2024 New Orleans Saints Preview
Offensive Line
The Saints dipped to 21st in rushing yards (1,742). They scored 13 rushing touchdowns while gaining only 3.6 yards per carry with four runs of 20 yards or more. New Orleans averaged 28.2 rushing attempts.
New Orleans improved to 13th in passing yards (4,225) while delivering 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. They had 52 completions over 20 yards (11 reached the 40-yard mark), gaining yards per pass attempt (7.0). Their offensive line allowed 35 sacks.
The Saints selected T Taliese Fuaga with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Over the past two seasons for Oregon, he started 25 games at right tackle. His motor runs hot, and he creates his wins quickly off the snap in run blocking, with almost a pop-and-lock style of play. Fuaga has the eyes, footwork, and movements to be a winning player in pass protection.
With their final selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, New Orleans took a flier on T Josiah Ezirim (7.19). After failing to earn a starting job on the defensive side of the line, Ezirim shifted his career to becoming an offensive lineman. He looks the part of a winning player once his base skill set reaches the NFL level. His quickness and range grades well with hands to keep his opponent in check. Ezirim is trailing in his pass protection, which requires more experience and snaps to help his learning curve.
New Orleans lost T Andrus Peat to a minimal deal ($2 million) by the Raiders.
Offense
The upgrade to Derek Carr at quarterback led to the Saints throwing the ball 94 more times than in 2022 (512). They upped their passing split to 55.8% while relying on an above-average run game (480 attempts), thanks to competitive overall plays (1,086 – 4th).
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, NO
In his eighth season with Las Vegas in 2021, Carr set career-highs in completions (428), pass attempts (626), and passing yards (4,804). On the downside, he finished below the league average in touchdowns (23) with a rise in interceptions (14). Carr passed for over 300 yards in seven of his 18 games (including the postseason), but he failed to throw more than two touchdowns in any matchup. Despite his low-scoring ability, Carr was the 12th highest-scoring quarterback (324.40) in four-point passing touchdown leagues. Before 2021 (40/108), he chipped in with some scores on the ground over the previous three seasons (24/47/1, 27/82/2, and 39/140/3).
Coming into 2022, his completion rate (68.7) was a strength from 2018 to 2021. Unfortunately, the addition of Davante Adams (100/1,516/14) gave him a true WR1, but his completion rate (60.8) was the lowest since his rookie season (58.1) in 2014. In addition, Carr had a regression in yards per pass attempt (7.0 – 7.8 from 2019 to 2021). The Raiders ended up benching him over their final two matchups. He had repeated weakness in interceptions (14) and touchdowns (24). Carr passed for more than 300 yards in two games (303/2 and 307/2) while delivering three scores in only two contests. Nine of his interceptions came over his last five starts.
Carr turned in a game-manager-type season with the Saints. His completion rate (68.4) fell in line with best years while delivering 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. New Orleans rotated in Tayson Hill in the red zone, leading to 28 runs in the red zone and 11 passes. Carr passed for more than 300 yards in six matchups. Over his first 13 games, he never threw more than two touchdowns, but Carr improved in this areas in three (218/3, 319/3, and 264/4) of his final four starts. He finished 16th in quarterback scoring (268.50). In Week 3 and Week 10, Carr left the game early, giving Jameis Winston 41 pass attempts.
Fantasy Outlook: New Orleans did indeed throw the ball more last season, giving Carr a top-10 passing opportunity if he stays on the field for every game. This draft season, he comes off the board as the 25th quarterback. I have him on a path to gain 4,450 yards with 27 touchdowns. For Carr to reach a higher starting fantasy season, Chris Olave (87/1,123/5) must improve his scoring output, and either Rashid Shaheen (46/756/5) or A.T. Perry (12/246/4) must become more fantasy-relevant.
Other Options: Jake Haener, Taysom Hill, Spencer Rattler
Running Backs
From a distance, the Saints’ running backs gave the fantasy market a disappointing feeling based on their yards per rush (3.9) and yards per catch (6.2). They finished with a three-year high in rushing attempts (443), rushing touchdowns (13), catches (13), and targets (129), leading to 2,386 combined yards (25.39 FPPG).
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