New Orleans Saints Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Saints rookie WR A.T. Perry passed a physical and practiced with the team on Wednesday. He was placed on the non-football injury list last week. For now, Perry's merely a dynasty stash.

The Saints signed TE Jimmy Graham to a one-year deal. Yeah, that Jimmy Graham. The 36-year-old hasn’t played since 2021 when he tallied only 14 catches with the Bears. We’re not counting on Graham to make a fantasy impact alongside Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau.

According to multiple reports, Saints rookie RB Kendre Miller (knee) passed a physical on Monday. As a result, he's been removed from the non-football injury (NFI) list and will be ready to participate in training camp. Miller sustained a right MCL injury at TCU during the College Football Playoff semifinal in January. This ailment kept Miller out of workouts during the pre-NFL Draft process, though the Saints still felt comfortable enough to spend a 3rd-round pick on the strength of his film. He only had a brief stint on the NFI list (July 18) after being expected to miss much more time, so it's notable that he'll be in line to fight for a role in camp with RB Alvin Kamara and free-agent signee Jamaal Williams. It's difficult to say how much of a workload Miller will have from the jump in such a crowded room, however. Miller would conceivably benefit from a possible Kamara suspension stemming from a 2022 off-field incident, though seemingly nothing is imminent. Even so, we'll be sure to track the Saints' backfield as the summer evolves.

The Giants are signing RB James Robinson, insider Art Stapleton reports. Robinson opened last season as Jacksonville's lead back but quickly fell behind Travis Etienne and was traded to the Jets in October. He carried just 29 times for New York and was a healthy scratch for multiple games. Robinson joins Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, and rookie Eric Gray behind the still-unsigned Saquon Barkley on the Giants' depth chart. We'll see how that backfield shakes out over the next month, but Robinson is no more than an end-of-draft fantasy flier.

Saints WR A.T. Perry was placed on the non-football injury list. Team insider Nick Underhill calls it a “small injury” for the rookie Round 6 pick. Perry’s off the redraft radar, but we’ll let you know when he hits the field for training camp.

The Saints have placed rookie RB Kendre Miller on the non-football injury list to begin training camp. That doesn't knock Miller out for any specific length of time, and we'd be surprised if he misses much. The third-round pick suffered a knee injury in his final college game in January, but he has worked out with New Orleans since the draft. We'll watch Miller's status in camp. Any significant absence would hinder his chance siphoning touches from RBs Jamaal Williams and Alvin Kamara.

Saints WR Chris Olave is a tough nut to crack regarding his 2023 outlook. Olave finished as the WR27 in PPR points per game and ranked 21st among all WRs in target share as a rookie last season, garnering 25.6% of Saints targets over his 15 games. His 2.42 yards per route also ranked seventh among 80 WRs with 50+ targets in 2022. It’s clear that Olave made the best of his team situation and can produce at a high level. The issue is, how much better can he be? New QB Derek Carr is a likely upgrade, but he isn’t a strong deep-ball passer. According to PFF, Carr’s 39.4% adjusted completion rate ranked just 24th among 36 QBs with 20+ deep attempts (20+ yards downfield) last year. Dalton ranked 34th by contrast. This is an important factor considering 23.7% of Olave’s targets last year were 20+ yard deep shots. A healthy WR Michael Thomas could also be an issue in 2023, though Olave’s target share was slightly higher over the first three weeks of last season when Thomas was healthy than it was from Week 4 on without him. We expect Olave to have a strong sophomore season, though we’re cautious. See where he stands in our current WR rankings.

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football reports that Saints RB Alvin Kamara has agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from his 2022 Las Vegas incident. Underhill adds that "the felony charge is going away." That doesn't necessarily tell us what to expect in terms of league suspension. But the lightening of charges can't be bad news for Kamara's NFL penalty. And the plea deal should help speed up the league's decision. Kamara has been going in low-RB3 range of best ball drafts, which has made him a value -- albeit with the risk of uncertainty. We'll keep updating his projection in our rankings as more becomes clear.

Saints insider Nick Underhill believes RB Kendre Miller will rush for over 500 yards in 2023. In the words of Underhill: “Even if Alvin [Kamara] doesn’t miss time…I think he’s going to force his way on the field…. I think he’s going to earn snaps.” Miller is coming off a meniscus injury, but RB coach Joel Thomas believes the 21-year-old will be a full participant come training camp. Saints rookies report to training camp in one week.

The biggest question facing Saints RB Alvin Kamara for 2023 is the risk of suspension stemming from his still-lingering assault case. We'll almost certainly be waiting until at least August for any news on that front. But what can we expect whenever he is on the field? The veteran showed declines in both rushing and receiving efficiency over the past two years. Kamara rebounded some from a career-low 3.7 yards per carry in 2021 to 4.0 last year. Though his 14.9 carries per game (down from 18.5 in 2021) might still be more than ideal. Kamara finished each of the past two years 40th or worse in Football Outsiders' rushing DVOA and DYAR. His yards after contact per attempt matched the lowest rate of his career and ranked 46th among 61 RBs with 70+ carries, according to Pro Football Focus. Kamara also set career lows in PFF receiving grade each of the past two years, though even last season found him a decent 23rd among 61 RBs with 20+ targets. Volume has kept Kamara productive. He finished each of the past five years among the top 11 RBs in opportunity share (carries plus targets). The Saints signed RB Jamaal Williams and then drafted RB Kendre Miller in Round 3, so we should expect some dip in Kamara's touch volume. They also spent big, though, on QB Derek Carr. So Kamara could make up for any loss in touches if his efficiency rebounds, in an offense with room to rebound. An RB3-level ADP makes Kamara an intriguing bet for best ball drafts -- and a potential steal if he avoids suspension. Read more about him and the other Saints RBs in our 2023 RB rankings.

