Dynasty Capsule: New Orleans Saints
As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re again going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.
The Saints have had one of the best offenses in the NFL for years, but haven’t contributed nearly as much on the fantasy gridiron. Let’s go to Bourbon Street for today’s Dynasty Capsule.
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees
Although he turned 35 in January, Brees is still an elite fantasy quarterback. Over the last three seasons, he’s averaged more than 5,200 yards and 42 touchdowns and finished in the top-three among passers in all fantasy leagues, no matter the scoring setup. Any dynasty owner with Brees on their roster should think long and hard about whether or not they’re a contender going into 2014. If not, it’s absolutely time to consider trading the Saints’ signal caller. The window is closing on his time as a top-tier fantasy option. On the other hand, if you’re planning on making a run at a title in the next two years, it’s perfectly acceptable to ride Brees into the sunset. Just know he’s nearing the end and he’ll hold very little value once his numbers begin to dip.
Ryan Griffin
With Luke McCown scheduled to hit free agency, Griffin is the only quarterback currently under contract behind Brees. An undrafted free agent out of Tulane, he was a four year starter for the Green Wave and has good size at 6’4 and 220 pounds. He was on the Saints’ practice squad for a majority of 2013 until being signed to the active roster late in the season. Depending on if McCown or another veteran is brought in as a backup, the situation in New Orleans is worth monitoring for those in deep dynasty leagues or 2QB leagues.
Running Backs
Pierre Thomas
The Saints are known for spreading the ball out between their tailbacks, so leading the team in carries and rushing yards isn’t all that impressive – Thomas did just that in 2013 when he ran for 549 yards on 147 rushes. Dynasty owners in PPR leagues were more interested in how he contributed to the passing game, setting career highs in receptions (77) and yards (513). Overall, he only scored five times on the season however, which severely limited his fantasy appeal.
Some have suggested Thomas could be released this off-season in an attempt to clear cap space, but he only counts $2.9 million against the cap and is only 29 years old, so I doubt that’ll be the case. That said, he likely had the best season of his career in 2013 so his upside is severely limited, even in PPR leagues.
Darren Sproles
Sproles has been a PPR monster for years, but is coming off a disappointing 2013 season where he caught just  71 passes for 604 yards and only two receiving touchdowns. He added another pair of scores on the ground, but barely cracked the top-25 among tailbacks in PPR leagues. Some have suggested that the end is nearing for Sproles and it’s difficult to suggest otherwise considering his age – he turns 31 in July.
At this point in his career, Sproles holds very little trade value so if you have him rostered, you’re likely stuck with him. In PPR leagues he still holds value as an RB2/flex but his best days are behind him so counting on him as a weekly starter is becoming quite risky.
Mark Ingram
For the first time in his career, Ingram averaged more than four yards per carry in 2013. Due to injuries and the Saints’ insistence on splitting playing time between multiple backs, his carries were limited to only 78 on the season, but he tallied 386 yards (4.9 YPC) and a touchdown in 11 games.
The former first round pick out of Alabama is still only 24 years old and is entering a contract year. Most likely, 2014 will be his last, and perhaps best chance to become a featured NFL tailback. Considering the age of the other options ahead of him on the depth chart and a presumably low price tag, it could be a good time to try to acquire Ingram and keep your fingers crossed for a breakout season.
Khiry Robinson
If it weren’t for Ingram being on the roster, I’d be very excited about Robinson’s prospects going into 2014. He has a good combination of size (6’0 and 220 pounds) and speed. Undrafted out of West Texas A&M before last season, he ran for 224 yards on 54 carries (4.1 YPC) and added a touchdown as a rookie. As it is, dynasty owners should hold onto Robinson with an eye towards 2015. If Ingram is unable to take advantage of his opportunities this year and Thomas and Sproles move after the 2014 season, he could have immense upside a year from now.
Travaris Cadet
In two seasons, Cadet has carried the ball only once in the regular season. He can break tackles and has some wiggle to his game so he does have some upside, but unless one of the elder runners in the Saints’ backfield is released, it’s hard to see Cadet holding onto a roster spot in New Orleans.
