New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson saw season highs in targets, receptions, and yards in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The fifth-year veteran caught all five balls thrown his way for 31 receiving yards, bringing his 2024 totals to nine receptions for 70 yards. Johnson may yet again see more involvement in the passing game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. Taysom Hill (ribs) has been ruled out and while he isn't utilized as a traditional tight end his absence does leave the door open for more opportunities for others. With Derek Carr (oblique) sidelined due to injury, Spencer Rattler might look for the big-bodied tight end as a safety valve as is often the case for rookie quarterbacks. Even with the allowances for optimism, the fact of the matter is that Johnson is not a priority in the Saints' offense. He rates as a low-end TE2 in Week 6 and should be avoided in most leagues.

Expectations for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave will have to be tempered in Week 6 with Derek Carr (oblique) lost to injury. Carr's fill-in, rookie Spencer Rattler, offered some reassurance in comments to the media after being named the starter when he stated his intent to feed Olave the ball. That would be a welcome change from Week 5, when Olave was targeted four times, making two catches for a season-low 10 receiving yards, his worst game since his two-catch, 11-yard performance in Week 1. In the three weeks between, Olave gave fantasy managers more of what they were hoping for when they drafted him, catching 18 of his 22 targets in that span and racking up at least 81 yards in each game. There is no denying Olave's talent but his success is still contingent on how Rattler performs in his professional debut. Fantasy managers should also be aware that Tampa's heavy utilization of zone coverages favors Rashid Shaheed (hip) more than it does Olave. Olave rates as a risky WR3 in Week 6 given the situation in New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (rib) missed practice all week and has officially been ruled out for the Week 6 divisional clash on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This will be Hill's third missed game of the year and his second in a row due to fractured ribs that he suffered in the Week 4 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. The 34-year-old can do it all on the football field, but it's impossible to predict when he'll be heavily utilized when he's healthy. For now, Hill should remain on the waiver wire in most fantasy formats. When he does return, Hill could see more action out of the backfield as a passer or runner if he's able to return before quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) does. The Saints have a quick turnaround in Week 7 next Thursday against the Denver Broncos, so Hill may be fighting an uphill battle to return by then.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (hip) was removed from Friday's injury report and will be active on Sunday in Week 6 against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shaheed did not practice on Wednesday but returned to limited sessions on both Thursday and Friday. The 26-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season in 2024 and enters Week 6 as the No. 14 fantasy wideout in half-PPR scoring thanks to 19 receptions for 338 yards and three touchdowns. He has had some nice chemistry on the deep ball with quarterback Derek Carr (oblique), but with Carr likely out multiple weeks, Shaheed's fantasy value could take a big tumble while taking passes from rookie QB Spencer Rattler, who will be making his first start this weekend. Shaheed should be viewed as a much more volatile WR3/flex in Week 6.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hand, hip) was removed from Friday's final injury report and will play in Week 6 against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kamara picked up a DNP on Wednesday but was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, Kendre Miller (hamstring) practiced in full all week and is questionable to make his season debut. The 29-year-old Kamara played a season-high 90% of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night and remains a workhorse for this offense. Expect another heavy workload for Kamara in rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler's first career start, which makes Kamara a must-start RB1 for fantasy managers. However, with QB Derek Carr (oblique) out, the Saints' offense could struggle to move the ball effectively, which could be an overall downgrade for Kamara's upside.