The Saints have released WR Marques Colston, saving $3.2 million against the 2016 salary cap.  Colston has spent the past 10 seasons in New Orleans and is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759), and receiving TDs (72).  But he turns 33 in June and has seen his catches and yards drop in 3 straight seasons.  He figures to latch on elsewhere but won't be more than a role player.  Colston's absence opens up a big opportunity for WR Brandon Coleman in New Orleans.

Saints WR Marques Colston (chest) is out for Sunday's finale against the Falcons.  Brandon Coleman will serve as New Orleans' #3 WR but is just a DFS dart throw.

Saints WR Marques Colston (chest) is inactive for today’s game against the Jaguars. That should mean more playing time for WR Brandon Coleman, but he’d be a desperation fantasy start.

Saints WR Marques Colston (chest) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars and might be headed for a game-time decision. He's not nearly a strong enough fantasy option when healthy to be worth waiting for in a late-afternoon slot on Sunday.

Saints WR Marques Colston (shoulder) is active for today’s game against the Colts. He shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups but will steal a few targets from WRs Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead.

Saints WR Marques Colston (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Colts. He hasn’t scored or topped 4 catches this season and shouldn’t be in fantasy lineups. But Colston’s return figures to siphon a few targets from WRs Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead and, especially, TE Ben Watson.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Saints WR Marques Colston suffered a separated right shoulder "at the least" in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. There reportedly also could be structural damage. We'll see what the timetable is for this injury, but it certainly sounds like he'll miss some time -- perhaps a while. That can only help the target numbers for WRs Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks, plus the RBs. Losing Colston for any amount of time shouldn't hurt fantasy owners. He has made little impact through 5 weeks. Feel free to drop Colston if you see help on your waiver wire.

Saints WR Marques Colston left in the 3rd quarter of Sunday's game against the Eagles with a right shoulder injury. CB Byron Maxwell drove that shoulder into the ground on a tackle earlier in the game, but the veteran tried to play through it. He clearly had trouble using the right arm, though, and eventually headed to the locker room for evaluation. The Saints deemed Colston questionable to return.

WR Marques Colston is still QB Drew Brees' "go-to guy," Saints insider Mike Triplett writes.  “We have such a great rapport," Brees said. "And he’s got such a great feel as a football player. We’ve been in so many different situations together that I think we both see the same thing, feel the same thing, and it works.”  Colston turned 32 in June but averaged 15.3 yards per catch and finished as a top 36 WR across fantasy formats last year.  His volume could actually climb in 2015.  Colston is a solid value at his 13th-round price tag.

Saints insider Mike Triplett believes WR Marques Colston's red-zone role could grow this season with TE Jimmy Graham gone.  Colston will still be "heavily involved" even outside the 20, Triplett adds.  The 32-year-old is past his prime.  But a significant role in an offense led by QB Drew Brees should still make Colston a solid WR3.  He's a value pick at his current 12th-round ADP.

Saints WR Marques Colston has agreed to a restructured contract with the Saints, according to insider Mike Garafolo.  He was set to count $9.7 million against the 2015 cap -- way too high for a player past his prime.  Colston turns 32 in June and posted the fewest fantasy points per game of his career this past season.  He's still a valuable possession and red-zone receiver, but Colston could fall to 4th in the pecking order in 2015 behind Jimmy Graham, Kenny Stills and Brandin Cooks.

The Saints have placed WR Brandin Cooks (thumb) on IR.  He was originally expected to be back in 4-6 weeks, so it's possible that the injury turned out to be more serious than initially thought.  It shouldn't impact his 2015 offseason or fantasy outlook, though.  Cooks finishes his rookie campaign with 53 catches, 550 yards and 3 TDs in 10 games -- a 16-game pace of 85-880-5.  Cooks also rushed for 73 yards and a score.  He's sitting 25th among WRs in non-PPR fantasy points and 22nd in PPR.  The Saints will move forward with Marques Colston and Kenny Stills as their clear top 2 WRs.

Saints WR Marques Colston killed fantasy owners with his Week 2 goose egg.  But HC Sean Payton confirmed that Colston remains a major part of the offense.  “I think he’s been here long enough and he’s had weeks where he’s seen the touches heavy and he’s had weeks where the touches have been low,” Payton said.  Colston went cold in the middle of last season but closed with 41 catches for 507 yards and 4 TDs over the final 6 games.  Keep rolling with him as a WR3 with upside.

Saints WR Marques Colston doesn't believe his nagging foot pain will be an issue this season.  “Feels completely different … no restrictions,” he said.  That's a much more optimistic report than we got earlier this offseason from HC Sean Payton, who said Colston's practice reps would need to be monitored all year.   The truth probably lies somewhere in between the 2 stories.  Colston just turned 31 and has a lengthy injury history.  But he was a top-12 fantasy WR over the 2nd half of last season and will remain an integral part of an explosive passing game in 2014.  Colston is a fine WR3 target in fantasy drafts this summer.

The Saints snagged WR Brandin Cooks after trading up to #20.  New Orleans had quietly gotten thin at WR.  Cooks has a good chance to slide right in as the 3rd receiver behind Marques Colston and Kenny Stills.  The Oregon St. product racked up 195 receptions,  2,881 yards and 21 TDs over the past 2 years.  He did most of that damage outside the numbers, despite going just 5'10 and 189 pounds.  This guy has big-time speed and explosion, ranking among the top WRs in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle at the Combine.  He'll struggle for consistent targets in 2014 but has tons of long-term fantasy upside.  Colston turns 31 in June.

Saints HC Sean Payton revealed that WR Marques Colston dealt with foot soreness throughout the 2013 season.  Colston's foot appeared on the injury reports in Weeks 1-4.  But he only missed New Orleans' Week 9 game, and that was with a knee injury.  It doesn't sound like the foot problem is going away, though.  Payton admitted that Colston's practice time will be monitored this coming season.  That's not what we want to be hearing in March.  Colston turns 31 in June and posted his fewest fantasy points since 2008 this past year.

Saints insider Jeff Duncan believes the team is in the midst of transitioning to a "more balanced, ball-control" offense.  The team has cut ties with RB Darren Sproles and WR Lance Moore in the past week, and RB Pierre Thomas might also be gone before the 2014 season kicks off.  That'd leave the backfield to Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson, more traditional RBs than pass-catchers Thomas and Sproles.  New Orleans has also become shaky at WR, with 30-year-old Marques Colston and a bunch of unproven youngsters.  More commitment to the ground game this coming season makes sense.  The offense will still revolve around QB Drew Brees, but his attempts figure to head south in 2014.  He's topped 650 passes in 4 straight years.

The forecast for today's Saints-Panthers game calls for winds of 15-17 mph with rain starting at 2 pm local time.  That makes a tough matchup for QB Drew Brees even tougher.  According to Yahoo.com's split stats, Brees has averaged 279 passing yards with 48 total TDs and 24 INTs in 24 career "windy" games.  (It's unclear what qualifies as "windy.")  The weather conditions should benefit the Panthers, who figure to go with a run-heavy attack.