13 hours agoThe New Orleans Saints D/ST struggled again in Week 8, giving up 26 points to the Los Angeles Chargers. The team did record three sacks (which matched their output over their last three games) and a safety to salvage the day but failed to crack double-digits in fantasy points for the sixth time this season. In Week 9, the Saints get a rematch against the Carolina Panthers, who delivered the Saints' highest-scoring performance in 2024. In that game, New Orleans held Carolina to 10 points, had four sacks, and picked up three takeaways. Unfortunately, New Orleans is missing some key pieces in their secondary. Paulson Adebo (leg) broke his femur last week and both Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) have already been declared out. Still, until
Bryce Young gives cause to do otherwise it is safe to bet against him.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: New Orleans Saints
14 hours agoNew Orleans Saints kicker
Blake Grupe converted field goal attempts from 40 and 43 yards out in Week 8 before missing a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was his first missed field goal attempt of the season. He was not able to try for an extra point as the Saints were held out of the end zone in the 26-8 loss and remains a perfect 20-for-20 on the season. In Week 9, Grupe and the Saints take on the Panthers in a rematch of their Week 1 blowout wherein Grupe had his highest-scoring game of the season. In that matchup, he converted five extra points and had four field goals, including two from over 50 yards away. New Orleans figures to put up big numbers once more against Carolina's soft defense, paving the way for another big day for Grupe. Fantasy managers in need of a streaming option can plug him into their Week 9 lineups.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14
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Taysom
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14 hours agoNew Orleans Saints tight end
Juwan Johnson had three catches for 48 yards in Week 8, matching his season highs in both categories set in Week 6. Johnson is in line to better those numbers in Week 9 when the Saints go up against the Carolina Panthers, who have allowed more fantasy points per game and touchdowns to opposing tight ends than any other team. In Week 1 against the Panthers Johnson had two catches for 26 yards and his only touchdown of the season to date. Johnson showed good rapport with quarterback
Spencer Rattler while he filled in for
Derek Carr (oblique) but he will be better served by the former, who is set to return to action for the first time since Week 5. Johnson might be viable as a streamer in fantasy lineups tested by injuries and bye weeks and is an intriguing option for DFS players.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoNew Orleans Saints wide receiver
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) logged a DNP to start the week followed by a pair of limited practices on Thursday and Friday. He will carry a questionable tag going into Week 9's matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The seldom-used wideout saw an uptick in usage in Weeks 6 and 7 as injuries to
Chris Olave (concussion) and
Rashid Shaheed (knee) left New Orleans short on experienced pass catchers. He was the top receiver in Week 7, catching six of seven targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. However, he picked up a hip injury that kept him out of Week 8 entirely. Even if he is active on Sunday he will be competing for targets against
Mason Tipton and recent signee
Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoA week after leading his team in targets, New Orleans Saints wide receiver
Mason Tipton drew just two in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished the game with two catches for 14 yards. With fellow rookie
Bub Means (ankle) declared out and
Cedrick Wilson Jr. (hip) tagged as questionable for Week 9, Tipton is suddenly next in line behind
Chris Olave at wide receiver. Even with the dramatic jump up the depth chart, Tipton will be hard to trust against the lowly Carolina Panthers. The Saints' Week 1 blowout of their division rival featured the use of their running backs and tight ends, positions that the Panthers have continued to struggle against mightily. A similar game plan this time around would leave Tipton short on usage. He can be left on the wire in 12-team leagues in favor of players with more certain roles.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoNew Orleans Saints wide receiver
Chris Olave had his first 100-yard game of the season in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 9, Olave has a weaker opponent in the Carolina Panthers and a better quarterback as
Derek Carr is set to return to the field for the first time since injuring his oblique in Week 5. Injuries to
Rashid Shaheed (knee) and
Bub Means (ankle) have thinned out the wide receiver room so Olave will have less competition for targets. In the Saints' Week 1 blowout of the Panthers, Olave was targeted just twice and caught both for a disappointing 11 yards. Expectations can be set closer to last week's performance rather than the season debut but his production may still be hampered if New Orleans take advantage of Carolina's porous run defense. Olave looks like a mid-range WR2 in Week 9.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoNew Orleans Saints running back
Alvin Kamara (hand/ribs) was limited in practice all week, nursing a fracture in both his hand and a rib. Kamara carries no injury designation going into Week 9's game against the Carolina Panthers, however. In Week 1, Kamara had a total of 20 touches for 110 scrimmage yards and a touchdown and is in line for another big game on Sunday.