Wide Receivers
Marques Colston
Halfway through the 2013 NFL season, many fantasy owners were ready to write off Colston. At that point, he had posted only 27 receptions for 342 yards and a touchdown in seven games and missed the Saints’ week nine matchup with the Jets. In the final eight weeks however, he turned things around by catching 48 balls for 601 yards and four scores. He turns 31 in July and fought knee, back and foot injuries in 2013, but he still knows how to get open and has the trust of Brees so he does still have fantasy appeal.
Most likely, Colston’s best days are behind him. Dynasty owners shouldn’t expect anything more than low-end WR2 numbers going forward and should expect a drop off in production as early as 2014.
Lance Moore
Another receiver who will turn 31 before the season kicks off, Moore is coming off a down season. He caught only 37 passes for 457 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games and played much less than he did the previous two seasons. Scheduled to make $5.1 million, it’s unknown if he’ll be back in The Big Easy in 2014. Even if he is, he shouldn’t be considered anything more than a WR3 or WR4 at this point in his career.
Kenny Stills
If there’s a wideout on the Saints’ roster to be excited about, it’s Stills. He caught 32 passes for 641 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie and proved to be a legitimate deep threat along the way.
Known for his playmaking ability at Oklahoma, he transferred those skills to Sundays after being drafted in the fifth round last year. He possesses top-notch quickness and speed and has excellent hands. With another off-season working with Brees and getting more familiar with the playbook and route-tree, don’t be surprised if he makes a substantial leap forward in 2014. Stills has the potential to become a WR2 in the New Orleans offense and could catch 70-plus passes for 1,200 yards and double digit touchdowns. He’s an excellent trade target this off-season.
Nick Toon
After missing his entire rookie season with a foot injury, Toon caught only four passes in his sophomore season. He got an opportunity to start in week nine with Colston out and botched the chance badly, dropping a beautiful deep ball early in the game and misplaying another pass which led to an interception later on. After that game against the Jets, he wasn’t used much. If Moore isn’t brought back, it’s conceivable Toon could have a bigger role in 2014, but dynasty owners shouldn’t be rushing to acquire the former Badger.
Joe Morgan
Morgan is a speedster who has suffered two knee injuries including a partially torn ACL before the 2013 season. Prior to the injury, many thought he had the potential to do exactly what Stills did this past season, but after missing the entire year, it’s unknown what the Saints have planned for him. He’s worth monitoring going into training camp for those in deep leagues, especially if Moore’s no longer in town.
Chris Givens, Andy Tanner and Charles Hawkins are also on the Saints’ roster and will battle for a roster spot, but unlikely to make a splash for dynasty owners. Robert Meachem is an unrestricted free agent whose time is likely up in New Orleans.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham
This off-season is an interesting one for those who own Graham. Most of you have heard he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and most have heard the Saints are planning on tagging him as their franchise player if they can’t strike a long term deal with the tight end… or is it wide receiver?
If Graham gets tagged, he wants it to be as a wide out rather than a tight end because he’d make $4.5 million more that way – that opens an interesting debate. If the Saints are forced to tag him as a receiver rather than a tight end, should his eligibility in fantasy football change with it?  I don’t know the answer. I do know Graham is the best tight end in fantasy football as of today and most likely the only thing that could change that is if he wasn’t considered a tight end anymore. He’s one of the most sought after dynasty commodities in the game and shouldn’t be traded for anything less than a king’s ransom.
Ben Watson
At 33 years old, Watson isn’t the same player he was when he caught 68 passes for Cleveland in 2010. He’s a quality NFL backup, but has no dynasty upside.
Josh Hill
Hill on the other hand, does have potential. He caught six passes for 44 yards and a touchdown as an undrafted rookie out of Idaho State. In limited snaps in 2013, he displayed good route running skills and an impressive catch radius. He has good hands and looks like a seem-stretching tight end that can block in the mold of Heath Miller. He’s worth a roster spot in deep dynasty leagues.
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