New Orleans Saints News

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said on Wednesday that tight end Tasom Hill's shoulder injury that he suffered in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons was "just an AC" joint sprain, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. It means that Hill should be fully ready in advance of the 2026 season, whether it be back in New Orleans or somewhere else. The 35-year-old Swiss Army Knife offensive weapon is headed for unrestricted free agency when the calendar flips to March. There's also a chance that Hill decides to hang up his cleats after nine years in the NFL with the Saints. In 13 games played (five starts) in 2025, Hill had 52 rushing attempts for just 114 yards (2.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown on the ground. He added 11 receptions for 91 yards through the air. Hill's fantasy outlook will depend on what team he's playing for if he decides to return for a 10th season, but he'll most likely be off the fantasy radar in 12-team leagues.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said the team will discuss a contract extension for wide receiver Chris Olave this offseason, according to Erin Summers of NFL Network. "Chris is obviously an important player to us and had a really good season... had a couple of conversations with his agent, that will be part of this offseason," Loomis said. Olave didn't play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons due to a blood clot in his lung, but the 25-year-old former first-rounder should be ready to roll for the start of next season as the Saints' clear WR1. Despite missing the last game of the year, Olave was money for fantasy managers in 2025, finishing as the WR6 in half-PPR scoring with 100 catches (156 targets) for 1,163 yards, and nine touchdowns in 16 games. It was a career year for Olave, and he'll be an early-round WR1 target in 2026 fantasy drafts, especially with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough showing plenty of promise in his first season.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said that wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk's (shoulder) rehab has gone well and that he's fitting in with the group well, according to Erin Summers of NFL Network. Head coach Kellen Moore said that Polk will "be able to fill a very beneficial role here." The Saints acquired Polk and a seventh-round draft pick in 2028 from the New England Patriots back in September in exchange for a sixth-rounder in 2027. The 23-year-old former second-rounder missed all of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury. Polk struggled in his rookie campaign in 2024, catching 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets. He'll have another opportunity to make noise in 2026 behind Chris Olave, making him one to watch in training camp and the preseason in deeper fantasy leagues.

When asked if Tyler Shough is the team's starting quarterback going forward in 2026, New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said, "Yeah, we feel great about Tyler." Shough continued to get better in his first NFL season and went 23-for-35 passing for 259 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, adding 34 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The 26-year-old second-rounder out of Louisville completed 67.6% of his 327 pass attempts in 11 games played (nine starts) for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough added 45 carries for another 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. At the very least, Shough cemented himself as New Orleans' starting QB going into the 2026 season, and he should profile as a solid QB2 in superflex leagues and a nice backup with upside in single-QB formats.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough finished off his rookie season with another solid performance during Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Shough completed 23 of 35 passing attempts for 259 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the loss. He also added 34 additional yards on three rushing attempts with another score on the ground. Shough was able to throw a 16-yard touchdown to Ronnie Bell late in the fourth quarter, but the Saints weren't able to complete the comeback. He'll finish his rookie season with 2,384 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions through 10 games. He ran 45 times for 186 rushing yards with three scores on the ground. The second-round pick has played well enough to earn himself the starting gig heading into the 2026 season.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Hill exited during the third quarter and finished the game with three catches for 32 yards. The 35-year-old's future remains uncertain, and there has been plenty of speculation that he could retire following New Orleans' season finale on Sunday. He received a curtain call of sorts back in Week 16, when he had four catches, 36 receiving yards, 12 carries, 42 receiving yards, and a 38-yard passing touchdown in the Saints' final home game of the season. If this was indeed Hill's final game, he has put the finishing touches on an impressive career that saw him do a little bit of everything on offense.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (right finger) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the wrong direction after missing all three practices this past week. The 25-year-old has been operating as the backup quarterback behind Tyler Shough ever since Week 9. As a result, Shough remains the starter for Sunday's regular-season finale while Jake Haener steps into the backup role. Haener hasn't played an offensive snap this year, but he did complete 18 of 39 pass attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in 2024. Haener and Taysom Hill would be candidates to earn quarterback snaps if Shough leaves the game for any reason.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. is expected to have an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints will be without Chris Olave (illness) and Mason Tipton (groin) for the regular-season finale. The absence of those players should push Austin into the No. 1 wideout role in this offense. With all the injuries to the Saints' wideouts, Dante Pettis should also see an increase in target share on Sunday. Austin made himself known to the league when he hauled in four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 17's win over the Tennessee Titans. Austin was able to do that with Olave healthy for that game, which means he should be able to produce more without him this weekend. Fantasy managers with something on the line this week can use Austin as a FLEX play, or in DFS contests, might want to target Austin as he's priced at only $3,400 on DraftKings.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill delivered an impressive fantasy performance just two weeks ago, but he's unlikely to replicate that success during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Hill had 18.32 full-PPR points in that Week 16 victory, taking on an increased role passing, running, and catching the football. In the aftermath of his big game, it was reported that New Orleans made a concerted effort to get him more involved because the 35-year-old could retire, so that was potentially his final home game in New Orleans. Indeed, his productivity took a massive step back just one week later, when he was held without a touch and played just 13% of the snaps. We expect a similar story in Week 18, with both Audric Estime and Evan Hull getting more involved out of the backfield than Hill. The veteran playmaker should be avoided in all fantasy leagues ahead of what could be the final game of his career.

