QB Tyler Shough
(2025 QB Rank: 25, 15.6 FPts/G)
Tylor Shough started last season as a nonfactor who largely went
undrafted. But from November till the end of the season, he turned
himself into a viable fantasy option and borderline starter in
deeper leagues. He threw for more than 239 yards in seven of his
last eight games last season, but it was his last four games that
fueled the higher expectations heading into 2026. During that
stretch, he eclipsed 300 yards twice while tossing only one INT.
The limited offensive weapons in New Orleans last year made that
feat all the more impressive.
How Shough performs now that expectations have risen will be
one of the intriguing stories this season. It helps that he plays
in a fantasy-friendly system under head coach Kellen Moore. The
up-tempo style the Saints play helped them lead the league in
plays per minute las season, which increases the value of the
entire offense. The additions they made should also aid in Shough’s
maturation, which, coupled with the relatively soft NFC South
division and less-than-stellar defense in The Big Easy should
further increase the odds of Shough becoming one of the league’s
best values at QB. His mid-QB2 draft price could be viewed at
season’s end as an absolute steal.
RB Travis Etienne
(2025 RB Rank: 13, 13.9 FPts/G)
Travis Etienne comes over from Jacksonville to become the lead
back in New Orleans. Etienne’s 2025 campaign was his most productive
season since his rookie year, which is more impressive when we
consider the year started as a three-man attack along with Tank
Bigsby and Bhayshul Tuten. That crowded backfield in Jacksonville
lowered his draft price considerably, but his production showcased
just what Etienne could do.
His arrival in New Orleans positions him for similar success.
But we cannot forget about Alvin Kamara, who Kellen Moore said
would remain in the mix. There have also been whispers that Kamara
could be elsewhere at the beginning of the season. But assuming
he remains in New Orleans, to what degree that limits Etienne’s
production remains to be seen. But we can probably assume the
bulk of the pass-catching work out of the backfield will remain
Kamara’s load to carry if he’s there. The other knock against
Etienne is the Saints’ average offensive line, which ranked near
the bottom in run-blocking in 2025. These questions are enough
to keep Etienne’s draft capital (low-end RB2) at a reasonable
level, but he could still be a contributing part of your fantasy
team.
RB Alvin Kamara
(2025 RB Rank: 43, 8.0 FPts/G)
Alvin Kamara will start the 2026 season on the wrong side of
30 years old. His single TD scored in 2025 was a career-low, and
his 33 receptions were also a career low. That’s not a good sign
from a fantasy perspective for a 31-year-old running back who
missed the last six games of 2025 and who is expected to yield
considerable playing time to the younger Etienne. And as mentioned
above, Kamara’s presence on the team isn’t guaranteed. But assuming
he stays put, Kamara is simply a shell of his former dominant
self who should not be drafted until late in drafts as a dart
throw. The questions surrounding him are too plentiful. Kamara’s
production in his prime was must-see TV, but those days are no
longer.
WR Chris Olave
(2025 WR Rank: 9, 13.8 FPts/G)
Chris Olave finished 2025 with career-highs across the board:
targets (156), receptions (100), yards (1,163), and TDs (9). And
he got better as the season progressed, ranking as a top-3 fantasy
WR from Week 10 on. It didn’t hurt that his 27% target share rivaled
the likes of Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase. Tyler Shough will undoubtedly
continue to rely on the 26-year-old Ohio State product.
New Orleans used the No. 8 overall pick on Jordyn Tyson in the
2026 NFL Draft. That will siphon off some targets from Olave but
not enough to completely alter his outlook for the season. As
always with Olave, fantasy managers should remain mindful of his
ongoing health concerns -- most recently, the blood clot issue
last year that required the use of blood thinning medication.
That, coupled with his history of concussions, may place a ceiling
on just how productive he could be. As it is, Olave is as solid
a low-end WR1/high-end WR2 as you will find.
Many experts considered Jordyn Tyson the best receiver in the
2026 NFL Draft -- a big-bodied pass-catcher who averaged 86 receiving
yards per game at Arizona State. He comes to New Orleans as the
clear No.2 receiver but with a chance to have some bright moments.
The Saints’ offense relies on pre-snap motion, and they led the
league in no-huddle rate -- both assets for easy looks for its
receivers.
Tyson’s durability should be something to keep in mind, though.
He had some health concerns in college and was already dealing
with a lingering hamstring issue during OTAs and minicamp. Those
concerns are presumably baked into his cost as a low-end WR3 heading
into draft season. But if he remains healthy during a stretch
where Olave is unavailable, Tyson could outplay his draft position.
TE Juwan Johnson
(2025 TE Rank: 15, 8.6 FPts/G)
Juwan Johnson turned himself into a solid tight end last season,
especially in PPR leagues. He finished with career-highs in targets
(102), receptions (77), and yards (889). Despite that massive
volume, he only had 3 TD receptions -- a byproduct of having only
eight red-zone targets. Jordyn Tyson’s arrival, the signing of
veteran Noah Fant, and drafting rooking TE Oscar Delp on Day 2
will almost certainly keep Johnson from repeating his 2025 performance.
Keep that in mind as you contemplate drafting him as your TE2.
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