We are proud to be among the first, if not the first, to publish full projections for the upcoming season, going live just days after the Super Bowl. Publishing detailed projections in early February comes with trade-offs, not the least of which is a near-total lack of clarity on how free agency, cap transactions, and the NFL draft will reshape rosters.
We've been updating our projections in near real time, including during the recent onslaught of free-agent transactions. This version will remain largely stable until we can layer in the April NFL draft, but stable projections don't mean settled debates.
We have a staff of sharp analysts with sharp takes of their own, so I thought it would be worthwhile to solicit their views on the key coin-toss situations that will shape each team's outlook in the coming months. These are important questions where reasonable, informed people can credibly land in very different places. I asked my colleagues to weigh in with one assumption: they were answering strictly through the lens of a standard 0.5-PPR redraft league.
New Orleans Saints Coin-Toss Questions
- Was Shough QB12 Pace in 2025 a Fluke or the Real Deal?
- Etienne: Does It Matter If Kamara Is a Saint?
- Is Johnson Finally a Must-Draft Tight End?
- Can You Trust Olave as Your WR1?
Chris Olave finally enjoyed his breakthrough, finishing WR8 last season. But he was WR4 with Tyler Shough under center. Do you rank Olave as a Top-12 option this season? Are you comfortable with him as your top receiver?
Maurile Tremblay: Yes, I'd rank Olave as a top-12 receiver, probably in the back half of that tier. He just posted 100 catches, 1,163 yards, and nine touchdowns, earned All-Pro honors, and proved he could produce even with multiple quarterbacks. With Shough now entrenched, plus better support around the offense, the setup is favorable. His concussion history still adds some risk.
Andy Hicks: I'm not comfortable relying on him as my top receiver, but he's a solid fallback if better options emerge at other positions. Ranking him in the WR10–14 range feels about right. The biggest concern is his concussion history, something defenders are well aware of — one mistimed throw or awkward hit could sideline him. That said, it was encouraging to see him play all but one game in 2025. The blood clot that kept him out of Week 18 was alarming at the time, but it's not expected to be an ongoing issue.
Jeff Haseley: I have Chris Olave as a top-10 wide receiver. His chemistry with Shough was undeniable — WR4 during the stretch with Shough under center. He is absolutely a WR1 fantasy receiver that you can build around.