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has been one of the more pleasant surprises of the season, as he has firmly placed himself in the thick of the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. During the Saints' four-game win streak, the 26-year-old rookie has completed 71.1% of his passes for 1,057 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception with a 102.9 passer rating while adding 21 carries for 101 yards and two more scores on the ground. Shough will be without his top target in Chris Olave (illness) for the season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, which could limit his fantasy appeal, considering Shough struggled against Atlanta in their first meeting back in Week 12. It was the only start of his career in which he didn't record a touchdown, and also marked his lowest yards per attempt at 5.7. Shough is RotoBaller's QB16 for the week.

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has enjoyed a breakout campaign in his age-29 season, setting career highs in targets (98), receptions (74), and yards (828) entering Week 18's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson has recorded at least four catches in seven straight games and in 12 of 16 contests on the year. His 35 receptions since Week 10 rank fifth most among tight ends. New Orleans is dealing with multiple injuries on offense, particularly at wide receiver, with Chris Olave (illness) and Devaughn Vele (shoulder) both out for this game. The Saints' available wide receivers on Sunday are Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis, Ronnie Bell, and Samori Toure, which sets Johnson up to see a heavy dose of targets. With how well rookie QB Tyler Shough has been playing and plenty of targets up for grabs, Johnson ranks as RotoBaller's TE3 for Week 18.

New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime delivered the best game of his career in last week's win over the Tennessee Titans, handling 14 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown while adding one catch (one target) for four yards. The Saints leaned more into the second-year back in Week 17 after giving tight end Taysom Hill 16 touches in the final home game of the season in Week 16. Estime broke off a 32-yard touchdown to essentially ice the game for the Saints, and he figures to be a key part of the offense in the season finale against the Falcons, with multiple starters ruled out, including Alvin Kamara (knee). The Falcons rank in the middle of the pack in PPR points per game allowed to running backs this season, but they concede the seventh-most yards per carry (4.6). Estime should be in line for around 15 touches, making him a viable flex option in Week 18.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton (groin) has officially been ruled out for Week 18's game against the Atlanta Falcons and will be placed on Injured Reserve, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Tipton's season will officially come to an end after suffering a groin injury in Week 16 versus the New York Jets, causing him to miss last week's game. The 25-year-old wideout recorded 11 receptions for 76 yards on 17 targets in 14 games this season. He saw his opportunities increase later in the season, playing 66.4% of the offensive snaps in Weeks 12-16 and collected all of his production during that span after playing only 10.5% of the snaps over the first 10 weeks of the season. With top wideout Chris Olave (illness) also ruled out, the available receivers for the Saints in Week 18 will be Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis, Ronnie Bell, and Samori Toure.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) has been ruled out for his team's Week 18 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. Kamara suffered a sprained MCL in Week 12 that will ultimately end up causing him to miss New Orleans' final six games of the season. Across 11 contests in 2025, the 30-year-old recorded 657 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 164 touches. His 3.6 yards per carry and 4.0 yards per touch both represent career lows. With Kamara sidelined and Saints backs Kendre Miller (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) on Injured Reserve, New Orleans will likely split backfield work between Audric Estime and Evan Hull in Week 18, with tight end Taysom Hill possibly mixing in as well. Estime functioned as the team's lead back in Week 17, recording 14 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.

