Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Betting Odds: NO -7.5, 42 Total on Oddshark
Network: FOX
New York Giants
QUARTERBACKS
Daniel Jones (Sit)
Big things were expected from Daniel Jones last week, and while he came up smaller than projected, his 39 rushing yards somewhat cushioned the blow for fantasy football managers who plugged him into their lineups. We’re not expecting much from Jones this week against a much tougher New Orleans Saints defense, currently ranked second in the league in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.
Adding injury to insult: leading wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are both hampered by hamstring injuries, and Kenny Golladay is slowed by a bum hip. We’d rather jump into a vat of honey and run through a bear cage than start Jones in Week 4.
RUNNING BACKS
Saquon Barkley (Start, RB2), Devontae Booker (Sit)
The Saints’ defensive line boasts the league’s fifth-best ranking in yards before contact (1.19). This doesn’t bode well for a banged-up Saquon Barkley who was a disappointment in a smash spot last week. We’re starting Barkley as a solid RB2, and this is more of an indictment of leaguewide positional depth than an endorsement of a player in his fourth game back from major knee surgery who has yet to do more than flash here and there.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Kenny Golladay (Start, Flex), Sterling Shepard (Sit), Darius Slayton (Sit), Collin Johnson (Sit), Kadarius Toney (Sit), Evan Engram (Sit), Kyle Rudolph (Sit)
Why torture yourself with this situation? Kenny Golladay is the best bet of the bunch, but he’s dealing with a hip injury. He’s a low-end flex option, if he’s active at all. Neither Sterling Shepard (hamstring) nor Darius Slayton (hamstring) practiced on Wednesday, and we’re staying away from both, even if either is cleared for action on Sunday. Chances are that fantasy managers have better options available to them than former Jacksonville Jaguar Collin Johnson or rookie Kadarius Toney.
Of this entire group of “Sits,” the one we’d most likely consider starting in a pinch is Evan Engram, whose production has yet to match his impressive physical profile. Sure, he should see a steady volume of targets; it’s what the stone-handed physical freak is going to do with them that concerns us. We’d prefer a better, more consistent option, and we’re hoping you have one. We’re also hoping you’re not rostering Kyle Rudolph.
New Orleans Saints
QUARTERBACK
Jameis Winston (Sit)
Despite a rag-tag receiving corps, Jameis Winston is currently tied for fifth in the NFL in passing touchdowns (7) and has thrown “only” two interceptions. However, he ranks 30th in passing yards, and Jacoby Brissett is closing fast, just three yards behind. We don’t see the benefit in starting Winston this week: his ceiling is too low to entice us, and his floor is subterranean.
RUNNING BACKS
Alvin Kamara (Start, RB1), Dwayne Washington (Sit), Tony Jones Jr. (Sit)
There’s only one player on the Saints that we can recommend in good conscience: All-World running back Alvin Kamara, who’s a Top Two option at the position this week. He should see a tremendously large target volume and more than his usual share of carries. We’re steering clear of Dwayne Washington (Sit) and Tony Jones Jr. (Sit). If the Saints have to rely heavily enough on either, it means something’s wrong with Kamara, a scenario that would cause us to ignore the Saints altogether.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Marquez Callaway (Sit), Deonte Harris (Sit), Lil’Jordan Humphrey (Sit), Ty Montgomery (Sit), Chris Hogan (Sit), Juwan Johnson (Sit), Adam Trautman (Sit)
The Giants rank 22nd in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, an indicator that they may be a bit tougher than most believe them to be. The collection of cast-offs assembled by the Saints scares no one, save for the poor, unfortunate fantasy football manager who is forced to start one of them.
The only one of this group worth considering is Marquez Callaway; while he’s not one of our choice players to flex, we certainly see a Top 36 finish as within his range of reasonable outcomes. We can’t say the same for Deonte Harris, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Ty Montgomery, or Chris Hogan.
We’ll also pass on Juwan Johnson or Adam Trautman, although a spike game from one or the other wouldn’t come as a total surprise: the Giants are the fifth-worst team in the league in terms of shutting down opposing fantasy tight ends. Either would make an understandable desperation play for a team in dire need of a warm body at the position.