The New Orleans Saints saved their season with a 31-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, thanks in large part to strong fantasy performances from their offensive skill players.
The Saints ranked seventh in total offense (387.4 yards per game) entering Week 6 but sit at 2-4 largely because of their lack of scoring. Their 22.3 points per game rank 18th.
The team’s scoring shortfalls have translated over to its distinctive fantasy playmakers—particularly Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and Benjamin Watson.
Brees remains a QB1 commodity but can’t be considered a must-start, as was the case in years past. He has lacked the lights-out numbers owners are accustomed to and missed the Saints’ Week 3 game after suffering a shoulder injury.
His performance against Atlanta—30-of-39 for 312 yards and a touchdown—was impressive but typical. Brees has enjoyed more success against the NFC South rival than any other team in his 16-year career.
Brees has thrown a career-best 6,098 yards and 37 touchdowns with a 67.7 completion percentage in 20 games against the Falcons, with 14 wins.
The Saints play two of the four worst pass defenses, the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, in consecutive weeks, leaving Brees’ viability high. But keep an eye out for their Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed the fewest passing yards to quarterbacks this year.
Running back Mark Ingram churned out just 46 yards against Atlanta but scored a pair of goal-line touchdowns to prove he’s a weekly must-start.
Despite his low yardage output, Ingram had 20 carries, while Khiry Robinson and C.J. Spiller combined for just 10—showing that Ingram is the Saints’ clear No. 1 option.
Ingram entered Week 6 as the 11th-ranked fantasy running back and has posted a reliable 11.6 points per game. However, owners should be wary of a looming matchup against a Giants defense that ranks fourth against the run.
Tight end Benjamin Watson ranked higher than Falcons superstar Julio Jones in almost every receiving category Thursday. He led all pass-catchers with 10 receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Watson is owned in just 3.9 percent of fantasy leagues—but for warranted reason. Entering Week 6, he averaged just 3.2 points per game, had seen just 21 targets and took five weeks to score his first touchdown. Before Thursday, Watson hadn’t eclipsed 100 yards since Week 12 of the 2010 season.
While his performance against the Falcons was formidable, Watson remains a cautious start. Owners who are thin at tight end or looking for a reliable bench option with the array of oncoming bye weeks will find Watson to be useful.
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