Team Profile
New Orleans Saints
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48.2% 1stOff DVOA
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81.5% 2ndPassing DVOA
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35.5% 1stRushing DVOA
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-35.3% 3rdDef DVOA
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-31.1% 4thDef Passing DVOA
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-44.1% 1stDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For45.5 1st
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Points Against14.5 4th
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Yards Per Game406.0 2nd
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Yards Allowed Per Game273.0 7th
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has reported for training camp despite leaving the team's minicamp early. Kamara's agent confirmed at the time that the running back's departure from minicamp was contract-related. Kamara's deal runs through 2025, and his appearance at camp should quell any speculation among fantasy managers that he was preparing for some kind of holdout. The five-time Pro Bowler caught a career-high 87.2% of his passes in 2023, but he's entering his age-29 season and has watched his rushing efficiency dip in each of the past three years. Despite having to share touches with Jamaal Williams and Kendre Miller, however, Kamara still projects as a fine RB2 in PPR setups after closing as the overall RB3 in full-PPR points per game over 13 contests last year.
Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed agreed to a one-year, $5.2 million contract to remain in New Orleans. He spent 27 games with the Saints over the last two seasons, totaling 74 catches for 1,207 yards and seven touchdowns. While Shaheed could have a few decent fantasy performances during the 2024-25 campaign, his most significant contributions will likely continue to come as a member of special teams, with the 25-year-old making the Pro Bowl last season as a return specialist.
The New Orleans Saints put tight end Juwan Johnson (foot) on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday. It means that Johnson won't be ready to join the rest of the team in practices for the start of training camp next week after he had surgery for a foot injury that he suffered in minicamp this offseason. However, the 27-year-old should work off to the side for the start of camp and still has a shot to be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season in Week 1 this fall. If Johnson is limited or out to begin the season, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill will have more opportunities to catch passes at the tight end position in the Big Easy. Johnson took a step back in 2023 with quarterback Derek Carr at the helm, catching 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (11 starts). When healthy, he checks in as a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2 in fantasy.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (back) has been placed on the Non-Football Injury list. Fantasy managers don't need to panic with fantasy draft season quickly approaching. According to Nick Underhill, Olave is dealing with minor back tightness and should be fine soon. The former first-round pick should serve as the team's primary offensive option once again. He has been a stud since entering the league with two straight 1,000-plus yard campaigns. Fantasy managers shouldn't need to monitor this situation with the young stud only dealing with a minor back issue.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been one of the best at his position in team history, but he could be nearing the end of the line with his deal set up to make it easier to release him after the 2024 season. Kamara is looking for more long-term security, which is why he walked out of the team facility before the final mandatory minicamp practice because he's unhappy with his current deal. His contract ranked below only Christian McCaffrey when he signed it in 2020, but four years later, Kamara isn't anywhere close to CMC. The 28-year-old has surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the last seven seasons and remains versatile, but the Saints may be considering moving on as he heads into his age-29 season. His abilities as a pass-catcher have kept him afloat in PPR formats, but even in those leagues, fantasy managers should consider him more of an RB2 moving forward.