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 quarterback Derek Carr (illness) was ill on Sunday morning but will play against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, according to a note on NFL.com's official injury report tracker. Carr was added to the injury report Sunday but did not have any designation, which is a good sign that he won't have any limitations in Week 2. The quarterback faces a tough matchup in the form of the Dallas Cowboys, but he's coming off a big performance against the Panthers and figures to maintain some QB2 appeal this weekend. He's a fine option in deeper two-quarterback leagues.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is projected to be an RB3 at best in Week 2 when the Saints square off against the Dallas Cowboys on the road. Williams rushed 11 times for 38 yards and one touchdown in the team's 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, with an additional 13 yards through the air on one catch and one target. New Orleans will get a far more challenging matchup this week against Dallas, but he can be safely left on benches as he backs up Alvin Kamara in the contest. The 29-year-old got extended run in the rout this past weekend, but with a formidable Dallas defense on deck, he can be relegated to the bottom of lineups. Despite his fantasy output in Week 1, confidence in Williams will go no further than a touchdown-dependent alternative unless Kamara is forced to miss time. In addition to the Saints' incumbent starter, Williams will also compete with tight end Taysom Hill for carries. Hill took five rushes for 35 yards in New Orleans' Week 1 win.
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (concussion) will play on Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys. The veteran caught all four targets for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 massacre of the Carolina Panthers before exiting the game in the fourth quarter. While he practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday, he logged full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Without question, his availability is good news for New Orleans. Unfortunately, the Saints have a difficult matchup on the horizon against a talented Cowboys defense. Fantasy managers in all formats should keep Moreau out of the starting lineup.
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was on fire in Week 1's win over Carolina. The second-year kicker drilled all five extra point attempts, along with all four field goal attempts. Two of his field goals came from 50+ yards out, showcasing improvement from last year. Grupe is a tougher start this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who gave up just 17 points last week to Cleveland. Despite his strong Week 1 performance, look elsewhere for a kicker in Week 2.
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson made the most of his three targets in Week 1, as he landed in the end zone in the blowout victory. Johnson split snaps and targets with Foster Moreau (concussion), who appears to be healthy going into Week 2 after suffering a concussion last week. Neither is a trustworthy fantasy play as long as both tight ends are available. Keep Johnson on the bench in a tough matchup against a stout Dallas defense.