New Orleans Saints DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller scored a rough-and-tumble touchdown in his return from injured reserve in Week 14. Miller out-touched Jamaal Williams 10-to-5 backing up Alvin Kamara (illness) and saw a 17-to-5 advantage in their snap counts, as well. Kamara logged consecutive DNPs to start Week 15 which allowed Miller to see more reps in practice. Kamara recovered well enough to practice in full on Friday and is off the team's injury report, relegating Miller to his expected backup role and limiting his fantasy value. There is a chance that the 5-8 Saints pull back on their blistering use of Kamara and give Miller more work but the offense as a whole is a downgrade with quarterback Jake Haener pulling a start in lieu of the ailing Derek Carr (concussion, hand). Miller is a solid bench stash but he should not be in starting lineups for the first round of the fantasy playoffs.

The New Orleans Saints will give quarterback Jake Haener the start on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi confirmed the nomination in comments to the media on Friday. Haener took the reins from Derek Carr (hand, concussion) in Week 14 after Carr injured himself late in the Saints' win over the New York Giants. He only had one dropback in that game, which resulted in a sack for a loss of 10 yards. This will be Haener's first start of the season. During the season, Haener appeared in seven games in 2024, going 14-for-29 for 177 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. The Saints wide receiver corps has been depleted by injuries, limiting the inexperienced Haener's utility to fantasy managers in two-QB leagues who are desperate for their second option.

According to Matthew Paras of The Times-Picayune, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 15's match against the Washington Commanders. Means has been on the injured reserve since sustaining a high-ankle sprain during Week 8. Means opened the week as a limited participant but was then downgraded to a non-participant on Thursday and remained in that fashion on Friday. After not catching a pass over the first five weeks of the season, Means flashed some potential during Weeks 6 through 8 as he averaged an 8.9 PPR point per game and averaged just under 40.0 yards per game. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Marquez Valdes-Scantling to lead the wide receiver room, with Kevin Austin and Cedrick Wilson slotting behind him. Valdes-Scantling is worth a look in deeper formats, facing a Washington secondary that has allowed the 14th-most PPR points to opposing wideouts.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (hand/concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's tilt against the Washington Commanders. While Carr could still dress for Sunday's game, the Saints have already named Jake Haener their QB1 for this match. Carr sustained these injuries during last weekend's victory over the New York Giants. Carr was initially deemed week-to-week, but seeing him have an outside chance of being on the field this weekend could set him up for a Week 16 return. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status next week. Over his previous five games, Carr has averaged 231.2 passing yards per game and held a solid 7:1 TD:INT ratio. Fantasy managers in deeper Superflex formats should only view Haener as a desperation QB2 as he will have a difficult time on Sunday with a depleted wide receiver room.

New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said that running back Alvin Kamara (illness) practiced in full on Friday and will carry no injury designation into Sunday's Week 15 contest versus the Washington Commanders. Rizzi said it was his decision to keep Kamara out of Thursday's practice as a precaution since Kamara was pretty sick earlier in the week. Despite two missed practices, Kamara will be good to go this weekend. Especially with quarterback Derek Carr (concussion, hand) not expected to play this week, Kamara should be even more of a focal point for the offense as they try to pull the upset over Washington. The 29-year-old has seen double-digit carries in all but one game in 2024. For the volume alone, Kamara has RB1 upside every week, although with Jake Haener under center in Week 15, the upside could be limited.