New Orleans Saints News

New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr. still has plenty of short-term dynasty value, but he fits contenders better than rebuilding teams. Etienne is entering his age-27 season after giving Jacksonville 1,107 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 36 catches, 292 receiving yards, and six receiving scores in 17 games last year. New Orleans then brought him home on a four-year deal, so this is not a throwaway veteran signing. The tricky part is figuring out how clean the workload will be. Alvin Kamara is still in the building, and Kellen Moore has talked about finding roles for multiple backs rather than simply handing everything to one player. That does not kill Etienne's value, but it does make him easier to like for 2026 production than as a long-range dynasty anchor. RotoBaller has him ranked as the RB15 across formats, which is already starter pricing. Contenders can still buy if they need points now, but rebuilders should be willing to cash out if someone is paying near low-end RB1 value.

New Orleans Saints veteran Juwan Johnson was a top-10 fantasy tight end in 2025, and he heads into his seventh season as one of the more undervalued players at the position. He likely faces significantly stiffer target competition with the Saints spending the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on dynamic wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, but in Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense, there should be no shortage of volume to go around. With second-year quarterback Tyler Shough preparing for his first full year as a starter, the Saints could see an increase to their 34.8 pass attempts per game from a season ago. After taking over as starter in Week 9, Shough faced an expected ramp-up period, but following the team's Week 11 bye, the rookie threw the fourth most passes in the league, and only Trey McBride and Kyle Pitts topped Johnson's 34 catches or 398 yards from the tight end spot. The Saints also spent a third-round pick on tight end Oscar Delp, but as more of a traits-based prospect who never reached 25 receptions or 285 yards across his four seasons at Georgia, he could take time to develop at the next level, and Johnson should remain entrenched at the top of the depth chart for 2026. Currently being drafted as the TE17, Johnson should again see enough volume to greatly exceed ADP, and if he can improve upon his three touchdown grabs from a year ago, he could ultimately prove to be one of the best values at the position.

Across seven games (one start) in 2025, New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime recorded 301 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 58 touches. With the Saints backfield decimated by injuries down the stretch of the season, Estime took on a lead role for New Orleans' final two games of the year. While Estime remains on the Saints' roster heading into 2026, his place on the depth chart looks drastically different. New Orleans signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and will also be getting back Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, and Kendre Miller (knee) after all three missed the end of the 2025 season with injuries. Entering 2026, dynasty managers should feel comfortable moving on from Estime in favor of a higher-upside option.

New Orleans wide receiver Devaughn Vele had a slow start to his Saints tenure, but was playing some of the best ball of his young career before a shoulder injury caused the team to shut him down for the final three games of the 2025 season. After showing flashes in Denver as a 2024 seventh-round pick, an influx of young talent allowed the Broncos to trade him to New Orleans ahead of his second season. While it's unlikely he'll be entirely shipped out of town again, the Saints' recent investments at the position could make it difficult to regain his starting role, having finished the year as the secondary option behind All-Pro Chris Olave. After a string of injuries left them dangerously thin at the position down the stretch, New Orleans spent three of its eight 2026 draft picks on wide receivers, including Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick and intriguing size-speed prospect Bryce Lance in the fourth round. Thrust into the largest role of his career out of necessity, Vele was able to provide emergency flex viability before his injury, but with a deeper depth chart being built around him, he is not a player who should factor into 2026 draft plans, and already 28 years old heading into his third season, his dynasty prospects remain slim.

