Saints Ultimate Fantasy Football Preview

Here's some of the Fantasy Football impact you can expect from Saints players as you get ready for your drafts.

Fantasy football drafts will be here before we know it, with some already getting into their prep work ahead of training camps and preseason action. The New Orleans Saints have traditionally provided some nice gems that can help you win your leagues, but the past two years have been a mixed bag with some of the performances. We're here to give you an informed approach from being in the trenches when considering the black and gold.

We'll be using Sports Illustrated's player rankings as a baseline for our preview, and this Saints fantasy guide should benefit all players, regardless of the format.

Saints Fantasy Football Outlook

Derek Carr, QB

Current Ranking: 22nd

New life for Derek Carr hopes to pay off in a big way, as the Saints invested heavily in the free agent during the offseason. Carr has made a large impact on the team so far, and the energy surrounding his addition in the locker room shows. Statistically speaking, Carr hasn't been a major player in fantasy football, finishing in the bottom half of quarterbacks at 17th.

Carr is expected to have a much better outlook this season in New Orleans, and many are starting to get on the hype train. A 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown season wouldn't be out of the question for his outlook, as the chemistry continues to build with his skill players. He's also going to have a considerable amount of control in the offense. Don't overdraft Carr, but know he has the potential to be a borderline sneaky QB1 and will be a priority backup for your main starter as an absolute worst-case scenario. We'd project him to be in the top-half of quarterback scorers this year while flirting with a Top-10 ceiling.

Jameis Winston, QB

Current Ranking: 39th

Winston won't figure to have any fantasy value going into the season, as there is no quarterback controversy or battle going into 2023. However, what you should know about Jameis Winston is that he's worked hard to recover from injury last year and has looked pretty good so far. There's a scenario we floated back in April about him being traded if he looks good in camp and preseason to a quarterback-needy team. As of now, keep him on the watch list.

Alvin Kamara, RB

Dec 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) celebrates with guard Josh Andrews (68) and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (89) after scoring during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Current Ranking: 28th

Where to draft Alvin Kamara will be the highest debated topic of conversation when draft day hits. Here's what you need to know going into your fantasy draft. The trial date is set for July 31, and the Saints are expecting some type of suspension for him. Essentially, under the league's personal conduct policy, you can expect a minimum of a six-game suspension for Kamara. The sooner it were to happen, the better it would be for some. 

Kamara will be a fringe RB2 for your league or a priority Flex. He could be a little more active in the receiving department, but also take heed to something Dennis Allen said. The Saints want to take some of the workload off of Kamara, and others will seemingly cut into his production. Still, he'll be the top option for fantasy players.

UPDATE (7/11/23): With Kamara's legal process playing out, the suspension decision will come sooner rather than later. The NFL could give him less than a six-game suspension, so keep an eye on this.

Jamaal Williams, RB

Current Ranking: 31st

If you're going to draft Kamara, then you had better look at getting his handcuff in Jamaal Williams. Williams is going to have a big part in the offense, even with Kamara in the picture. Williams is more than willing to help pick up responsibilities in the offense, and will be the main guy with Kamara missing time. Williams was a touchdown machine last season, and he might not get as many in New Orleans, but will be an appealing option in the red zone.

Williams is also looking to be more, adding pass catch value out of the backfield and to show off some big play ability. Look at drafting Williams and stashing him on the bench. If you're in a very deep league, then he could be a strong Flex play for you. However, until things happen, proceed with caution.

Chris Olave, WR

Nov 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) celebrates his third quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams with Rashid Shaheed at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Current Ranking: 13th

Olave was a great breath of fresh air for the Saints offense in his rookie campaign, being the second-highest fantasy scorer and top skill position player on the team in 2022. So, how can he build upon things in his second season? For starters, what you need to know about Olave is that he has bulked up some in the offseason and has made it a point to work on the contested catches part of his game. He was already a strong and polished route runner, being able to go all over the route tree to secure targets. He had 119 targets last season, hauling in 72 catches for 1,042 yards and 4 touchdowns.

We can easily project another season of over 100 targets for Olave, and I'd take the over on him finishing as a 1,000-yard receiver. Where things hopefully pay off a bit more for fantasy owners is that he finds the end zone. He can be a big boost in PPR leagues, and will be a solid WR2 option for now even with Michael Thomas back in the fold. He's had good chemistry with Derek Carr so far, and that only will grow.

