Saints @ 49ers
Final Score: 49ers 16 – Saints 10
Writer: Brett Ford (@FadeThatMan)
The Saints and 49ers each gave (most of) their starters some run in this one as we wrapped up Preseason Week Two with a primetime game. Finally, we got to watch some names that we’re excited about for fantasy purposes go out and perform as Chris Olave, Brock Purdy and Taysom Hill all saw live action on Sunday night. Let’s dig in.
Three Up
- Taysom Hill – He’s going to get red zone touches this season and the Saints are finding new ways to get him the ball.
- Josh Dobbs – Dobbs showed the experience and versatility necessary to earn the QB2 role, and frankly, he would be a must-add waiver claim in this offense if Purdy were to get hurt.
- Jamaal Williams – Ran hard, looked good but got his goal line touchdown vultured by New Orleans’ favorite son (Taysom Hill).
Two Down
- Spencer Rattler – He looked shaken by defensive pressure and lost a fumble.
- Ronnie Bell – Despite his game experience last year, he didn’t look sharp.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Derek Carr: 7/9, 47 Yards
Carr and most of the first-team offense made their debut on Sunday night, and went through the motions more than anything else. Carr was quoted on the sidelines after he left, saying that the offense they were running was extremely vanilla, but that it was good to be out on the field with the guys and move the football. Carr led a 16-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that lasted 8:17 to give the Saints an early lead, going 5-for-6 for 42 yards on the drive.
Spencer Rattler: 4/8, 27 Yards | 3 Carries, 5 Yards, Fumble (lost)
Rattler looked, well, rattled on most of his snaps. He seemed affected by the pressure generated by the 49ers defense and was sacked twice and lost a fumble while completing just 50% of his passes. The throws he did complete were mostly short-yardage plays and didn’t showcase any real arm talent.
Jake Haener: 7/13, 76 Yards | 1 Carry, 2 Yards
Haener came in for the final bit of the game and almost led the Saints to a game-winning scoring drive. He connected with his receivers on a handful of intermediate throws in the four-minute drill at the end of the game, giving the Saints a chance to pull ahead in the final seconds. Haener’s last-ditch attempt on fourth down was a ball to the end zone, but it was underthrown in the direction of A.T. Perry and fell incomplete for a turnover on downs. He and Rattler are still in a tough battle for QB2, though if I were a New Orleans fan, I wouldn’t be comfortable with either under center.
Running Back
Jamaal Williams: 5 Carries, 32 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards
Williams ran well between the tackles and even got a sweet lead block from Taysom Hill out of the fullback position. On the one drive where the first-team offense got into the red zone, Hill vultured Williams’ touchdown opportunity with a one-yard run for a score. It will be interesting to see what Williams’ role will be once Alvin Kamara is back on the field.
Jamaal Williams: BOWLING BALL pic.twitter.com/iYNmA1FTRi
— Trizzy Trace (@tracegirouard48) August 19, 2024
Jordan Mims: 10 Carries, 37 Yards
Mims has done just about all he can to make Saints fans forget all about Kendre Miller. With Miller missing more time due to injuries, Mims has stepped up in his place with some solid rushing. It looked as if Mims got into the end zone on the play before Hill got in, but was ruled down by contact just short.
James Robinson: 5 Carries, 27 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 Yards
Robinson showed off his dynamic nature out of the backfield with seven touches for 39 yards. Once upon a time, Robinson was a babyface darling running back in Jacksonville. Now he’s fighting tooth and nail just to claim a roster spot. He could catch on in New Orleans where there’s not much depth at the position.
Jacob Kibodi: 6 Carries, 10 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Taysom Hill: 5 Carries, 21 Yards, TD
Okay so we listed Hill in the wide receiver/tight end section, since that’s his position in fantasy football, but he got five carries and wasn’t targeted once in the passing game? So not only did Hill line up in the backfield as the halfback and rush for some nice gains, he also lined up at fullback in I-formation on multiple occasions. He sprung Jamaal Williams with a nice block in the second level and then ran in a one-yard touchdown from the fullback spot as well. The Saints have proved time and time again that regardless of where Hill is, he’s going to get red zone opportunities.
Saints give it to Taysom Hill at FB to punch it in! Man lives in the end zone!#BYUFootball | #Saints
— Cougs in the Pros đ¤đź (@BYUpros) August 19, 2024
Chris Olave: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 32 Yards
Olave got some snaps in the first quarter, allowing him to shake off the rust and connect with his quarterback in live game action. To the surprise of no one, Olave made a few good catches, including a 19-yard strike on a deep crossing route. He’s ready for the year and if Carr can stay clean, Olave should have a good season.
