The New Orleans Saints have almost made it to the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, but there have been a few bumps and bruises, especially when factoring in players' health and how that weighs in on their fantasy football outlooks.
The Saints' short-term perspective is in flux, beginning with Week 1 at the Detroit Lions (Sept. 13, 1 p.m. ET, Fox) because of an injured running back room and injuries to rookies Jordyn Tyson (WR) and Oscar Delp (TE).
Here's what to look out for in fantasy for the next few weeks as the Saints' offense sorts its health issues out, while preparing for its first full season with quarterback Tyler Shough as the starter.
Use of RBs in passing game
The Saints have three offensive players who can be relied on to take the majority of the snaps every week: Shough, running back Travis Etienne Jr. and wide receiver Chris Olave.
Etienne spent all of training camp with the first team and has experience shouldering most of the load after coming off a 260-carry season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. He will undoubtedly take the majority of the carries, especially with Alvin Kamara hurt due to a sprained MCL he suffered on Aug. 18.
The interesting thing will be how the Saints utilize their running backs in the passing game. That was Kamara's bread and butter for years. Etienne has that ability as well, even though he has never done it with the same volume Kamara had in his early NFL years.
Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said he feels some people had the perception Etienne was a receiver/running back earlier in his career because of his usage. He emphasized he sees an "elite running back" in him, despite his ability to catch passes as well.
"Great instincts. He has great vision, great contact balance," Nussmeier said. "I just watched his tape in Jacksonville. There's a lot of things this guy does at an elite level, just a true tailback. So I think that maybe is a little bit of a misnomer about him. He does have good hands. Obviously he's been a big addition for us. We're really excited to see him go out and get to play."
ESPN's Dan Graziano recently made a bold prediction that the Saints could have a top-10 rushing attack after finishing 28th in rushing yards per game last season. There's certainly reason to be optimistic about an improved unit after the Saints signed Etienne and David Edwards, who was one of the top offensive linemen on the market.
High-volume situations
With Tyson, the Saints' 2026 first-round pick, on short-term injured reserve, the team's passing offense presents an interesting challenge for fantasy managers. Devaughn Vele is the presumed No. 2 wide receiver in Tyson's absence, but there is no guarantee the No. 2 or No. 3 wideouts get a high volume of targets behind Olave.
Tight end Juwan Johnson saw the second-most targets last season followed by Rashid Shaheed (who was traded mid-season), Kamara (who missed the final six games in 2025 with injury) and then Vele, who came on late in the season because of injuries. Vele had 25 receptions to Olave's 100.
Johnson and the newly signed tight end Noah Fant project be a big part of the passing game (Delp is injured), but it's Johnson who will probably receive the highest volume of targets. Both Johnson and Fant worked out with Shough in California this offseason, but Shough has trust in Johnson, who he was teammates with at Oregon in 2019.
The running back position is tricky with so many injuries. Kamara has at least a month until he returns to the field, likely missing the first two games or more, depending on when he returns to practice.
Running backs Kendre Miller (unspecified injury) and Audric Estime (ankle) are also dealing with injuries. Estime could be a key fantasy pickup if he returns to practice by next week should Miller remain out.
Saints players as late-round fliers
Wide receiver Barion Brown, the Saints' sixth-round pick this year, might have flown under the radar nationally, but he quietly had a very good camp. That was enough to earn him a spot as one of the three starting running backs on the depth chart posted on the Saints official website this week.
Brown was drafted with the reputation that he could be an NFL kick returner after returning six kickoffs for touchdowns at Kentucky and LSU. But he was given opportunities as a wide receiver early on in camp and took advantage. With Tyson out of the lineup for a while, that means Brown and fellow rookie Bryce Lance (fourth-round pick) are going to get regular-season opportunities in the backfield.
That training camp progress needs to translate to the regular season, but it's worth keeping an eye on one of the two rookies to see if the Saints utilize them in the regular rotation. Brown is listed above Lance as the top kick returner on the depth chart, and while he didn't return many kicks in training camp, that will most likely change come Week 1.
"Those two guys have done an outstanding job of coming in and learning the system," Nussmeier said. "They've been productive players when they've been in the game. Obviously it's a new game when you get to the regular season versus the preseason, so they'll need to elevate their game again, but we're going to count on those guys to help us win."