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, Alvin Kamara had seen his efficiency drop as he flirted with 300 opportunities in each of the previous three seasons, and the prevailing belief was that Miller could help to keep him fresh before potentially assuming the starting role himself. However, injuries have limited the fourth-year back to appearances in only 21 of a possible 51 games, and when he has seen the field, he has not looked the part of an NFL starter, averaging fewer than four yards per attempt on his 127 career carries. With New Orleans committing $28 million in guarantees to free agent Travis Etienne Jr., and Kamara still on the team along with Devin Neal and Audric Estime, Miller could be viewed as a long shot to even make the Saints' 53-man roster. Ranked outside of RotoBaller's top 300 players for 2026, Miller is not a player that should factor into draft plans in any redraft leagues, and his dynasty value has sunk to a place that makes him an easy drop candidate.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan writes that "it would not be shocking" if the New Orleans Saints parted ways with veteran running back Alvin Kamara this offseason. Parting ways "might be in the best interests of the star RB and the team that drafted him nine years ago." If the Saints were to trade or release Kamara, they could hand the keys to the offense to newcomer Travis Etienne Jr. and give more snaps to Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime. It would be a big changing of the guard in the Big Easy, as Kamara is the leading rusher in team history and one of the most popular players to ever wear the black and gold. The Saints have treated the 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler with respect and have given him his space; they have yet to approach him about a pay cut, and it's unclear if they will before training camp starts at the end of July. If the Saints elect to keep Kamara on the roster, his $10.5 million salary cap hit will be the sixth-highest among RBs in the NFL. Duncan adds that although both sides have played nice so far, "there's no denying the vibe between the sides has been off throughout the offseason." If Kamara stays in New Orleans, he'll be the clear RB2 behind Etienne, tanking his fantasy football value going into his 10th year in the league.

Veteran free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said on Sirius XM NFL Radio on Wednesday that "going into Year 14, I would love to play for a competitor." However, Hopkins also indicated that he's not in a rush to join a team this offseason, with about a month until training camps kick off around the league. The 34-year-old former 27th overall pick by the Houston Texans in the 1013 NFL draft out of the University of Clemson has been named to five Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro units in his 13 years in the league, but he acknowledged that he's merely a part-time player at this point of his career. In 17 games (three starts) with the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, Hopkins had only 22 receptions on 39 targets for 330 yards and two touchdowns. His last 1,000-yard campaign came in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans. Nuk might not latch on with a new team before the start of the 2026 regular season this fall, but if the right situation arises, he could become an interesting third-down/red-zone weapon for a contending team.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting while playing only half a season in 2025. Taking over a 1-7 team, Shough won five of his nine starts and had the Saints looking like arguably the most dangerous team in the division by year's end. Heading into his first full season as a starter, New Orleans' offense has regularly been tabbed as a unit on the rise, making Shough a legitimate QB2 option in superflex dynasty leagues. Kellen Moore's offenses have always been at their best with two capable receivers, which they appear to have in 2025 second-team All-Pro Chris Olave and 2026 first-round pick Jordyn Tyson. The Saints also spent big on free agent running back Travis Etienne Jr., giving the 26-year-old Shough a plethora of weapons and a clear path to upside after averaging more than 19 fantasy points per game across his final six starts of 2025. Adding deceptive value with his legs, Shough pairs an increasingly reliable floor with a rising ceiling, and at RotoBaller's QB21, he is a player that drafters should feel comfortable making their second quarterback in dynasty startups.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave said he would love to get something done on a contract extension before training camp this summer to "not affect team chemistry," according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Olave seemed optimistic during organized team activities that he and the team could get something worked out soon. The Saints have been in talks with the former first-rounder since last year about a new deal, and both sides have spoken positively of the situation. Although Olave wasn't a full participant in OTAs and minicamp as he recovered from a blood-clot issue that kept him out of Week 18 last year, he spent the offseason around the team's facility, which is a good sign. The 25-year-old wideout is expected to come off blood-thinners at the end of the month and should be a full-go for training camp at the end of July. In 16 starts in 2025 in his fourth year in the NFL, Olave meshed nicely with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and finished with career highs in catches (100), targets (156), receiving yards (1,163), and touchdowns (nine). In head coach Kellen Moore's rising offense, Olave is a clear WR1 fantasy target with a stable floor.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) was recently cleared after missing the end of the 2025 season due to blood clots, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Olave is expected to stop taking blood-thinners at the end of June and be ready to rock for the start of training camp at the end of July. Despite missing a game last year, the 25-year-old former 11th overall pick in 2022 out of Ohio State had a career-high 1,163 receiving yards, a career-high 100 catches (156 targets), and a career-best nine touchdowns in 16 games played in his fourth year in the NFL. Head coach Kellen Moore said earlier this offseason that Olave didn't have any issues in his recovery from blood clots, so he should be a full-go for training camp and the start of the 2026 regular season this fall. The Saints added rookie Jordyn Tyson in the first round back in April, but Olave should remain the team's unquestioned WR1 in an offense on the upswing under Moore and second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, who exceeded expectations in his rookie campaign. In what should be another pass-happy offense, Olave has a stable floor as a low-end WR1 target for fantasy managers in 2026.

