New Orleans

Saints

Despite his team scoring 47 points, Olave somehow comes away from Week 1 as the only Saint who posted a disappointing stat line. The Saints’ play-calling looked far more creative under Kubiak and Derek Carr averaged a healthy 8.7 yards per attempt on 23 throws, so Olave’s disastrous box score can’t be blamed on the offense. However, it’s hard to know how much of his quiet game was simply based on poor game script and the Saints getting production out of anyone they wanted. Forster Moreau, Juwan Johnson, Rashid Shaheed, and Jamaal Williams all found the end zone. Fantasy managers will get a better idea of Olave’s true role when he faces the Cowboys in Week 2.

The Saints were up 30-3 at halftime and scored another 17 points in the second half for good measure. They took the air out of the ball in the final two quarters and gave Williams more run in the second half. He ran nine times for 38 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Williams won’t be a relevant fantasy option unless the Saints replicate this performance against the Cowboys next week.

Per usual, Hill was moved around the formation for all four quarters. The most interesting development in his usage was an increase in his role as a true running back. Hill got a carry while lined up as a running back before backup running back Jamaal Williams and had four total attempts before Williams saw his first. Hill nearly found paydirt as a receiver with a 50/50 ball in the end zone but was able to come down with it. The shift in usage should help smooth out Hill’s fantasy production with a higher floor of rushing yards. He will rank as a TE2 for his Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys.

Moreau suffered the concussion late in the Saints’ Week 1 win over the Panthers and did not return. It’s a frustrating injury for Moreau after a breakout performance with four catches and a touchdown. If Moreau can’t suit up in Week 2 against the Cowboys, fellow tight end Juwan Johnson will see the bulk of the true tight end snaps, giving him some TE2 value.

Johnson got home with a 16-yard toss into the end zone just before halftime but split snaps with Foster Moreau. Moreau was targeted four times and caught all four of his looks for 43 yards and a score. Johnson’s role wouldn’t normally be enough to warrant a look off the waiver wire, but Moreau left the game late with a head injury and is now in the concussion protocol. If he can’t go in Week 2, Johnson would be in line for the bulk of the tight end snaps. Johnson will rank as a high-upside TE2 if Moreau is unavailable versus the Cowboys.

Shaheed was on the receiving end of a 59-yard strike from Derek Carr for his first touchdown of the season to start the game. He nearly brought down another long ball later in the game as well. The Saints’ offense, now called by Klint Kubiak, already looks far more sophisticated and modern than it did in 2023. That’s great news for Shaheed, who should find more opportunities to bust long plays if Kubiak is throwing more at opposing defenses. He will rank as a boom/bust WR4 for his Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys.

The Saints’ revamped offensive design under Klint Kubiak was the talk of the town in New Orleans this offseason and the hire immediately paid dividends for Derek Carr. He opened the game with a 59-yard touchdown to Rashid Shaheed on his third pass attempt. Carr also hit his tight ends Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson for touchdowns in the first half. This could have been an elite box score for Carr had he kept going, but the Panthers managed just three points through two quarters while the Saints had already put 30 on the board. Carr threw just seven passes in the second half. The Saints’ new offensive approach should allow Carr to keep this momentum heading into Week 2 versus the Cowboys. He will rank as a fantasy QB2.

Perry missed all three practices this week because of the hand injury. Veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson had been playing ahead of him as the team’s WR3 in camp, so this doesn’t change much for the Saints. Rasheed Shahid and Chris Olave are the only Saints receivers worth rostering heading into Week 1.

Perry didn’t practice again Friday while dealing with his hand injury. The wideout could still line up against the Panthers for the season opener, but the back-to-back missed practices makes it unlikely. It was unlikely even if he was to go that he’d be a good bet for fantasy relevance, regardless of the injury status.

This is a new injury for the Saints’ No. 3 WR. Details have yet to be released as to the severity and his projected recovery timeline so it remains possible he suits up for Week 1. A mid-week injury is never ideal though. Perry is unlikely to command a high target share even if healthy but the team is also likely to be without rookie TE Dallin Holker (ankle) who failed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Their potential absences push a few more targets toward the Saints’ top-heavy pass-catching corps, particularly No. 1 WR Chris Olave.