Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 27, 2024, 4:05 ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Network: FOX
Writer: Drew DeLuca
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Spencer Rattler: Sit
The Chargers haven’t allowed more than 20 points to any opposing offense so far. With Rashid Shaheed out for the season and Alvin Kamara playing through a broken hand, the thought of Spencer Rattler somehow jolting the Bolts after Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray could not is…well, rather amusing. The Chargers aren’t the stingiest defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but only ten teams have allowed fewer. To his credit, Rattler has averaged 30.5 rushing yards in his two starts. However, a tough matchup in Week 8 is reason enough to keep Rattler — who mostly slots in as a desperation play in 2QB formats — on the bench in single QB and Superflex leagues.
Running Back
Alvin Kamara: Start, FLEX
Kendre Miller: Sit
Jamaal Williams: Sit
Alvin Kamara continues to carry the mail for this offense, but his efficiency has waned while nursing a broken hand and broken ribs with Rattler under center. Kamara’s snap share (57%) was his lowest since Week 1, and he gained only 24 yards on 13 touches. On a positive note, he drew 7+ targets for the fourth consecutive week. As long as Kamara can suit up, he’ll continue to absorb a portion of Shaheed’s vacated targets and should continue to do so as the season rolls on. This should be enough to return value as a FLEX option. Meanwhile, Kendre Miller played 29% of the offensive snaps last week in his first game of the season and appears to have surpassed Jamaal Williams (17%) on the depth chart. Miller makes for a decent speculative add in deeper leagues but shouldn’t be starting in leagues of any size.
Wide Receiver
Chris Olave: Start, WR3
Bub Means: Sit
Mason Tipton: Sit
Cedric Wilson, Jr.: Sit
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Sit
Assuming Chris Olave returns to the lineup (concussion), he should draw enough targets to serve as a viable starting option in Week 8. Much was expected of Bub Means in Week 7 with Olave and Rashid Shaheed both out; hopes were high after hauling in 5 catches on 8 targets for 45 yards and a TD the previous week. Unfortunately, the fifth-round rookie’s maiden voyage in fantasy lineups was disappointing. This week, it’s tough to trust a guy overshadowed a week ago by waiver wire fodder such as Mason Tipton and Cedric Wilson, Jr. Heed the age-old saying: fool me once, shame on Means; fool me twice, shame on me. As for Marquez Valdes-Scantling: don’t do it. The poster child for empty routes, he’ll see few targets even if he manages to log a healthy snap share in his first game as a member of the Saints.
Tight End
Taysom Hill: Streaming Option
Juwan Johnson: Sit
Foster Moreau: Sit
Taysom Hill should return this week, relegating Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau to the waiver wire in most leagues. Hill is worth consideration as a streaming option in a season in which tight end production has even been more difficult to find than in past years. However, in a week with no teams on BYE, odds are you can find a better option.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: Sit
Last week, we pointed out that Justin Herbert had only thrown for over 200 yards in a game once this season. He responded by racking up 349 passing yards and didn’t throw an interception for the fourth straight week. Unfortunately, he also failed to throw a touchdown pass and failed to accrue 10 or more rushing yards for the fifth time in six games. It’s bad enough that we can’t count on the passing volume Herbert enjoyed over the prior three seasons, but he’s on pace for only 96 rushing yards this season. If that trend continues, this will be the first year in which Herbert rushes for fewer than 225 yards. Pass on Herbert until he runs more often or starts to find an open receiver in the end zone once in a while.
Running Back
J.K. Dobbins: Start, RB2
Kimani Vidal: Sit
J.K. Dobbins put up pedestrian numbers in a plus-matchup in Week 7, compiling 66 total yards on 17 touches against an Arizona Cardinals defense that had been quite generous to opposing running backs. Enter the New Orleans Saints, who have allowed the fifth-most points per game to RBs to date. Given that the Chargers are heavy favorites (-7.5) in this one, the projected game script suggests that Dobbins will enjoy a “get-right” game and post solid numbers befitting of an RB2.
Kimani Vidal is an interesting stash if bench size allows, given the run-heavy nature of the Chargers offense. However, he is unplayable for now, as he has yet to take the field for more than 27 percent of the Chargers’ offensive snaps in any game and has averaged only five touches in his two appearances (6 in Week 6; 4 in Week 7). Some expect Vidal to see more touches in Week 8, but that would require Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman to deviate from their established pattern of deployment. Dobbins has logged 65 percent or more of the team’s snaps for four straight weeks, leaving scant opportunity for Vidal to showcase the skills and talents that have enticed several scouts and fantasy managers.
Wide Receiver
Ladd McConkey: Start, WR3
Joshua Palmer: Sit
Quentin Johnson: Sit
Ladd McConkey has logged 7+ targets for three consecutive weeks. He’s the only wide receiver that should sniff a fantasy lineup in Week 8, but temper expectations: he has surpassed 50 receiving yards only once this season and has scored only one touchdown since Week 1. McConkey projects as a low-end WR3, an output that’s in line with his finishes in 2 of his last 3 games (WR18, WR44, WR32). Joshua Palmer continues to operate as a low-ceiling possession receiver in a low-volume passing offense. He’ll do as a desperation FLEX option in deep leagues, but he should remain on waivers in traditional 12-team leagues. Quentin Johnson missed Week 7 with an ankle injury, and his absence from Wednesday’s practice is not a good omen for a guy who hasn’t been fantasy-relevant since Weeks 2-3 (and was never fantasy-relevant before then).
Tight End
Will Dissly: Streaming Option
Hayden Hurst: Sit
Last week, we dissed Will Dissly in this space after acknowledging that he was the Chargers’ most prolific option at the tight end position. He proceeded to catch 8 of 11 targets for 81 yards and finished as the TE7. In Week 8, Dissly draws a New Orleans Saints defense that just made Lucas Krull look good. It’s a neutral-to-plus matchup for Dissly, whose snap share continues to rise. However, fantasy managers need to monitor the practice reports, as he sat out Wednesday’s session with a shoulder ailment. Hayden Hurst hasn’t drawn more than 3 targets in a game this season and should remain on waiver wires even if Dissly can’t give it a go on Sunday.