The New Orleans Saints will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. We have fantasy football start-sit advice for every fantasy-relevant player for the Saints so you can make the best decisions for your lineups.
Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 9 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Derek Carr, QB
Derek Carr has missed three straight games with an oblique injury, and he might not have his starting role back when deemed healthy.
See? I have to make sure you’re paying attention. This is a long article that you’re embarking upon, and we need you to be locked in as you chase a playoff berth.
Saints QB Rankings, Weeks 6-8:
- 25th in passer rating
- 26th in yards per attempt
- 30th in completion percentage
- 31st in touchdown rate
- 32nd in first down rate
Carr began throwing last week, which leads me to believe that he could be back sooner than later. Jake Haener took over for Spencer Rattler last week in a shuffling of chairs on the Titanic situation and operated from the pocket for 16 of his 17 pass attempts. As far as third-string QBs go, I thought Haener was fine, but nothing noteworthy for fantasy managers, especially with the injuries that have taken place in the Saints’ receiver room.
The first two weeks have proven to be the outlier, not the norm in New Orleans, and while this matchup is tempting, I’m nowhere near comfortable in trusting Carr if activated. There are simply too many viable options at the position this week to take on this sort of risk.
Alvin Kamara, RB
Alvin Kamara has more targets (18) than rush attempts (17) over the past two weeks. After averaging 90.5 rushing yards per game in September, he didn’t reach 70 once in October.
All of the predictive trends are pointing in the wrong direction, and that’s concerning. Yet, this is #PantherWeek for the Saints, and that obligates you to bump everyone up a tier.
If Kamara takes advantage of this matchup, I wouldn’t blink twice about selling him to the highest bidder on Monday morning — potentially before you get your first cup of coffee.
Chris Olave, WR
Olave missed a game with a concussion and then was banged up again last week before turning in his most involved effort of the season. The star receiver was targeted on 31.1% of his routes, and if we are going to continue to get well-below-average play under center in New Orleans, it’s going to take that sort of involvement to make him an option.
Head injuries are difficult to judge, and while we can’t predict them, there is a level of risk you take on when starting a player who has battled recent issues.
With Derek Carr back, Olave bumps into my top 20 with ease and isa play across all formats.
Taysom Hill, TE
After missing nearly a month, Taysom Hill returned to action, and while the fantasy production wasn’t overwhelming, it was a good reminder of what makes him a unique option in our game.
Hill was on the field for 39.7% of New Orleans’ snaps, a role that would relegate most tight ends to useless. Yet, he had nine opportunities (four targets, four carries, and one pass), a profile I’d bet on going into any week if I had the knowledge beforehand.
With receivers falling like flies and the Saints cycling through quarterbacks, Hill is going to grade out as a viable play for me in the short term, at the very least. I currently have him ranked as a streamer, but that’s with the thought that Derek Carr returns to action.
If that news changes, Hill’s versatility becomes more enticing, and he’d move into my top 12 at the position against a defense that allows a league-high 4.4 red-zone trips per game.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers Insights
New Orleans Saints
Team: New Orleans has lost six straight games, matching their longest skid of the 2000s (also: Weeks 5-11, 2005).
QB: Derek Carr might return to a skeleton crew that doesn’t have the big play upside of the offense he left. Can he make it work? It’s possible – he’s completing a career-high 77.5% of his short passes this season.
Offense: The Saints have scored 45 points in their past three games—they averaged 45.5 points per game during their 2-0 start this season.
Defense: Over the last three weeks, New Orleans has created pressure on just 25% of opponent dropbacks (Weeks 1-5: 38.1%).
Fantasy: Alvin Kamara has more targets (18) than rush attempts (17) over the past two weeks. After averaging 90.5 rushing yards per game in September, he didn’t reach 70 once in October.
Betting: Since 2020, unders are 27-13 (67.5%) in Saint games played after Halloween.
Betting: The Saints have been 1-6-1 ATS since the start of 2022 when they were favored on the road.
Carolina Panthers
Team: Carolina is technically the home team next week in Germany against the Giants – their next true road game doesn’t come until December 8 (Week 14 at Philadelphia).
QB: Baby steps – Bryce Young threw a touchdown pass under pressure against the Broncos on Sunday, doubling his career total of such passes in the process.
Offense: The Panthers are averaging 4.0 yards per play in Bryce Young’s starts this season (Andy Dalton: 5.3).
Defense: Every team that has faced the Panthers this season has posted a passer rating north of 95 (last week against Denver was the fourth time this season they allowed a rate over 125).
Fantasy: Chuba Hubbard ran for 56 yards in Denver on Sunday, 59 of which came after contact.
Betting: The Panthers have failed to cover four straight at home, failing to cover by a total of 40.5 points during that stretch.
