NFL Week 9 FTN Staff Bets
FTN Staff
It’s time to look ahead to the 2023 NFL season! Follow along with all our fantasy football team offseason roundups here.
It’s been a very busy NFL offseason, with free agent signings, coaching changes and several new players entering the league via the NFL Draft. As we prepare for the 2023 fantasy football season, it’s critical to have a full understanding of each team’s offseason moves. Our NFL team roundup series today covers the New Orleans Saints.
2023 NFL Team Roundup: New Orleans Saints
2022 Results
Record: 7-10; Tied for 2nd in the NFC South
Season End: Lost to Carolina 10-7, missed the playoffs
New Orleans Saints Offseason Summary
Draft
1.29: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
2.40: Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
3.71: Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
4.103: Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
4.127: Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
5. 146: Jordan Howden, S, Minnesota
6.195: A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
Bryan Bresee, DT (1.29)
Saints need to fill a void on the defensive line after losing David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle, and Bresee measured in at 6-foot-6 and 298 pounds at the combine.
Kendre Miller, RB (3.71)
Alvin Kamara‘s uncertain status made drafting a running back a necessity, and New Orleans loved the versatility of TCU’s Kendre Miller. He is also behind Jamaal Williams on the depth chart, but could see early season opportunities if Kamara is suspended.
Jake Haener, QB (4.127)
The Fresno State signal-caller will develop slowly behind Derek Carr and Jameis Winston. As the 2023 Senior Bowl MVP, Haener could find fantasy relevancy over the next two seasons.
Additions
Free agent signings: QB Derek Carr, RB Jamaal Williams, TE Foster Moreau, OT Storm Norton, DT Khalen Saunders, DL Nathan Shepherd, CB Lonnie Johnson, DB Johnathan Abram, DB J.T. Gray
Derek Carr, QB
New Orleans is committed to Carr as their starting quarterback for the next two seasons. The Saints are the betting favorites in NFC South, and the Carr acquisition ends the carousel of Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill.
Jamaal Williams, RB
The 28-year-old Williams signed a three-year contract with $8 million guaranteed. That should ensure his playing time, which could rise even higher if Alvin Kamara is suspended. Williams rushed for over 1,000 yards and led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022.
Foster Moreau, TE
Moreau has miraculously overcome the diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and now joins New Orleans after four years with the Raiders. He has a nose for the end zone with 12 career touchdowns.
Johnathan Abram, DB
Will New Orleans hold the key to unlocking the talent of the former 2019 first-round selection? Abram played for three different teams (Raiders, Packers, Seahawks) last season.
Departures
QB Andy Dalton, RB Mark Ingram, RB David Johnson, WR Marquez Callaway, WR/RET Deonte Harty, WR Jarvis Landry, TE Adam Trautman, TE Nick Vannett, EDGE Marcus Davenport, Edge Kentavius Street, DL David Onyemata, DL Shy Tuttle, LB Kaden Elliss, CB Chris Harris, S P.J. Williams, S Justin Evans, S Daniel Sorensen
Andy Dalton, QB
Veteran signal-caller threw 18 touchdowns with just nine interceptions for Saints, but switched within the division to Carolina.
Mark Ingram, RB
Veteran RB hasn’t tallied 300 yards with any individual team since 2019.
Jarvis Landry, WR
Veteran has seen a decrease in his receptions for three straight seasons.
David Onyemata, DL
Solid interior lineman switches to rival Atlanta after five sacks for Saints in 2022.
Shy Tuttle, DL
Signed three-year deal with Carolina, leaving another hole in the middle of the New Orleans defensive line.
New Orleans Saints Fantasy Outlook
The five most interesting Saints fantasy options:
Derek Carr, QB
32-year-old Derek Carr has failed to finish better than the overall QB19 in five of the past six seasons. His history with a new offensive coordinator is shaky, but the Saints are banking on a change of scenery to recapture his four-time Pro-Bowl form.
Alvin Kamara, RB
Still only 27 years old, Alvin Kamara remains as one of the elite pass-catching running backs in the game today. His fantasy future is clouded by a possible suspension due to a 2022 arrest for a fight in Las Vegas.
Jamaal Williams, RB
A superb 2022 season produced Jamaal Williams‘ first 1000-yard rushing season and a career-high 17 touchdowns. What will he do for an encore with New Orleans in 2023?
Chris Olave, WR
The fantasy community is very high on Olave, who posted a strong rookie campaign despite mediocre quarterback play. The 6-foot, 185-pound, former first-round pick posted 72 receptions, 1,042 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The question is: How will the return of Michael Thomas affect his production?
Michael Thomas, WR
Thomas continued to suffer through injuries, missing the last 14 games of 2022 with a dislocated toe. He has played only 10 games in the past three seasons, but did register a dominant overall WR1 campaign in 2019.
2023 Outlook
DraftKings Sportsbook Wins Over/Under: 9.5 (+105, -125)
NFC South odds: +120
The overall thought is the Saints should be much improved pending a healthy return from Michael Thomas. New Orleans’ recent success has been predicated on a strong defense, solid offensive line, and the elite ability of Alvin Kamara and Thomas. All of those factors enter 2023 with huge question marks, making me skeptical on the Saints win total. New Orleans does have the easiest schedule per projected opponents win totals, but the Falcons and Panthers should be much improved within the NFC South. I like the Falcons to win the division, and don’t believe Carr will be a huge improvement over the Andy Dalton/Taysom Hill/Jameis Winston trio. I’m taking the under on New Orleans win total at -125.