Saints TE Foster Moreau announced Monday that his Hodgkins lymphoma is in full remission. Moreau had already been cleared to the point of signing with New Orleans and being expected to take part in training camp. So this merely serves to confirm that he'll be a factor in 2023. And, you know, it's pretty good personal news for the 26-year-old TE. Moreau looks like he could be an issue for TE Juwan Johnson's fantasy upside. See where both sit in our TE rankings.

Saints TE Foster Moreau was a "frequent target" of QB Derek Carr in OTAs and minicamp, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell, who named Moreau the Saints' surprise offseason standout. Moreau has worked with the first- and second-team offenses and "could compete with Juwan Johnson for snaps as the team's No. 1 or No. 2 tight end," Terrell writes. We're currently projecting Johnson to lead Saints TEs in fantasy points but will keep a close eye on the situation throughout the summer. If nothing else, the gap between Johnson and Moreau shouldn't be as big as it's been in recent fantasy drafts. Johnson is TE17 in FFPC ADP, while Moreau is TE41.

Saints QB Derek Carr obviously endured a rough final season with the Raiders. He got benched for the final two games and then released after the season. Before that, though, the veteran's performance declined significantly in multiple non-obvious categories. His 60.8% completion rate was his lowest since his rookie year (2014). Carr's 7.0 yards per pass attempt was his lowest mark since 2017, despite a career high in average depth of target. He posted his worst passer rating, Pro Football Focus passing grade and adjusted completion rate since 2014. And Carr's 2.8% INT rate was the worst of his career. The Saints obviously believe he can rebound, and Carr still finished 16th among QBs in total fantasy points; 20th in points per game. He's at least probably not a downgrade for New Orleans, but Carr sits just 26th in our QB rankings and isn't boosting the fantasy outlook for Chris Olave or any other Saints receiver.

Saints WR Chris Olave missed practice on Thursday. “He wasn’t feeling good today," HC Dennis Allen said of the rising star. "He’s dealing with an inflamed Achilles (tendon). Nothing that we’re worried about.” For now, we’re not lowering his spot in the WR rankings.

Saints WR Rashid Shaheed will miss the team’s minicamp with a groin injury. According to team insider Nick Underhill, the injury is “not a major concern.” He’s expected to be fine for training camp. Shaheed will slot into the No. 3/deep threat role for new QB Derek Carr.

The Patriots released RB James Robinson. This was always a distinct possibility considering Robinson had $0 guaranteed money in his contract, although it's a bit surprising that he didn't even make it to training camp. Robinson turns just 25 in August but hasn't been the same player since his 2021 Achilles tear. We'll see where he latches on next, but Robinson isn't worth a roster spot in redraft leagues and has very little dynasty value at this point. His departure leaves RBs Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris, Ty Montgomery, and J.J. Taylor behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson.

Saints WR Rashid Shaheed said he’s added five pounds this offseason. He now checks in at 6’0, 185 pounds. “It was definitely an emphasis, being a little guy in this league,” he said. “I take a lot of hits. That's why I wanted to add weight.” The 2022 UDFA rehabbed a knee injury over the summer, but he eventually flashed his speed with scores of 44, 53, and 68 yards. “I do think he's a lot more confident in what he's doing,” HC Dennis Allen said. “Obviously, you can see his speed, feel the speed out on the field. We've been able to hit a few explosive plays throughout these last four days. So, I think he's in a good spot right now.” Shaheed is mostly a best ball asset, but that could change if Michael Thomas continues to miss games.

Saints TE Foster Moreau is a full participant in OTAs and no longer needs treatment for his cancer, according to Pro Football Talk. It's been a remarkable recovery since he announced he'd been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma just two months ago. Moreau has since inked a 3-year, $12.2 million deal with New Orleans, where he reunites with QB Derek Carr. Moreau figures to be behind TE Juwan Johnson in the target pecking order, but his role will be worth monitoring this summer.

Saints TE Juwan Johnson said he’s been watching film of former Patriots WR Julian Edelman. Let’s allow Johnson to explain. “I know the type of role I’ll be doing and (Derek Carr) loves those routes," he said at OTAs. Johnson went on to call Edelman "one of the best at those choice routes, short-game routes.” No disagreement here. While the Saints recently signed TE Foster Moreau, there's still a path for Johnson to deliver as a top-15 fantasy TE. Alvin Kamara remains a suspension risk. And it’s tough to trust the health of Michael Thomas.

Saints rookie RB Kendre Miller caught only 29 passes in 33 college games. Yet he believes he can step into a sizable receiving role in New Orleans. "It was something I never got to show [at TCU],” Miller said. "The coaches here, they've got me on the Jugs and the tennis ball machines. They were like, we knew it was in you, that's why we drafted you, we know you can catch. Just showing everybody else in the world my ability will be a big thing for me, and I'm ready to get out there and compete.” Miller name-dropped Alvin Kamara, who remains a suspension candidate after getting indicted in February. “How they use [Kamara] is kind of unique, and watching film every day, we watch a bunch of clips of him,” the rookie said. “How they use him in the pass game, that's pretty cool. I feel like I can step in and pretty much do the same thing.” If Kamara’s suspended, Miller’s ability in pass protection will be key in getting him on the field for passing downs. Jamaal Williams, of course, arrived on a 3-year deal in March. See our updated RB projections for more on all 32 backfields.