2009 Team Outlook: New Orleans
Despite putting up huge offensive numbers in 2008, the New Orleans Saints failed to make the NFL playoffs. Led by quarterback Drew Brees, running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, wide receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore, and tight end Jeremy Shockey, the Saints should field one of the league's top offenses once again this season. If the Saints hope to make the playoffs this season, their defense will need to improve drastically. Another key for the Saints this season will be staying healthy on both sides of the ball. Reggie Bush and Lance Moore are coming off major injuries, while Marques Colston also had offseason knee surgery. Bush, Colston, and Shockey all missed significant time last season, and with them back healthy, the Saints offense could be even more prolific in 2009. From a fantasy prospective, the Saints will have at least seven players drafted in most fantasy drafts, with a few coming in the early rounds. One of the major fantasy questions this season revolves around the Saints running game. Will the Saints hand Pierre Thomas the majority of the carries with Reggie Bush being more of a specialty back? Or will Bush get a significant chunk of the Saints carries while still being one of the league's best pass catching running backs? If the Saints decide to give Thomas 15 carries per game, he can be a tremendous asset for fantasy teams. Fantasy owners can count on the Saints being major players in the fantasy landscape this season.
Training Camp Update
The biggest news coming out of New Orleans Saints training camp has been the status of Reggie Bush's knee. Bush's surgically repaired knee gave the Saints and fantasy owners a scare last week, but Bush has returned to full practices, and looks to be ready to start the season at 100 percent. It is still unclear as to what the carry distribution will be between Bush and Pierre Thomas, but look for Reggie to make his biggest impact in the passing game, making him a better selection in point per reception leagues.
QB Drew Brees, NO - Stud (low risk)
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Drew Brees came close to breaking the single season passing yardage record in 2008, and should be one of the first quarterbacks drafted in fantasy drafts this season. Brees led the league in passing yardage and touchdowns in 2008 and should put up similar numbers in 2009 with all of his major weapons coming back healthy. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will challenge Brees for the top quarterback spot in fantasy leagues, but barring a major injury, Brees will be a consistent top producer in fantasy leagues. Brees will probably be selected somewhere between the 15th and 25th overall picks in fantasy leagues, so if you are targeting Brees for your fantasy team, plan on using a second or early third round pick to select him.
RB Mike Bell, --- - Deep-league Only
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Mike Bell is fighting for the Saints number three running back job in training camp. Bell should be able to beat out Lynell Hamilton and P.J. Hill and win the job, although he will not have much value initially, with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush ahead of him on the depth chart. The only way Bell will have much value this season would be if Pierre Thomas were to go down with an injury. Bell would then take over a portion of the teams carries, as Reggie Bush is not capable of carrying the ball 15 to 20 times per game. An injury to Bush would not be as beneficial to Bell, as Pierre Thomas is capable of carrying the load for the Saints. Bell should only be drafted in the late rounds of very deep leagues.
RB Reggie Bush, --- - Gamble (high risk)
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Reggie Bush is going to be a risky pick in upcoming fantasy drafts. Bush has been plagued by injuries and ineffective rushing throughout his young career. When healthy, Bush is one of the league's best at catching the ball out of the backfield, averaging about 5.5 catches per game in his career. Bush has another roadblock in his way this season, Pierre Thomas. Thomas had a major impact on the Saints' running game at the end of 2008 and will be a large part of the Saints backfield in 2009. This leaves the Saints with a dilemma on how to use Bush. If Bush gets 10 carries and 6 catches out of the backfield each game, he can still be an effective fantasy running back, especially in point per reception leagues. Another problem with drafting Reggie Bush is that he is a big name, flashy player who will probably go a round or two earlier than he deserves to based on his name. Unless Reggie Bush slips to around the 5th or 6th round, there are simply too many issues surrounding him to make him a good value pick. Bush will be a high risk/high reward player for fantasy owners this season.
RB Pierre Thomas, --- - Quality Backup
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Pierre Thomas should take over the majority of the carries out of the Saints backfield in 2009. Thomas had an amazing finish to the 2008 season in which he amassed over 100 total yards in five of his last six games and added nine touchdowns in those six games. While he is not going to average 1.5 touchdowns per game in 2009, he should still be an effective runner if given the chance. With Reggie Bush returning from an injury, there is a question about the amount of playing time Thomas will receive. He should lead the Saints in carries, but Bush will cut into his work and take the majority of the third down work out of the backfield. Fantasy owners should monitor any news coming out of Saints camp to try to decipher just how much each back will play once the season starts. For now, fantasy owners should view Thomas as no more than a third running back for their fantasy teams.
WR Marques Colston, --- - Solid/Safe Pick
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Coming off an injury plagued 2008 (and offseason knee surgery), Marques Colston will look to regain his status as a top ten fantasy wide receiver in 2009. Colston will be given every opportunity to accomplish this feat as the Saints should throw the ball about as much as any other team in the league. When Colston returned to health at the end of 2008, he scored ten or more fantasy points in five of his last six games, and this success should continue in 2009. Drew Brees is extremely comfortable throwing to Colston (especially in the red zone) and should continue to look for Colston throughout the 2009 season. Colston should be one of the top ten wide receivers drafted in fantasy drafts and will live up to his draft status this season.