Michael Thomas, WR

Michael Thomas owners will have to be patient, but a gamble could pay off / John Hendrix

Current Ranking: 37th

You're going to have to proceed with caution when drafting Michael Thomas, and that's just the way it is. No one was exaggerating how good he looked in training camp last year, and he made big statements in the first couple of games of the year until he got hurt. You know the rest of the story, and we're back to wondering what could be for him this season.

Thomas was a very unexpected surprise at OTAs, and he told us that he'll be a full-go for training camp. He's looked good in the small sample sizes we've seen, working with Derek Carr off to the side while also doing some cuts and breaks out of some routes in the short yardage range. The biggest question for him regarding fantasy drafts is how high do you take him?

Drafting Michael Thomas will be a gamble for many, but it could pay off a lot more than it could bust right now. For now, he's in the WR3 conversation and a priority Flex at worst-case, with upside as high as WR1. You're just going to have to keep an eye out on how things progress in training camp and the preseason, and be sure to check out our daily recaps with all the coverage. 

Taysom Hill, TE

Oct 16, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) is announced to the fans before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Current Ranking: 29th

The great fantasy debate of Hill's position was always fun to see, as he was a true boom or bust at times in the lineup. He ended up finishing third on the team in scoring behind Andy Dalton and Alvin Kamara, with his rushing performances and touchdowns being the major reward for fantasy owners. He didn't catch a lot of passes, but that might change going into this season.

The Saints have said that they have a better understanding of how to utilize Taysom Hill going into 2023, and hopefully that's the case going forward. As I pointed out in a mailbag in late June, the utilization and timing was what was off. Getting him at 20 snaps or higher in a game produced positive results for New Orleans, as they went 6-2 in those contests. Hill will be a major Flex option for many, but look for him towards the back half of the draft.

For more on Hill's outlook, be sure to check out my conversation with Rotoworld.

IDP

Oct 16, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) reacts after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

IDPs, or Individual Defensive Players, can totally boost your squad depending on the scoring format. The Saints have some real tackle machines, as well as some prominent sack artists to consider for your league.

• Demario Davis, LB - He finished out as the highest scorer among the Saints defense, being a real Iron Man for New Orleans. Davis averaged over 7.5 points/game in 2022, and was also a team leader in sacks with 6.5. In all five of his seasons with the Saints, he's had triple-digit tackle performances and also six straight. He's got to be one of your top considerations.
• Cam Jordan, DE - Jordan was second on the team last year in fantasy scoring for IDPs, which was fueled by an 8.5-sack performance. He averaged 6.7 points/game, and is the top defensive line option for the Saints defense.
• Tyrann Mathieu, S - His first season in New Orleans was a pretty good one, as he led the team with 3 interceptions to go along with a career-high 91 tackles. He is a decent option for anyone who is required to field a DB.
• Pete Werner, LB - Werner will see his snaps go up, as he's the main linebacker alongside Davis. He didn't score highly among all IDPs in terms of total points (185th), but in his 12 games last year, he averaged 6.6 points/game, which tied him for 108th.
• Carl Granderson, DE - Call Granderson a sleeper if you're looking for IDPs to monitor. His play last year was a big reason why he took snaps from Marcus Davenport, as he finished out with 5.5 sacks on the year. He's likely in for a bigger role, but will obviously be a part of a rotation.

Watch List Advice: Keep an eye on Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, and Marcus Maye as potential IDP adds, especially if you are required to slot a CB/DB. Rookies Bryan Bresee and Isaiah Foskey would be some to watch, especially in dynasty, but don't expect a ton of points this season.

Dynasty and Rookie Grabs

Kendre Miller / John Hendrix

If you're in a dynasty league, here's a few Saints players you might want to look at drafting and stashing when your draft comes around.