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal recorded 310 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 74 touches across 10 games (three starts) as a rookie. Neal spent some time as the Saints' back down the stretch of the season, thanks to injuries to the running backs who opened the season ahead of him on the depth chart. However, Neal's role in New Orleans is back in question entering 2026 following the team's offseason signing of running back Travis Etienne Jr. Saints veteran back Alvin Kamara also currently remains with the team, which likely leaves Neal battling for the team's RB3 role with Kendre Miller (knee). Given the crowded running back room in New Orleans and his limited upside as a former sixth-rounder, dynasty managers may want to consider moving on from Neal ahead of 2026.

A first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019, tight end Noah Fant has never quite lived up to the hype with which he entered the league, and the latest chapter in his eight-year career saw him sign a two-year, $8.8 million deal with the New Orleans Saints at the start of 2026 free agency. Playing in 15 games for the Bengals in 2025, Fant caught 34 passes for a career-low 288 yards, and in New Orleans, he's now part of a deep tight end room that could make it difficult for him to see much more than a complementary role. Veteran Juwan Johnson was one of only eight tight ends to see triple-digit targets in 2025, and the Saints spent a third-round pick on Georgia's Oscar Delp in the 2026 NFL Draft. While New Orleans should again have one of the most high-volume passing attacks under head coach Kellen Moore, there are a growing number of mouths to feed, with eighth overall pick Jordyn Tyson joining 2025 second-team All-Pro Chris Olave, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. coming aboard as one of the splashier signings of free agency. Buried on the depth chart and not a strong enough blocker to force his way onto the field, Fant is RotoBaller's dynasty TE51 and not a player to expect much from as he enters his age-29 season.

The New Orleans Saints are re-signing eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan to a one-year, incentive-laden deal after his visit on Tuesday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The 36-year-old former 24th overall pick by the Saints in 2011 out of the University of California will return to the only team he's known in the NFL for his 16th season in 2026. Jordan had just six combined sacks for New Orleans in 34 starts in 2023 and 2024 before bouncing back with 10.5 sacks, 47 tackles (32 solo), 15 tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in 17 starts in 2025. He has a staggering 132 total sacks over his 15 seasons in the league, and while it was nice to see Jordan return to double-digit sacks last year, fantasy managers in IDP leagues can't count on that happening again this year, with Jordan likely being more of a part-time player on the edge in the Big Easy.

