2025 Draft Guide: New Orleans Saints

Coaching History: Last Three Years

Head Coach: Kellen Moore (PHI ’24, LAC ’23, DAL ’22)
Offensive Coordinator: Doug Nussmeier (PHI ’24, LAC ’23, DAL ’22)
2024 Record: 5-12

Team Summary

Kellen Moore is set to make his anticipated head coaching debut with the Saints. For the past few years, Moore has been linked to head coaching vacancies. However, until now, he had always passed on the opportunities available. He’ll have his work cut out for him, as the Saints make the decision between starting the season with Spencer Rattler, rookie Tyler Shough, or Jake Haener.

The Saints will not be a good offensive team, and outside of Alvin Kamara, who is buoyed by the spectre of nearly unlimited volume as the only reliable option on the team, fantasy managers are likely to be holding their noses while they select anyone from New Orleans. Sure, they have Chris Olave and speedster Rashid Shaheed but having good WRs doesn’t help if the QBs can’t get them the ball.

On the bright side, there are a few good QB prospects expected to be available in the 2026 NFL draft, so, for any Saints fans reading this, keep your head up! Better days are ahead!

2024 Ranks (2023 Rank)

• Points: 24th (9th)
• Yards: 21st (14th)
• Passing Attempts: 16th (9th)
• Passing Yards: 23rd (11th)
• Passing TDs: 20th (8th)
• Rushing Attempts: 21st (10th)
• Rushing Yards: 14th (21st)
• Rushing TDs: 15th (18th)

2024 Positional Market Share

Alvin Kamara already dominated rushing opportunities, holding a 5:1 advantage over the next closest RB. Now Jamaal Williams leaves his 10.8% rush share and Taysom Hill will continue recovering from injury and won’t be around to claim his 8.8% from last year. Will we see Kamara near a 60% rush share? Or will one of the backup RBs stake a claim to a role?

The Saints’ 2024 target distribution probably isn’t worth a whole lot. The top two WRs didn’t play after the first 9 weeks of the season. Taysom Hill was lost to injury early as well. You just don’t see a team led in targets by a RB very often, so savor this oddity of this visual and hats off to Alvin Kamara.

Depth Chart:

• QB: Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, Jake Haener
• RB: Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• WR: Chris Olave (X), Rashid Shaheed (Z), Brandin Cooks (Slot), Cedrick Wilson, Mason Tipton
• TE: Juwan Johnson, Foster Moreau
  • Bold – Fantasy relevant
  • Highlighted – Priority target

Player Breakdowns

Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough, and Jake Haener, QB

It would be surprising if any of the QBs were able to hold the starting job for the entire season. Do not draft these players unless desperate in a 2QB league. None possess the consistency needed to keep the offense operating smoothly, and should only be used as a last resort.

Kamara signed a 2-year extension during the offseason, signaling the Saints’ commitment to keeping him as their lead RB. The offensive environment is not good, with questionable QB play and questionable OL play. However, he should get plenty of volume as the only proven RB on the team. Not only will he dominate on the ground, but he will be a mainstay in the passing game, so there is upside for spike weeks, but with the expected lack of scoring, even the high volume he will receive may not be able to make Kamara a RB1.

Olave is a super talented young WR. He has had terrible luck the last couple years, as he has battled injuries (recurring concussions) and a poor offensive environment. Thing aren’t looking like they’ll turn around in 2025, but if he can stay healthy, he has the talent to put up a better finish than his ADP of WR34.

Shaheed is a speedster, boasting legitimate 4.38 speed. It is being noted during training camp, that not only is his speed back as he recovers from injury, but his route running is significantly improved as well. If he can add another dimension to his game to work towards being a complete receiver, his appeal grows significantly. He should be targeted in Best Ball leagues, where you don’t have to guess when he’ll hit the big plays, but in managed leagues, his WR54 ADP accurately reflects the headaches that will come with trying to determine when to start the speedy WR.

Johnson has yet to finish as a TE1 in his first 5 seasons in the NFL. That won’t change this year, and he should only be considered in deep leagues, as a player with a safe role. However, the lack of offensive firepower for the Saints sap any semblance of upside, and he is a true floor play for those looking to avoid a 0 in their TE spot.

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