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As we race toward August, Footballguys.com will examine one team per weekday with our quick-hitting Team Sleepers feature. These players might not be deep sleepers, but we will be highlighting players our staff thinks will surprise this year and outperform their average draft position (ADP).
Go Deeper: See in-depth projections for every Saints player here >>>
This is a weekday series that will stretch through August 1. If you like this and want another, come back the next workday. Another will be here.
Please note that our staff has identified the players listed below. The official Footballguys stance for every Saint can be found on our projections page.
Sleepers on the New Orleans Saints
- TE Juwan Johnson - 5 votes
- WR Rashid Shaheed - 4 votes
- WR Chris Olave - 3 votes
- RB Kendre Miller - 2 votes
- CB Alontae Taylor - 1 vote
- LB Pete Werner - 1 vote
Reasons TE Juwan Johnson Could Be a Sleeper
- Ben Cummins: He signed a 3-year $30.75 million contract extension this offseason. A former wide receiver in college, he’ll benefit from consistent negative game scripts.
- Maurile Tremblay: Often going undrafted, Moore's tight-end-friendly play-action could funnel red-zone targets his way for free.
- David Zacharias: A three-year $30 million deal, seasoned with two coaches known for heavy tight-end usage, may be a recipe for mid-TE2 production.
- Craig Lakins: He's someone I could see rookie quarterback Tyler Shough latching onto. They were college teammates at Oregon, so there's some familiarity built in.
- Colton Dodgson: With the scarcity at tight end, there’s a window for upward movement. Johnson led the Saints in tight end targets last year. The position will be involved in Moore’s passing attack.
Reasons WR Rashid Shaheed Could Be a Sleeper
- Jeff Blaylock: He was the WR17 through the first five games before a knee injury ended his season. The Saints will likely be trailing a lot and throwing the ball frequently, which will easily elevate Shaheed above his ADP.
- Andy Hicks: His speed and ability for long touchdowns make him an underrated prospect considering the issues of other receivers on the roster.
- Sigmund Bloom: He looked like one of the best deep threats in the league before going down. He just needs a competent QB.
- Jeff Bell: Shaheed showcased his credentials as a premier playmaker and should be locked in as a Top 2 target earner.
Reasons WR Chris Olave Could Be a Sleeper
- Jason Wood: Olave was a top-25 receiver in his first two seasons, and remains the clear-cut No. 1 target in an offense that needs reliable playmakers.
- Phil Alexander: Olave’s ADP was WR12 each of the past two years. Now he’s going outside the top 30. The concussions and scary quarterback situation are more than baked in.
- Jeff Haseley: He is not on the cusp of a top-flight fantasy receiver anymore, but he should see decent volume at an ADP discount. As a flex, he has value.
Reasons RB Kendre Miller Could Be a Sleeper
- Meng Song: Miller needs to stay healthy, but at least he no longer has a head coach actively sabotaging him, and Alvin Kamara will turn 30 in July.
- Hutchinson Brown: His early career has been struck by injuries and Dennis Allen, but he's very young, and Alvin Kamara isn't eternal.
Reason CB Alontae Taylor Could Be a Sleeper
- Kyle Bellefeuil: If Taylor primarily plays the nickel or "Star" role for Brandon Staley’s defense, he’ll be an excellent target at cornerback in IDP true-position leagues.
Reason LB Pete Werner Could Be a Sleeper
- Tripp Brebner: IDP gamers have given up on the former 2nd-rounder, but the Saints haven't. He's locked into an LB2 role in a zone-heavy scheme that will propel him well over 100 tackles for the first time in his career.
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