Jamaal Williams (groin) is doubtful and
Kendre Miller (hamstring) is already listed as out, making Kamara the lone healthy running back on the Saints' active roster. Already a key component of New Orleans' offense, Kamara will see an even higher snap share than usual with
Taysom Hill seeing increased run as well. Carolina has given up more touchdowns (15) to opposing running backs than any other team. Kamara is as close as you can get to a lock for RB1 status.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoUnfortunately, the Carolina Panthers defense will not have the luxury of facing a Saints offense led by backup
Spencer Rattler or
Jake Haener this weekend as
Derek Carr (oblique) returns from a three-week oblique injury. For Carr, it is the ideal opponent as Carolina ranks 25th in passing yards allowed per game and last in points allowed per game (33.9). The Panthers were able to generate two turnovers against Denver last week—both forced fumbles. Still, the defense remains as dysfunctional as the offense and is not a viable streaming option in Week 9. Safety Jammie Robinson (knee) is out, linebacker DJ Johnson (ankle) is questionable, and defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy (ankle) is doubtful.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
14 hours agoOf NFL placekickers who have played in all eight weeks this year,
Eddy Pineiro ranks last in field goals attempted (10). Even when adjusted for kickers who have had their bye weeks, only
Nick Folk of the Tennessee Titans has attempted fewer field goals. The Carolina Panthers have not attempted a field goal in their last two outings, and it's not due to an overwhelming touchdown output. Pineiro ranks 29th among fantasy kickers and has yet to attempt one from 50-plus yards this year—something to watch for against New Orleans. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere for a kicker to stream in Week 9.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
14 hours agoFollowing productive performances against Atlanta and Washington, Panthers rookie tight end
Ja'Tavion Sanders saw 36 percent of their offensive snaps against Denver and recorded just one reception for seven yards. Though with tight end
Tommy Tremble (back) questionable after playing last week, Sanders could be in line to receive more snaps against the Saints. It is worth noting that Sanders' best games came with
Andy Dalton (thumb) at the reins, and with
Bryce Young starting again this week, there could be a lack of chemistry between the two. While the rookie from Texas was trending toward being a streaming option, last week's setback brings him back down to obscurity, ranked as RotoBaller's TE25 for this Week 9 matchup.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoCarolina Panthers undrafted rookie wide receiver
Jalen Coker recorded four receptions, 78 yards, and a touchdown in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. Seeing an 18% increase in snaps and a career-high six targets, Coker took advantage of the opportunity and could be in a similar situation against New Orleans in Week 9. Wide receiver
Diontae Johnson was traded to Baltimore this week,
Adam Thielen (hamstring) is doubtful, and
Xavier Legette (toe) is questionable. In his sixth NFL game, the undrafted man from Holy Cross could be
Bryce Young's No. 1 receiver. The New Orleans defense ranks 25th in points allowed to receivers, and cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (hamstring) have been ruled out. Another strong performance could make Coker a hot waiver wire target.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoWith Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) out and still not activated from his 21-day practice window, running back
Chuba Hubbard remains the beneficiary of Carolina's rushing attack. Hubbard will face a weak New Orleans defense in Week 9, which ranks 28th against running backs and has allowed 100 or more rushing yards in their last four games. However, against Denver, Hubbard recorded his lowest fantasy output since Week 1 and has seen his points trend downward over the previous month. His touches have remained consistent, with 15 or more rushing attempts in his last three games. The dip in production has Hubbard ranked as RB21 this week, according to RotoBaller, as he remains a fine flex option.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
14 hours agoCarolina Panthers quarterback
Bryce Young got the starting nod again this week as his team prepares to face a reeling New Orleans squad in Week 9. It will be a surefire Sunday morning doozy, as neither team won a game in October. For Young, the matchup provides more opportunity to prove he belongs in this league as he looks to build on last week's performance at Denver—24-for-37, 224 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions. Finishing as QB21, Week 8 marked the sophomore's best outing this season. With receiver
Diontae Johnson traded to Baltimore,
Adam Thielen (hamstring) doubtful, and
Xavier Legette (toe) questionable, Young will again be flanked by unproven talent. Undrafted rookie receiver
Jalen Coker had a breakout game last week, accounting for 78 receiving yards, and he could be a top target again. Regardless, coming in as QB30 in RotoBaller's latest rankings, Bryce Young should continue being avoided by fantasy managers.
--Travis Kincaid - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
15 hours agoThe New York Giants defense faces a major test in Week 9 against a high-powered Washington Commanders offense led by rookie QB
Jayden Daniels, who has propelled Washington to third in the league in both points (29.5) and total yards (396.3) per game. While the Giants' defense excels in certain areas, leading the NFL with 35 sacks and ranking fifth in red-zone defense (allowing touchdowns on just 42.1% of red-zone trips), their 27th-ranked run defense (141.8 yards allowed per game) could struggle against Washington's potent third-ranked rushing attack (165.8 yards per game). Despite being 8th against the pass, the Giants will need a strong, balanced defensive effort to limit the explosive potential of Daniels and his offense.
--Danny Boily - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
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