New Orleans Saints tight end Oscar Delp (hamstring) is back on the field during team drills. Delp is back to making an impact after suffering a hamstring injury during the second week of OTAs. The third-round rookie was reportedly putting on a show during recent drills. Since his return, Delp has reportedly been the most targeted player during 7-on-7 drills. The Saints are hopeful that Delp can be a significant part of their future. He's currently in competition for snaps with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant. Delp might not have a huge role in the Saints' offense right away, but he is certainly a promising young player.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) will continue his rehab process during mandatory minicamp. Tyson is mainly dealing with a hamstring issue, but it's not expected to impact his availability for training camp. Tyson will continue to work under a limited plan, so the Saints can monitor him and prevent him from aggravating the injury further. Once he's healthy, Tyson should slide in as the No. 2 wideout opposite Chris Olave. Tyson finished with 61 receptions, 711 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns during this past season with Arizona State. The Saints are hopeful that Tyson can provide a reliable No. 2 option for quarterback Tyler Shough this upcoming season.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (illness) has been limited to individual drills during mini camp while he recovers from a blood clot issue. Olave has been going through individual walkthroughs and OTAs, but isn't doing any contact drills yet. Head coach Kellen Moore recently mentioned that Olave is currently on track with no issues. The plan is for Olave to stop taking blood thinners on June 29, which should mean he'll resume normal football activities after that. This past season, Olave posted 100 receptions, 1,163 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns in 16 games with the Saints. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract and could be headed towards a massive payday soon.

After five years and four seasons with the Jaguars, running back Travis Etienne Jr. signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, and just a year after entering the 2025 season in a somewhat ambiguous backfield, there is little doubt about his every-down role in Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense. In year one under Moore, with a rookie quarterback at the helm for much of the season, the Saints had the fastest pace of play in the NFL. As the operation continues to develop, there's a reasonable expectation for an uptick of no-huddle usage and more offensive plays per game, with Etienne specifically targeted in free agency for his three-down ability. With Alvin Kamara still on the roster, the depth behind Etienne is strong, but with both the Cowboys and Eagles, Moore has a history of running his offenses through a bell cow back. At 27 years old, Etienne figures to be that guy for the foreseeable future, and at RotoBaller's dynasty RB19, he's a player worth pursuing as the finishing piece of a contending roster.

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson topped double-digit fantasy points seven times in 2025 in half-PPR formats, and in the second season of the Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough era, the Saints are in the conversation of the most improved offenses heading into 2026. New Orleans paid up to acquire running back Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency and spent the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. While both are more than capable of siphoning targets from Johnson, the trade-off could be more sustained drives and scoring opportunities for one of the league's fastest-paced offenses, which should only grow more efficient with another year of development. While the end result could be something close to a wash for the 29-year-old Johnson, the seventh-year veteran heads into 2026 as RotoBaller's dynasty TE26, fresh on the heels of a TE10 finish, making him an undervalued trade target with weekly starting potential.

Spending time on the practice squads of the Eagles and New Orleans Saints after being released by the Broncos ahead of the 2025 season, second-year running back Audric Estime eventually worked his way onto the Saints' active roster and finished the year with 204 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the final two games of the season. However, any glimmer of hope heading into the 2026 season was dashed when the Saints made Travis Etienne Jr. the highest-paid free agent running back on the open market, relegating Estime to a rotational backup spot at best. With veteran Alvin Kamara still on the roster and 2025 sixth-round pick Devin Neal recovered from the hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve, the running back room is deep, and Estime is by no means a lock to stick on the 53-man roster. It bears noting that Neal was unable to finish the final session of OTAs, so his attendance will need to be monitored when the team returns for minicamp practices on Tuesday. That said, barring injury or a trade that sees the depth chart dramatically thinned ahead of him, Estime is a dynasty cut candidate with no clear path to fantasy relevance.

Across 13 games in 2025, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele recorded 25 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 39 targets. Vele played a minimal role in his team's passing game early in the year, but he emerged as a larger piece after the Saints traded wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the 2025 trade deadline. Across a four-game stretch from Week 12 to Week 15, Vele recorded 19 receptions for 236 yards and a score on 26 targets. However, Vele suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 15 and may now be facing another uphill battle for playing time in New Orleans in 2026. The Saints were aggressive in pursuing wide receiver talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, using a first-round pick on Jordyn Tyson and day three selections on wideouts Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. Although Vele is only in his third NFL campaign, he's already entering his age-29 season and likely offers limited upside for dynasty managers.