Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the Saints in targets and receiving yards in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders. MVS drew seven targets but only logged two receptions for a total of 64 receiving yards. He also had one carry for four rushing yards. With Derek Carr (concussion, hand) sidelined with his injuries sustained in Week 14, expectations that MVS would make another big play this week were low. However, he did manage to reel in a deep shot over the middle for a 39-yard gain in the third quarter, the Saints' longest play of the game. Valdes-Scantling took a helmet-to-helmet hit on his other reception in the fourth quarter and left the game temporarily but returned after it was determined he did not suffer a concussion. This was the second game in a row that MVS drew seven targets but he will be hard to trust against the Packers in Week 16, especially if Carr is forced to miss another game.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Unlikely To See Another Boom Week
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling's recent run of fantasy relevance appears to be over. Over the Saints' three games from Week 10 to Week 13 (bye Week 12), he compiled 232 receiving yards and four touchdowns on just seven receptions. The party came to an end in Week 14, though. Not only was MVS held out of the end zone, but his quarterback, Derek Carr (concussion, hand), left the game due to injury and will cede the Week 15 start against the Commanders to Jake Haener. Haener has appeared in seven games this season, going a combined 14-for-29 for 177 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. With Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) still on IR and Bub Means (ankle) declared out, Valdes-Scantling is still the de facto WR1 for the Saints. However, with the inexperienced Haener under center, MVS should be kept out of lineups for the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught four of seven targets for 51 receiving yards in Sunday's 14-11 win over the New York Giants. His reception and target totals are new season highs for MVS and he led the Saints in targets and receiving yards. After scoring three touchdowns in the Saints' last three games, MVS was held without a score for the first time since his debut with the team in Week 9. Unfortunately for MVS, this may have been the last he sees of Derek Carr (hand, head) in 2024. Late in the fourth quarter, the Saints signal-caller was injured on a designed run. After jumping over defenders and a blocker, Carr was undercut and went down hard on his left arm and facemask. The extent of Carr's injuries is unknown at this time. Valdes-Scantling's fantasy potential will certainly take a hit if Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener take over when the Saints play the Commanders in Week 15.
When wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling scored his touchdown in Week 13, he joined Donte Stallworth as the only players in Saints history with four receiving touchdowns in their first four games with the franchise. Valdes-Scantling will look for a fifth come Sunday when New Orleans takes on the New York Giants. With Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) sidelined with injuries, MVS has emerged as the Saints' most productive wide receiver. However, with 237 yards and four touchdowns on just eight catches with the team, MVS is as boom-or-bust as they come. As unlikely as it may seem, another boom may be in the works against the Giants. While New York has seen the fewest deep targets (20-plus air yards) in the league, they are allowing the highest completion rate on those passes (20-for-29). MVS has an average depth of target of 22.8 as a Saint and should see a couple of deep shots in Week 14. With six teams on bye, he makes for a high-risk, high-reward flex play.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling struck again in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, catching two of three targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. He and quarterback David Carr hooked up for a 28-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, giving MVS his fourth touchdown in the Saints' last three games. Similar to his previous efforts, he saw little action outside of his long play for the score despite having the highest snap share among the Saints' receivers. MVS nearly had another big gain for a possible touchdown earlier in the game, but the pass from Carr was well overthrown. Up next for the Saints are the New York Giants. New York has allowed 20 completions on 29 pass attempts of 20 air yards or more, which offers some optimism that MVS might make another big play in Week 14, however improbable that may seem.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught everyone off guard in Week 10 when he posted a 3-109-2 line in his second game with the New Orleans Saints. Lightning struck a second time in Week 11 when he logged a 71-yard catch-and-run for a score as part of a two-catch, 87-yard day. MVS now has as many receptions for 40 yards or more (three) and receiving touchdowns (three) as the man he replaced, Rashid Shaheed (knee), as the Saints' downfield threat. Valdes-Scantling might be in line for another big day as the Saints will next face the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams have allowed the fourth-most touchdowns to opposing wide receivers (14) this season, six of which came on throws of at least 20 air yards. They are also allowing the fourth-highest completion percentage on deep passes. Valdez-Scantling's value is as touchdown-dependent as they come but fantasy managers considering him as a flex can take comfort in knowing his matchup that favors his utilization and the Saints have few other options at receiver.
A week after he exploded with a 3-109-2 line, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling took another catch to the house in the Saints' 35-14 win over the Browns. Similar to his Week 10 performance, MVS was seldom targeted but made the most of his opportunities. On four targets, he caught two balls for 87 yards and a touchdown, with the score being a 71-yard catch and run in the second quarter. With few other options for quarterback Derek Carr to throw to, Valdes-Scantling seems to have cemented his role as the team's go-to playmaker at wide receiver. Rashid Shaheed (knee) is out for the year, so even if Chris Olave (concussion) is activated from IR before the end of the season, MVS may still be featured as the deep threat for New Orleans. After their Week 12 bye, the Saints will face the Rams, followed by the Giants, who rank 29th and dead-last, respectively, in completion rate allowed on deep throws.
One of the biggest surprises of Week 10 was Marquez Valdes-Scantling. In his second game with the New Orleans Saints, the speedy veteran caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. MVS has pushed up the depth chart thanks to the glut of injuries dealt to the Saints' wide receiver room. Of the five wide receivers that started the season on the team's active roster only rookie Mason Tipton was left standing last week. The situation might remain the same in the upcoming matchup against the Browns, with Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) tagged as questionable. Tipton was not targeted at all last week as quarterback Derek Carr focused most of his attention on running back Alvin Kamara and utilized MVS as his field stretcher. The 30-year-old journeyman has a chance for a repeat performance against the Browns, as they have struggled against the deep ball and have given up 11 touchdowns to opposing wideouts in 2024. MVS is worth a look in deeper leagues with 14 or more teams.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling hit paydirt in Week 10. On just three catches he racked up 109 yards and scored two touchdowns. For his first score, he reeled in a 40-yard bomb from Derek Carr. On the Saints' next drive, Carr hit MVS on another deep route for a 67-yard gain, setting up his second touchdown from two yards out. With injuries to several Saints receivers thinning the depth chart, the door was wide open for the few still standing to make an impact and MVS ended up being the biggest beneficiary. It was the first time he scored a touchdown since Week 7 of 2023 and the first time he topped 100 yards since 2022. Released by the Bills after they acquired Amari Cooper, Valdes-Scantling now has the inside track to become the Saints' new WR1 as they head into a matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.
Veteran free-agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed an undisclosed deal with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to sources. It's a bit surprising that the Chiefs didn't lure Valdes-Scantling back given all their injuries at the receiver position, but New Orleans has needs of their own at the position after they lost deep threat Rashid Shaheed (knee) to a torn meniscus last week. In addition, Chris Olave (concussion) could be in danger of missing a second straight game in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers. If Olave doesn't clear the concussion protocol in time to play this Sunday, MVS will likely just be serving as receiving depth behind rookies Mason Tipton and Bub Means and Cedrick Wilson Jr. The Buffalo Bills released MVS after he caught only two of his nine targets for 26 yards in six games to begin this season.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
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Saints
