Team Profile
New Orleans Saints
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-4.1% 22ndOff DVOA
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-1% 24thPassing DVOA
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-0.2% 12thRushing DVOA
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6.2% 24thDef DVOA
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3.9% 13thDef Passing DVOA
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9.8% 31stDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For22.7 16th
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Points Against24.6 23rd
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Yards Per Game335.0 16th
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Yards Allowed Per Game386.0 28th
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed has been consistently inconsistent for fantasy managers in 2023. The second-year receiver has seen varied usage levels throughout a season in which he has grabbed 43 catches for 654 yards and four touchdowns. Shaheed holds his typical boom-or-bust label heading into a Week 18 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, who surrender the fourth-least fantasy points per game to the receiver position. Due to the inconsistent nature of his usage, Shaheed is best left on benches but always offers intriguing big-play ability.
New Orleans Saints second-year receiver Chris Olave (ankle) has been cleared of his injury designation following limited participation in Wednesday and Thursday's practices. This will be the third-straight game that Olave will suit up for after missing Week 15 with the injury. While he disappointed last week with just three receptions for 26 yards, Olave should be thrust back into lineups for Week 18. Atlanta has allowed the fourth-least fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, but Olave will remain the top receiving option for quarterback Derek Carr.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is likely to be the lead runner on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons with Alvin Kamara (ankle) listed as a game-time decision. While Kamara is going to take his status up to kickoff, he has not practiced all week long. Be sure to be ready to insert Williams into lineups with Kamara's status being taken up to Sunday morning. While the Falcons are one of the more stout defenses against opposing running backs (eighth-least points per game), Williams should see significant enough volume to be in play as an RB3 option. He would likely split running duties with Taysom Hill in the event that Kamara can't go.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is riding a four-game streak in which he has thrown for multiple touchdown passes. In a pivotal Week 18 matchup with divisional rival Atlanta, Carr will look to remain hot. The Falcons have allowed the 13th-most (17.5) fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season, giving Carr a softer secondary to work against. Averaging 244.7 passing yards per game over his last three starts, Carr will look to remain strong in what could be his final start of the season if New Orleans does not get the help it needs to reach the playoffs.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (ankle) will be listed as questionable for the Week 18 regular season finale against the visiting Atlanta Falcons, and head coach Dennis Allen said Kamara will be a game-time decision on Sunday. "Alvin is one of the guys so valuable to our team, we'll take it all the way up to game time," Allen said. Kamara sprained his ankle in the Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is in danger of sitting out of a must-win game to close out the regular season. The good news is we'll know Sunday morning if he's able to play, and the 28-year-old workhorse back will still be a reliable high-floor DFS RB this weekend if he's active. If he doesn't get the green light, expect Jamaal Williams and Taysom Hill to be the Saints' primary rushing options. In Week 12 against Atlanta, Kamara had 15 carries for 69 yards and four catches for 50 yards.