In the 23rd of a 32-part series, we are featuring all National Football League teams with a prediction of where each team will finish within their division, key off-season acquisitions and their top fantasy stars. Here are the New Orleans Saints.
Key Off Season Acquisitions
The Saints believe Derek Carr will be their next star quarterback and are paying him a gigantic deal. On March 6, he came to terms with the Saints on a four-year deal worth a whopping $150 million. This past season, Carr was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. He completed 305 passes for 502 attempts for 3522 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns compared to 14 interceptions. Carr also had 24 rushes for 102 yards. He had been with the Raiders since 2014.
Other key acquisitions for the Saints include defensive end Nathan Shepherd of Ajax, Ontario, Canada, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders of St. Louis, Missouri, tight end Foster Moreau of New Orleans, Louisiana, and running back Jamaal Williams of Rialto, California. Shepherd signed a three-year deal worth $15 million, Saunders signed a three year deal worth $12.3 million, Moreau signed a three-year deal worth $12.2 million, and Williams signed a three-year deal worth $12 million.
Shepherd played the last five seasons with the Jets. In 2022, he had 33 combined tackles (16 solo tackles and 17 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks.
Saunders played the last four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022, he had 48 combined tackles (22 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, eight quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks and one pass deflection. The pass deflection came in a 30-24 Chiefs win over the Houston Texans on December 18. While with the Chiefs, Sanders won two Super Bowls in 2020 and 2023.
Moreau, who battled cancer in the offseason, played four seasons with the Raiders. In 2022, he had 33 catches for 420 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Williams is joining his third team following the Packers and Lions. In 2022 with Detroit, he had 262 rushes for 1066 rushing yards, and a NFL high 17 touchdowns. Williams also had 12 catches for 73 rushing yards.
Fantasy Stars
Williams is seventh in fantasy among running backs. Expect a time share at some point in the season between him and Alvin Kamara.
The Saints have two tight ends ranked in the top 10. Taysom Hill of Pocatello, Idaho is third and Juwan Johnson of Stratford, New Jersey is ninth. Hill is valuable because he can also play quarterback. Last season he completed 13 passes in 19 attempts for 240 passing yards and two touchdowns. The passing touchdowns came in a 39-32 Saints win over the Seattle Seahawks on October 9 and in a 21-18 Saints win over the Atlanta Falcons on December 18. Hill also had 96 rushes for 575 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, along with nine catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson had 42 catches for 508 yards and seven touchdowns.
Projected Finish
The Saints have the skillset to win the NFC South this season. With the Buccaneers taking a step back, the Panthers still in a youth movement, and the Falcons trying to figure out their identity, New Orleans could take a clear step forward in 2023.
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