Kickoff: Sunday, January 9th at 4:25 PM ET
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in New Orleans, LA
Betting Odds: NO, -4.5, 40.5 Total on Tipico Sportsbook
Network: Fox
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Taysom Hill (Start, QB1)
Taysom Hill and the Saints need this win to get into the playoffs. It won’t come easy as the Falcons already own a 27-25 win over the Saints. One stat in Hill’s favor is that the Falcons have allowed the third-most rushing yards (413) and the second-most rushing TDs (4) to quarterbacks. While Hill has only gotten 78 yards in the past two games, he should have an opportunity to run wild all over the Falcons. Look for Hill to have a QB1 performance.
Taysom Hill hits Alvin Kamara for the @Saints TD!
📺: #CARvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/0AGLQ1cgFf— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara (Start, RB1)
🎙 @A_kamara6 on the local media voting him as the Jim Finks Good Guy Award winner (which recognizes a player for his cooperation with reporters) for the second straight year ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/hphtyCbZhI
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 31, 2021
Alvin Kamara had 104 yards and a TD in the Week 9 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. This game should be a lot like the first one. Even though Kamara has been held under 100 yards in his last three games, this game has the playoff feel to it. So I’m putting in Kamara against the Falcons, who have given up the ninth most fantasy points/ game (19.9) to running backs. Kamara should be a locked and loaded RB1 this week.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Jameis goes deep for Marquez Callaway! #Saints
📺: #NYGvsNO on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/RuTjEHF7R7— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
Marquez Callaway (Start, WR3/flex), Deonte Harris (Sit), Trequan Smith (Sit, Adam Trautman (Sit)
Marquez Callaway is coming off 24 targets in the past three games and has looked to establish himself as the go-to guy for the Saints next year. Last week, Callaway had a big six catch 97-yard day; look for him to be the only viable WR3/Flex in this matchup for the Saints. Deonte Harris made his return in Week 17 but didn’t make a significant impact with two catches and 23 yards. While a breakout performance isn’t a longshot, I wouldn’t want to bank on Harris catching a 50-90 yard TD unless I have no other options. Both Tre’Quan Smith and Adam Trautman are also sitting for me this week.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Matt Ryan (Start, QB2)
This is an absurd call in #Bills–#Falcons
Matt Ryan, obviously diving for the end zone, is ruled to be giving himself up. And then he taunted after scoring the touchdown, which was overturned, so they then lose 15 yards after the overturn.
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) January 2, 2022
Matt Ryan should have scored on a big run last week, but regardless he’s been a major disappointment this year. In the Week 9 meeting with the Saints, Ryan had his best game going for 343 and 2 touchdowns. Ryan has been relatively good against his NFC South rivals, minus the Carolina Panthers. In 26 games against the Saints, he’s averaged 296 yards and 1.8 TDs a game. While it’s hard to trust Ryan putting him in at Superflex wouldn’t be the worst idea. After all, he’s got nothing to lose in this game and can ruin the Saints’ chances of getting into the Playoffs.
Running Backs
Cordarrelle Patterson (Sit), Mike Davis (Sit)
Playing the Saints, I don’t trust either running back. The Saints have boasted one of the more formidable run defenses in the NFL, allowing the third-fewest yards (1,164) and second-fewest TDs (6). Cordarrelle Patterson seems like he’s been dealing with an injury because ever since the 49er game, he’s been looking less and less explosive. On the other hand, Mike Davis had two touchdowns last week and looked like the fresher back. Like I stated earlier, though, I’m not putting much stock into either in this game; both sit for me.
Mike Davis TD pic.twitter.com/Jw24bEvs22
— Barstool Atlanta (@Barstool_ATL) January 2, 2022
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Russell Gage (Start, WR3/Flex), Tajae Sharpe (Start, WR3/flex), Olamide Zaccheaus (Sit), Kyle Pitts (Start, TE1)
Russell Gage MOSSED 'EM. #DirtyBirds
📺: #ATLvsSF on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/b3LDeJQ2Jt— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021
Russell Gage and Kyle Pitts are the only players on this receiving core that are worth starting. Pitts has pulled together a good stretch of four games with at least 60 yards, and Gage has been targeted 22 times in the past three weeks. The rest of the receivers are sitting for me outside of these two.