomas likely to miss the start of the season.

Marquez Callaway: Callaway has generated some training camp buzz and has the potential to be the team's most productive receiver for as long as Michael Thomas (ankle) is out. Either way, he's an upside sleeper pick in the double-digit rounds.

Fun watching Marquez Callaway really take ownership of being the top dog at receiver right now. Playing with so much confidence.
— Luke Johnson (@ByLukeJohnson) August 6, 2021

Juwan Johnson: While some sites like Yahoo! still list Johnson as a WR, he has converted to TE and the transition has been going well enough that he has some sleeper appeal.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	45.8	514.6	3.3	0	0	0	94.16
Nick Vannett	5.2	49.5	0.4	0	0	0	9.95

Adam Trautman: Set for an expanded role with Jared Cook now in L.A., Trautman is a breakout candidate that will be a popular sleeper pick at tight end. In addition to his move up the TE depth chart, Emmanuel Sanders is now in Buffalo and Michael Thomas will likely miss the start of the season following offseason ankle surgery.

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Friday, July 30, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New Orleans Saints

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	346.8	224.6	2583.7	15.95	11.1	42.5	174.3	1.7	172.58
Taysom Hill	186.7	121.4	1372.2	7.65	4.11	72.4	391	5.25	162.63

Perhaps both quarterbacks will make starts during the season, but I believe Winston will begin the season as the starter in part so that New Orleans can maximize Hill's versatility. Two seasons ago in Tampa, Winston led the NFL in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions thrown (30), but his ball security will be pivotal in his ability to keep the starting gig (should be named the starter).

Taysom Hill: Whenever/if he gets the opportunity to start, Hill will flirt with top-12 production. During his four starts last seasone, he performed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback every week.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	204.9	942.5	8.5	72.7	652.7	3.7	269.07
Latavius Murray	139.9	622.6	4.34	27.7	227.5	1.2	132.1
Ty Montgomery	20	88	0.5	10.4	89	0.6	29.5
Alex Armah	5	11	0.3	1.7	13.8	0.1	5.73
Dwayne Washington	7.5	32.6	0.15	0.9	5.9	0	5.2

Alvin Kamara: No running back scored more fantasy points in half-PPR formats than Kamara in 2020. The versatile back had exactly 81 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons and then set a career high (83) in 2020. That said, he was on pace for a much higher career-best number before Drew Brees (ribs) missed four weeks. The only three games that Kamara failed to reach three catches came with Brees sidelined.

Latavius Murray: When both Kamara and Murray are active, Murray flirts with stand-alone flex value -- especially during bye weeks. For any weeks that Kamara may miss, however, Murray becomes a must-start play. In the two games that Kamara missed and Murray was active, Murray had a total of 62 touches, 307 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	70.1	862.4	5	0	0	0	151.29
Tre'quan Smith	42.4	617.1	3.8	0	0	0	105.71
Marquez Callaway	20.8	274.9	1.6	0	0	0	47.49
Deonte Harris	17.3	207.7	1.2	7.5	61.9	0.15	43.71
Juwan Johnson	6.9	102.9	0.6	0	0	0	17.34
Chris Hogan	3.1	51.4	0.3	0	0	0	8.49
Lil'Jordan Humphrey	2.1	29.7	0.2	0	0	0	5.22

Before 2020, Thomas had improved every season -- 1,137 yards (2016), 1,245 (2017), 1,405 (2018) and 1,725 (2019). In his last full season (2019), he led the NFL in both receptions (149) and yards (1,725). Drew Brees' retirement and the injury dampen his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.

Marquez Callaway: An expanded role early in the season provides Callaway with some sleeper appeal heading into 2021.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	45.8	534	3.2	95.5
Nick Vannett	13.8	158.2	0.9	28.12
Garrett Griffin	2.6	29.7	0.2	5.47

Adam Trautman: A breakout candidate set for an expanded role in year two, Trautman will be a popular sleeper pick at tight end. Not only are Jared Cook and Josh Hill no longer on the roster, but Emmanuel Sanders (82 targets) is also gone and Michael Thomas is likely to miss the start of the season following recent ankle surgery.

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Sunday, July 11, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New Orleans Saints

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jameis Winston	346.8	222.8	2601	15.95	11.1	42.5	174.3	1.7	173.27
Taysom Hill	186.7	121.4	1381.6	7.65	4.11	72.4	391	5.25	163

Jameis Winston: With Drew Brees hanging up the cleats this offseason, the Saints will have a quarterback competition between Winston and Taysom Hill, who started four games last season when Brees missed time. It wouldn't be a surprise, however, if both Winston and Hill made starts in 2021 regardless of which quarterback is named the Week 1 starter.

Two seasons ago in Tampa, Winston led the NFL in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions thrown (30). While I believe that Sean Payton would like to start Winston to maximize his potential to exploit Hill's versatility, Winston's ball security will be pivotal in his ability to not lose grip of the starting gig (should be named the starter).

Taysom Hill: Whenever/if he gets the opportunity to start, Hill will flirt with top-12 production. In fact, he performed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in all four of his starts last season.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Alvin Kamara	212.3	987.2	9.02	68.8	617.3	3.4	269.37
Latavius Murray	137.4	611.4	4.26	27.5	229	1.2	130.55
Ty Montgomery	15	66	0.38	10.3	99.6	0.6	27.59
Alex Armah	5	11	0.3	1.7	13.9	0.1	5.74
Dwayne Washington	7.5	32.6	0.15	0.9	6	0	5.21

Alvin Kamara: No running back scored more fantasy points in half-PPR formats than Kamara in 2020. The versatile back had exactly 81 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons and then set a career high (83) in 2020. That said, he was on pace for a much higher career-best number before Drew Brees (ribs) missed four weeks. The only three games that Kamara failed to reach three catches came with Brees sidelined.

If the Saints utilize Taysom Hill as their starter, it would likely cap Kamara's upside and lead to more volatility in his weekly production. In 11 games with Brees, Kamara was a top-10 weekly producer in all but one game last season. In four games with Hill, here were Kamara's weekly finishes (half-PPR): RB25, RB36, RB9 and RB9, respectively.

Latavius Murray: When both Kamara and Murray are active, Murray has stand-alone flex value -- especially during bye weeks. For any weeks that Kamara may miss, Murray becomes a must-start play. In the two games that Kamara missed and Murray was active, Murray had a total of 62 touches, 307 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Thomas	83.5	1025.5	5.9	0	0	0	179.7
Tre'quan Smith	42.2	617.3	3.8	0	0	0	105.63
Deonte Harris	18.9	229	1.4	7.5	61.9	0.15	47.84
Marquez Callaway	12	175.2	1	0	0	0	29.52
Juwan Johnson	6.9	101.6	0.6	0	0	0	17.21
Lil'Jordan Humphrey	5.2	81.6	0.5	0	0	0	13.76

Michael Thomas: It was an injury-plagued 2020 season for Thomas, who failed to score in seven regular-season appearances. While Thomas played in the four Taysom Hill starts and had a pair of 100-yard games, both against the Falcons, the most-likely scenario for the 2021 Saints is that Jameis Winston takes over as the team's starter.

Tre'quan Smith: Posting career numbers in receptions (34) and yards (448) in 2020, Smith should have an opportunity to better that production with Emmanuel Sanders now in Buffalo.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Adam Trautman	42.2	497.8	3	88.88
Nick Vannett	13.8	159.3	0.9	28.23
Garrett Griffin	2.6	29.9	0.2	5.49

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