Team Profile
New Orleans Saints
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-4.1% 20thOff DVOA
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1.1% 23rdPassing DVOA
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-1% 11thRushing DVOA
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4.8% 23rdDef DVOA
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1.7% 13thDef Passing DVOA
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9.5% 32ndDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For23.8 13th
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Points Against23.6 20th
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Yards Per Game347.0 11th
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Yards Allowed Per Game391.0 31st
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr started the season by posting more than 20 fantasy points in back-to-back games. However, in Weeks 3 and 4 the signal-caller couldn't crack double digits. Carr went 28-for-36 last week, setting new highs in completions and pass attempts in the young season, but he failed to reach 250 passing yards for the fourth straight game. In Week 5, the Saints head to Kansas City to play the Chiefs on Monday night. The Chiefs permitted Justin Herbert to throw for just 179 yards in Week 4 and they have given up just 13.5 fantasy points per game over their last three. Carr faces the additional challenge of playing behind an offensive line missing three starters that is facing an aggressive defensive front led by lineman Chris Jones. Unless you are managing a two-QB league team dealing with bye week complications, then Carr should be left on the wire in Week 5.
New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (forearm) was able to put in a full practice on Friday after he had a limited showing in Thursday's session. Johnson is on track to be available to play on Monday Night Football in Week 5 on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fellow TE Taysom Hill (ribs) is dealing with fractured ribs and is looking doubtful to play, which will open up some more pass-catching opportunities for Johnson this week. Foster Moreau will continue to be a road block in terms of playing time and targets for Johnson, though, so fantasy managers should continue to ignore him. Through the first four games in 2024, Johnson has only caught four of six targets for 39 yards and one touchdown. There should be better TE2 sleeper options available in Week 5.
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe (hip) practiced in full on Friday after he was given an DNP tag on Thursday. Grupe was looking iffy for Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football after popping up on the initial injury report, but a return to a full practice a day later on Friday should put him in the clear to be available to close out Week 5 action. The 25-year-old has been a top-10 fantasy kicker through the first four weeks of the season, and there's no reason why fantasy managers should be going away from him this week as long as he's active. Grupe is currently the No. 7 kicker in terms of fantasy points this year. He's made all eight of his field-goal attempts and has missed just one of his 14 extra-point tries. The Chiefs defense has allowed 7.5 fantasy points per game to kickers through four games, which ranks 20th in the league.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (hip, ribs) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Friday. Fellow RB Kendre Miller (hamstring) was upgraded to full-go in practice after being limited on Wednesday. Kamara was listed with the same injuries last week before suiting up and touching the ball 26 times for 119 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in the Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The 29-year-old will most likely be cleared on Saturday to play on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kamara should continue to have high volume in the Saints' backfield, especially with Taysom Hill (ribs) looking doubtful to play after fracturing his ribs last weekend. Through four weeks in 2024, Kamara is the RB1 in fantasy in half-PPR scoring with 362 rushing yards and five touchdowns, adding 17 catches for 174 yards and another TD. He's a must-start against KC.
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (ribs) was missing from practice for the second straight day this week on Friday. Hill fractured his ribs in the Week 4 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons and is now looking doubtful to be able to play on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. He will need to return to some form of practice on Saturday to give himself a shot to suit up this week. Hill has already missed one game due to injury in 2024 and could be well on his way to another absence. The 34-year-old versatile offensive piece had his best game of the year last week, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn't targeted in the passing attack. Hill has mostly been used as a runner (14 carries) moreso than a receiver (three targets) this year and remains a volatile boom/bust TE2 in fantasy when he's active.