Fantasy Preview: With Rough QB Situation, Saints Don't Offer Much Besides Kamara

By Jack Dougherty

If you’re a fan of the New Orleans Saints, you might be in for a long, frustrating football season in 2025. With Derek Carr deciding to retire, the Saints might have the worst quarterback room in the NFL with rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler (plus maybe Jake Haener) battling for the starting job. New Orleans still has tantalizing talent on offense led by running back Alvin Kamara and wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, but that might not matter if the quarterbacks can’t get them the ball effectively. 

The Saints also have the challenge of working in a new head coach (Kellen Moore), offensive coordinator (Doug Nussmeier) and defensive coordinator (Brandon Staley) after getting rid of Dennis Allen. This is shaping up to be a year of learning and development for this roster and coaching staff, so making the playoffs may not be a realistic goal for New Orleans. 

Odds to Make Playoffs: +820

Quarterback: Tyler Shough

• 2024-25 stats (at Louisville): 12 games, 244-389, 62.7% completion, 3,195 yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, 148.1 passer rating, 23 touchdowns, 6 interceptions

• Shough is an experienced signal-caller with six years of college experience, but last year was the only time he played more than seven games in a season. The injury-plagued quarterback has great size and will be more mature than most rookies, but he’s not worth a fantasy draft pick this season. 

Running Back: Alvin Kamara 

• 2024-25 stats: 14 games, 228 carries, 950 yards, 4.2 average, 6 touchdowns, 67.9 yards/game, 0 fumbles lost

• Kamara doesn’t have the same speed and agility he did a few years ago, but he more than makes up for it with elite vision and pass-catching ability. He should be the focal point of the Saints offense and is worth a pick as early as the fourth round in drafts. 

Wide Receiver: Chris Olave

• 2024-25 stats: 8 games, 32 receptions, 44 targets, 400 yards, 12.5 average, 1 touchdown, 50.0 yards/game, 121 yards after catch

• It’s hard to predict Olave’s fantasy value with the question marks at quarterback and his lengthy injury history. Although the Ohio State product will be the No. 1 target for whoever wins the QB job, there are too many risks muddying his fantasy value this season. 

Tight End: Juwan Johnson 

• 2024-25 stats: 17 games, 50 receptions, 66 targets, 548 yards, 11.0 average, 3 touchdowns, 30 long, 32.2 yards/game, 212 yards after catch

• The Saints have a busy tight end room occupied by Johnson, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill, so it’s nearly impossible to predict which one will see the most targets on a given week. All three tight ends will be more useful as touchdown prop targets than fantasy assets. 

Defense

• 2024-25 stats: 23.4 points allowed per game, 41.07% 3rd down, 51.85% 4th down, 14 interceptions, 39 sacks, 11 fumbles caused, 3 fumbles recovered, 1 touchdown

• The Saints were the 22nd-ranked defense in fantasy last season, and they didn’t do much in the offseason to indicate that will improve much. New Orleans should only be an option against premier matchups.