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This article continues off our team outlook series where we will breakdown each NFL team from a fantasy football perspective. We will cover the major changes on each team in the offseason and project what the team will do in the upcoming season.
Today we take a look at the New Orleans Saints. Let's get started.
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Offseason Moves
Offseason Acquisitions: TE Coby Fleener, K Connor Barth, LB James Laurinaitis, DT Nick Fairley, SS Roman Harper
Offseason Departures: TE Benjamin Watson, WR Marques Colston, RB Khiry Robinson.
Quarterback:
What a delight to start with the superstar of the team, Drew Brees. All he did in his age-36 season was throw for 4,870 yards and 32 TDs alongside 11 picks, with his passing yardage leading the NFL by 78 yards despite missing a game. Yes, that is as impressive as it sounds.
While the 6’0” QB is already halfway to turning 38, his production should remain extremely bankable in the 2016 season. He doesn’t rely on a mobile, bruising style of play and has only failed to start in two games out of his 10 seasons in New Orleans. He also benefits from a perfect fantasy storm of having a powerhouse offense in a controlled environment at home in the dome, alongside a “subpar” (and that’s being nice) defense that leaves the Saints in shootouts often. He’s currently being taken with an average ADP of 55.3, pegging him at QB6, which is a fantastic place to scoop last season’s yardage leader.
Running Backs:
The Saints are led by Mark Ingram, who delivered as an extremely versatile RB with his 166-769-6 rushing line (4.6 yards per carry) as well as catching 50 of 60 targets for 405 yards in only 12 games. Unfortunately, his season ended after 12 games thanks to a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The 26-year-old should be ready to rock this season as the lead back in an offense that rarely eases off the gas pedal. With an average ADP of 23.8, the 11th RB off of the board in standard leagues makes for good value.
The other back of note is none other than Tim Hightower, who stepped in for Ingram and carried many fantasy owners to the championship with 84 carries for 327 yards and 4 TDs in the last four games of the season. He’s the clear handcuff in this backfield, as passing-down specialist C.J. Spiller may not even have an assured spot on the roster with yet another disappointing season in the books. Travaris Cadet may prove to be the change-of-pace RB that deep-league PPR owners will want to target.
Wide Receivers:
Brees’ receiving corps is led by third-year WR Brandin Cooks, who caught 84 of 129 targets for 1,138 yards and nine TDs. While his ceiling is lofty in this high-octane offense, he was incredibly inconsistent. He logged seven games of 13+ points in standard formats but also scored less than five points in six games, making him tough to trust as a WR1.
With Marques Colston out of the picture, the path is clear for rookie Michael Thomas or sophomore Brandon Coleman to start opposite Cooks. Coleman didn’t really standout last season, leaving the door open for the second-round pick from Ohio State to earn a starting gig in his rookie season. Thomas was strong in the first preseason game, catching four of his six targets for 67 yards while Coleman was shut out of the box score (one target). With an average ADP of 154.5 in standard leagues (WR54), Thomas should be a nice mid-to-late round snag for savvy owners shooting for upside.
Those are the folks who will ball out on the outsides, while PPR-breakout Willie Snead operates out of the slot. Snead was one of 31 receivers to see over 100 targets (101), catching 69 of them for 984 yards and three TDs, yet is currently the WR42 with an average ADP of 100.3 in PPR leagues (WR44, ADP of 122.8 in standard formats). He’s not a sleeper in any way, but is still a nice value at that point.
Tight End:
This is a fun one, as a 27-year-old in-his-prime Coby Fleener joins a Saints offense that just generated a career year for 35-year-old Benjamin Watson. Fleener, who stands at 6’6”, has the size and surprising speed to turn in top-five TE production with the opportunities granted by Drew Brees. Don’t go in here expecting Rob Gronkowski, but with an average ADP of 74.7 (TE7) one could make out like a bandit if Fleener sees the 110 targets that Watson got. All reports are positive right now, making him a heavy target for this writer.
Defense:
Don’t do this to yourself. Just don’t. I know Rob Ryan’s out and Dennis Allen is the defensive coordinator alongside some new acquisitions, but this is not a team one shouldn’t even consider streaming unless the third-string QB is opposing them.
Kicker:
Connor Barth was brought in to compete against incumbent Kai Forbath, though neither have made a lasting impression yet. Barth (23-for-28) was certainly better than Forbath (10-for-15) last season, but most kickers still have to show they’ve got it throughout preseason. Whoever it ends up being should see some decent opportunities, especially if the defense improves enough to keep field goals in the gameplan for the second half of games.
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