Team Profile
New Orleans Saints
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-4.6% 19thOff DVOA
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-0.4% 25thPassing DVOA
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-1.6% 10thRushing DVOA
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4% 20thDef DVOA
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3.6% 11thDef Passing DVOA
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4.7% 30thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For22.1 16th
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Points Against22.3 12th
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Yards Per Game335.0 15th
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Yards Allowed Per Game377.0 30th
Showing signs of life in last Sunday's Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's 62 yards marked the second-highest total of his star-crossed second season with the Chiefs. Valdes Scantling's 17.7 average yards of target distance, which ranked second among wideouts in the regular season, keep him in play as a dart-throw fantasy option in Sunday's AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens. With that said, the 29-year-old deep threat has transcended the 40-yard plateau just twice during 18 games to date in 2023. Even with Skyy Moore (knee) ruled out and Kadarius Toney (hip) questionable, MVS is still not a recommended choice outside of single-game DFS showdowns. Shutdown Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) practiced in full on Friday, boding poorly for MVS's expectations after Humphrey ranked first in catch rate allowed (43.6%) among corners this season.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a name to watch ahead of Sunday's AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens. Featured back Isiah Pacheco (ankle/toe) did not participate in two practices before upgrading to a limited session on Friday, jeopardizing his game status. In two games as K.C.'s lead back when Pacheco missed Weeks 14 and 15, Edwards-Helaire totaled 24 carries for 76 yards and caught six of his eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. But those two dates came with scat back Jerick McKinnon (groin) in the Chiefs' lineup, so CEH would be in line for a three-down role if Pacheco is out. Baltimore tied for the fourth-most opponent yards per carry (4.5) and the seventh-most catches to opposing RBs (86) in the regular season but also gave up an NFL-low five rushing scores to the position. Priced at $4,600 on DraftKings, CEH would likely be the chalkiest DFS play on Sunday's slate if Pacheco cannot give it a go.
Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice (hamstring) practiced in full on Tuesday and looks ready to play in his first career postseason contest on Saturday against the visiting Miami Dolphins. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (oblique) was also a full participant. The Chiefs chose to rest their leading receiver in the Week 18 regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 3 seed already locked up. After a slow start in his rookie campaign, the 23-year-old eventually became quarterback Patrick Mahomes' go to receiver, other than tight end Travis Kelce. He finished with 79 receptions, 938 yards and seven touchdowns and will be plenty attractive in DFS with a DraftKings price of $6,600 while going up against a banged-up Dolphins secondary in wild-card weekend. Valdes-Scantling should be ignored.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave grabbed all three targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 48-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The second-year receiver now has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, finishing the year with 1,067 yards and four touchdowns. Olave and the Saints will now eagerly await the results of the Green Bay-Chicago game and the Seattle-Arizona game, as they can make the playoffs with a Green Bay and Seattle loss.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed led the team in receiving in Week 18's blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons. Shaheed grabbed three receptions for 65 yards and a score, marking his fifth touchdown of the year. The speedy boom-or-bust phenom gave one final boom for the 2023 season and now eagerly awaits the Saints' playoff status, given that they need both Green Bay and Seattle to lose to extend their season.