• Kendre Miller, RB - This is a good outlook right now, especially with the Alvin Kamara situation. The Saints really like Miller, and he might end up playing a larger role beyond this season. If Kamara is out of the picture for any length of time, Miller would be an immediate handcuff to have with Jamaal Williams.
• Jake Haener, QB - He's one to monitor, but don't expect any contributions for 2023. Beyond that, he could end up being the main guy behind Derek Carr. He has been impressive so far, but you're likely going to look other places before you get a guy like Haener.
• A.T. Perry, WR - You should proceed with caution here, as the receiver situation is a bit cloudy beyond the big three. Even if Perry does make the final roster, he'll be lower on the depth chart. You'd have a better outlook with some of the other rookie wide receivers.
• D'Marco Jackson, LB - If you're in an IDP format league, Jackson is someone you should look at putting on your watch list. He'll be available in most all of your leagues. We're not projecting a Kaden Ellis type of leap just yet, but he is the favorite for playing time right now behind Davis and Werner.

Sleepers

Everyone loves to find these guys, whether it be on the waiver wire or late in the draft. Here's a few to consider on the Saints.

Juwan Johnson, TE

Not Ranked

I was fairly shocked to not see Juwan Johnson ranked among the tight ends, and it feels like it's not just here. Maybe it's a major oversight, but Johnson was a favorite target of both Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton last season, finishing 8th in scoring last season in the group. Carr's chemistry with Johnson has been good to see so far, and we're not suggesting Darren Waller type of production here, but there's a lot more upside in what he'll bring to the Saints offense.

Foster Moreau, TE

Not Ranked 

Moreau is one of the best stories of the offseason, overcoming his battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and announcing that it's in full remission. He's been on the field since the start after signing with the Saints, and the tight end room was something I tackled in a mailbag.

With the Raiders last year, Waller and Moreau combined for 61 receptions for 808 yards and 5 touchdowns. Moreau, who had 33 catches for 420 yards and 2 touchdowns, will provide more consistency at the position. There feels like a lot of mouths to feed on the Saints offense, but Moreau could thrive as a touchdown option in the red zone. If you're in a league that requires a tight end, Moreau could be someone you stash after the draft and watch how things look in the Saints offense. He'd also be an inexpensive and sneaky daily play.

Rashid Shaheed, WR

Current Ranking: 72nd

If you grabbed Shaheed off of waivers when he had a breakout game, then you reaped a good bit of rewards. He finished out 57th among all wide receivers after being inserted into the lineup in Week 6. It wasn't a consistent weekly performance from Shaheed, but he certainly helped.

Look at taking Shaheed late, with the real possibility of people not drafting him at all. He'll be a Flex play, and could also add value as a returner if you get points there. If you're in a Dynasty League, grab him. He has true sleeper potential, playing with a ton of confidence that should translate on the football field in 2023.

Watch List Advice: Keep tabs on Bryan Edwards, as well as Eno Benjamin. Edwards would be my projection at WR4 right now on the depth chart, and if Michael Thomas isn't right, he'll get more looks. Edwards has worked with Carr in the past, which bodes well in his favor. As for Benjamin, he is a sneaky player to keep tabs on, but he's going to have to make up for lost time at OTAs and training camp.

Saints D/ST

Dec 5, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) causes Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (29) to fumble the ball during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Current Ranking: 11th

The Saints defense finished in the middle of the pack last year in terms of scoring and were playing some of their best football down the stretch. They allowed 20 points or less in the final eight contests of the season. However, inserting them into the lineup didn't exactly give you a ton of points because of the lack of turnovers. It was among the league's lowest outputs, but there's reason to expect better this season. There's a lot of new faces on the defensive side for the Saints in terms of personnel and coaching, which hopefully helps.

Wil Lutz, Kicker

Oct 2, 2022; London, United Kingdom; New Orleans Saints place kicker Wil Lutz (3) attempts a 61-yard field goal out of the hold of punter Blake Gillikin (4) in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Saints 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Current Ranking: 19th

He didn't finish out as one of the higher-rated fantasy kickers last season, which could be attributed to how lethargic the Saints offense was. Lutz did have an 'off year' in terms of his field goal attempts, and returned to New Orleans on a lesser deal that he can make back in incentives. If the offense is even a shell of what we project them to be, Lutz will be a sneaky pickup for leagues who carry a kicker.

Overall, the Saints are expected to be a much better team in 2023. The NFC South is uncertain, and the team has one of the most favorable strengths of schedule going into the regular season. They should be able to put it all together this year and be one of the better teams in the league. The NFC is fairly wide open, and if New Orleans can weather some of the storms they have, they'll be just fine in positioning themselves as a contender.