Saints Fantasy Football Week 1 Recap: Saints Stars Struggle

The Saints could not pick up the win against the Arizona Cardinals in their season opener, but that does not mean all hope was lost for fantasy owners invested in New Orleans’ success.

Here is a recap of the Saints’ fantasy production from Week One.

Mark Ingram

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals safety Deone Bucannon in the third quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Saints 31-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Ingram managed to have a solid outing against Arizona, but it was not in the way that most would think. The stifling Cardinals defense allowed Ingram to gain only twenty four rushing yards on nine attempts, less than three yards a carry.

The bulk of Ingram’s value came in the passing game, where he tallied eight catches for ninety-eight yards on nine targets. His yardage total was buoyed by a huge fifty-nine yard catch and run in the middle of the fourth quarter, one he may have been able to score on had it not been for the speedy Tyrann Mathieu.

In standard scoring leagues, Ingram’s yardage was enough to earn eleven points, right around what you would expect of him. In PPR leagues (points per reception), his eight catches vaulted him up to nineteen points on the day, a jump that may not happen again with the return of pass catching back CJ Spiller looming.

It would have been a nice boost for fantasy owners and Saints fans alike if he was able to bust into the end zone once or twice, but it is tough to complain about double digit points. Ingram got the job done in Week One, a claim that no other Saint can really make.

Brandin Cooks

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The hottest Saints fantasy commodity entering the season was wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who was flying off of draft boards in the second or third rounds of most drafts. In Week One, he did not live up to the hype.

Cooks finished the day with four receptions and forty nine yards, which is far from the elite numbers many believe he is capable of producing this season.

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The silver lining here is that Cooks alone is not responsible for the poor performance. A lot of that can be attributed to the defense. Former LSU standouts Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu made life hard for Cooks all throughout the afternoon.

Brees was looking for Cooks a decent amount, targeting him a total of eight times, but the speedy and sticky Cardinals would not let Cooks open up the field.

In fact, it is because of this that Ingram was able to get so many catches out of the backfield: the Saints receivers just could not get open. Even backup running back Khiry Robinson had five catches, meaning that almost half of Brees’ completions on the day were to non wide receivers.

Cooks is the number one option for one of the league’s best quarterbacks, a desirable asset in any fantasy league. However, as seen against the Cardinals, this means Saints opponents will be trying even harder to shut the young receiver down, a possible cause for concern as the season progresses. Cooks will have to fight through these matchups if he wants to establish himself as a top tier receiver in the NFL.

Drew Brees

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) signals during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The man running the show on the field for the Saints was not horrible. But being “not horrible” is not enough if Drew Brees wants to remain a top tier fantasy option.

Brees completed thirty passes on the day for 355 yards, good for third most among all quarterbacks in Week One. However, a large chunk of the yardage came after the catch on all of those dump offs to Ingram and Robinson.

According to ESPN, Brees’ passes traveled an average of 5.3 yards in the air, his lowest in a game since 2012. He did connect with receiver Willie Snead for a sixty three yard gain, but other than that he was unable to create much else for his receivers.

Without being able to attack the field vertically, it was tough for Brees and the Saints to score many touchdowns. Despite all of the yardage, Brees only managed one touchdown pass, which was hauled in nicely by Brandon Coleman in the second quarter. He did also have an interception though, which brought his fantasy point total to a “not horrible” sixteen points, good for thirteenth best among all quarterbacks.

Drew Brees is not the thirteenth best quarterback in the NFL. The Cardinals defense is just that good, and he is still adjusting to some new faces on his own team. But he will have to prove in the coming weeks that he is still considered an elite fantasy asset by putting up some elite level numbers.

Josh Hill and Ben Watson

Oct 19, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Lions defeated the Saints 24-23. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Only 8.6 percent of people started either of the Saints’ tight ends this past weekend, a number that could decrease in Week Two.

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Josh Hill and Ben Watson combined for a whopping three receptions for nineteen yards, all courtesy of Watson. Hill, who was started in 7.4 percent of leagues, was not even targeted once.

The Saints had some trouble in the red zone against the Cardinals, a place where former Saints tight end Jimmy Graham made his living. Do not expect either Hill or Watson to fill those massive shoes, but one of them will hopefully emerge as a viable threat to score on that end of the field.

Until more is seen from this Saints offense, try to shy away from starting any of the Saints tight ends.

Brandon Coleman

Sep 13, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman (16) dives to score a 12 yard touchdown as Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) defends during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest surprise in Week One was wide receiver Brandon Coleman, who hauled in Brees’ only touchdown pass and gained forty one yards receiving.

He was targeted seven times by Brees, a higher total than most would expect from a player owned in only seventeen percent of leagues.

However the three targets he could not haul in were dropped passes, all of them inexcusable. If Coleman wants to gain the trust of Brees he will have to convert on the opportunities he is given, or Brees will simply look elsewhere.

Coleman could give the Saints what James Jones gives the Packers: between forty and sixty yards and a few red zone opportunities per game.

If he can continue to produce and cut down on the drops, Coleman could emerge as a breakout flex option in fantasy this season…..

Next: Some Saints That Need to Bounce Back vs. the Buccaneers