Chris Olave moving the âď¸ pic.twitter.com/r40tZOpEtc
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) August 19, 2024
Foster Moreau: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Moreau was out there with the first team and will likely be the primary blocking tight end with Hill and Juwan Johnson both hogging the tight end targets and pass-catching opportunities.
A.T. Perry: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 24 Yards
Perry was the favorite target of the second-team pass catchers and reeled in a pair of receptions on the final drive of the game. On the Saints’ final offensive snap, Haener targeted Perry in the end zone. The ball was underthrown, but Perry should have done a better job of tracking back to it, either drawing a DPI penalty or going up over the defender to make the catch.
Mason Fairchild: Â 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 31 Yards
Fairchild’s catches and yardage all came in the late-game snaps, which indicates that there isn’t much to stock to take here despite the fact that he’d led the team in receiving.
Bub Means: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Not sure this guy will ever be fantasy-relevant but he does have one of the coolest names in the league.
Equanimeous St. Brown: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Speaking of cool names…
Cedrick Wilson Jr.: Â 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Wilson was on the field with the first-team offense and could be in the rotation with Olave and Shaheed as the top guys.
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Brock Purdy: 2/6, 11 Yards
It was his first preseason action and it wasn’t that good, but it really doesn’t mean anything. Purdy and the 49ers will be fine come week one.
Josh Dobbs: 12/21, 133 Yards | 3 Carries, 25 Yards, TD
Dobbs looked like he was ready to take the 49ers offense to the moon. The “Pass-tronaut” changed the tenor of the game when he entered, leading the 49ers on three consecutive scoring drives to close out the first half. His best drive was the 11-play, 80-yard sequence to close out the first half. He completed three passes, including a look connection to Cowing for 38 yards, and then finished the drive with a rushing touchdown, punching in a read option rush for a score.
Brandon Allen: 7/10, 36 Yards
Allen was accurate from the pocket but didn’t push the ball downfield at all, averaging just over five yards per completion.
Tanner Mordecai: 4/6, 44 Yards | 2 Carries, -2 Yards
Mordecai put together some good throws to give himself a nice film reel to send to other teams when he gets cut. He might stick on the 49ers practice squad, but Purdy and Dobbs make a darn good 1-2 combination.
Running Back
Matt Breida: 7 Carries, 24 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 25 Yards
Breida looked spry in his return to the Bay Area, gaining 49 yards on just nine touches. He caught a quick swing pass out of the backfield for good yardage and ran well in space when he had the chance. He ought to make this team and could be a third-down back to reduce McCaffrey’s usage if need be.
â¤ď¸đ pic.twitter.com/bV8UVGDEub
— Matt Breida (@MattBreida) August 19, 2024
Cody Schrader: 7 Carries, 15 Yards | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
The starting running back on Sunday night, Schrader was not as efficient as his counterparts, nor was he as explosive. He did get an end zone target as Dobbs was flushed out of the pocket, but couldn’t pull in the off-target throw for a score.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 2 Carries, 12 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jacob Cowing: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 51 YardsÂ
Cowing paired well with Josh Dobbs as the two connected for several passes, including a 38-yard over-the-shoulder grab that set up San Francisco’s touchdown late in the first half. Cowing could be a sleeper to make this team out of camp.
I still maintain that Jacob Cowing is better than Ricky Pearsall. pic.twitter.com/CmoAF3wIh7
— Christian Williams (@CWilliamsNFL) August 19, 2024
Cameron Latu: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 YardsÂ
Ronnie Bell: 7 Targets, 2 Receptions, 15 YardsÂ
Danny Gray: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 13 YardsÂ
All three of these pass-catchers had relatively poor showings, particularly Bell who saw game action last season when Deebo and Aiyuk missed time with injury. Latu and Bell each had bad drops while all three receivers’ stocks seemed to drop on Sunday night.
Trent Taylor: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 12 YardsÂ
Taylor was out with the first-team offense for the beginning of the game but seemed to have trouble creating separation. He let a touchdown catch slip through his fingers late in the second quarter (though it may have been tipped slightly by a linebacker underneath).
Trent Taylor is cooked đ pic.twitter.com/75z2Jx6xTe
— Christian (@ChristianR_Vill) August 19, 2024
Brayden Willis: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 24 YardsÂ
Willis was out there with the first-team offense as George Kittle watched from the sideline. Willis ended up catching Purdy’s first pass as well as two others to finish the day with three catches. He’s clearly more of a pass-catching guy than Eric Saubert, though it’s unclear which the 49ers need more behind Kittle.
Jake Tonges: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 YardsÂ
Another tight end who could potentially make the roster, Tonges has been getting buzz at camp and caught all three of his targets on Sunday night. Though he likely won’t be fantasy-relevant, he could make the squad.