New Orleans Saints running back Evan Hull did not see an increase in touches during the team's 34-26 victory against the Titans, instead playing well behind teammate Audric Estime in the backfield hierarchy. New Orleans hasn't had a healthy ground game in some time now, as they've dealt with injuries to Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) and Devin Neal (hamstring). With both inactive over the past two weeks, Estime and Hull were set to split work in the Saints' ground attack. That wasn't the case, though, as Hull combined for just six yards on seven carries over that span. Moreover, Estime and tight end Taysom Hill alternated as the team's lead rushers over the games mentioned, adding more variability to the situation. Either way, it appears Hull is set for handcuff duties, making him a volatile fantasy option for the season's final week.

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill landed on the fantasy radar in Week 17 after he concluded Week 16 with six targets (four receptions) for 36 yards, and 12 carries on the ground to go along with throwing a touchdown pass. All of this was good for 13.32 fantasy points, and Hill became a must-add because of his versatile skill set, but mostly because he was that involved as a running back. The 16 overall touches by a tight end are a cheat code in fantasy football, which is why he was added in so many leagues heading into Week 17. As the week progressed, and Week 17 is in the books, it became clear that the Saints wanted to do right for the New Orleans fans and Hill (35 years old) and "send him off on a high note" considering it was their last home game of the season, because Audric Estime, who was expected to be in the lead back position in Week 16, rusehd 14 times for 94 yards (6.71 YPC) in Week 17. In comparison, Hill only rushed three times for zero yards and was not involved in the passing game at all (zero targets). Hill was always a high-risk, high-reward play at the tight end position for Week 17, but now that he is back in his regular role of uncertainty and not as involved as a runner, he can return to the waiver wire as fantasy managers enter Week 18.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) remained sidelined from his team's practice on Thursday, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. Kamara has missed five consecutive games after suffering a sprained MCL in Week 12 and appears unlikely to return for the team's Week 18 finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Across 11 games before getting injured, the 30-year-old recorded 657 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 164 touches. Fellow Saints running backs Kendre Miller (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) are both on Injured Reserve, so the team is currently quite shorthanded at the position. Second-year back Audric Estime functioned as New Orleans' lead back in Week 17, with running back Evan Hull and tight end Taysom Hill mixing in as well. Assuming Kamara remains sidelined, Estime profiles as a high-end flex option for fantasy managers in Week 18.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) has been ruled out for Week 18's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. According to Saints reporter Nick Underhill, Olave had a blood clot detected in his lung and is currently at the hospital, where he is doing well. Olave's career season ends with 100 receptions on 156 targets for 1163 yards and nine touchdowns, ranking him WR6 in PPR formats. With Olave out, look for Kevin Austin and Mason Tipton to step up, while tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill will have big roles as well. While the Saints eye their fifth straight win against the Falcons in Week 18, they'll have to do it without their best offensive weapon.

New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has proven he is the quarterback of the future during their four-game win streak. During the streak, Shough has completed 91 of 128 passes (72%) for 1,057 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception. He has also added 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, making him a dual threat as well. While most didn't expect Shough to be a key piece for fantasy managers in his rookie season, he has delivered, averaging 17.0 fantasy points per game since becoming the starter, which places him as QB11 during that span. In Week 18, Shough faces the Atlanta Falcons, who rank 15th against quarterbacks this season and have caused the sixth-most interceptions as well. While the matchup is relatively difficult, Shough will hope to lead the Saints to their fifth straight win and potentially take control of the offensive rookie of the year race.

New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime carried 14 times for 94 yards and a touchdown in Week 17's 34-26 victory over the Tennessee Titans. After a confusing Week 16, where tight end Taysom took most of the rushing attempts, Estime took over and had the best game of his young NFL career. With Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), Kendre Miller (ACL), and Devin Neal (hamstring) all missing significant time, Estime stepped up, playing 80% of the snaps. In comparison, backup Evan Hull played 18%, and Hill played only 14%. They face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 18, who rank middle-of-the-pack against running backs this season. However, this could be Hill's final game as a Saint, and his usage on the goal line and in other key situations could cap Estime's ceiling in Week 18. In a meaningless game for the Saints, look for Hill to have a proper send-off against the Falcons, whom he has dominated in his NFL career.