New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed posted strong efficiency numbers in limited opportunities as a rookie and is now getting a more consistent quarterback to work with. Fantasy football managers often target Year 2 players to take a big leap forward, and the big-play potential of Shaheed is difficult to ignore.
Behind in research? Get a trade offer in your dynasty or redraft league? Not sure who to start or sit this week? Leverage PFN’s FREE fantasy tools — our Fantasy Football Draft Kit, Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Calculator, and Start/Sit Optimizer! Put the finishing touch on your A+ draft with 1 of our 425+ fantasy football team names.
Rashid Shaheed’s Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
Derek Carr steps in for Jameis Winston as the leader of this Saints offense, serving as an upgrade when it comes to projectable consistency in this offense. As far as target competition goes, that’s where things get interesting.
Chris Olave is a star and will attract plenty of attention — that much we know. Does he offer a similar skill set? Sure, but might that be helpful?
Terry McLaurin and Tyreek Hill both posted top-20 aDOT seasons in 2022 … both had a top-20 aDOT young WR that thrived alongside them in the process.
Michael Thomas should be good to go, but it’s tough to overlook that he is a 30-year-old who has 56 catches on his résumé since the beginning of 2020. Add that to the Alvin Kamara suspension, and we are looking at a pass-catching corps that carries quite a bit of risk.
Is Shaheed a Good Fantasy Pick?
No doubt! At this point in the draft, any player is worth a look, and I love Shaheed’s profile in this Carr-led offense.
Carr’s aDOT:
- 2018-19: 6.38 yards
- 2020-21: 7.78
- 2022: 8.73
Fantasy managers: “I like Olave and Shaheed, I just need Carr to keep chucking it deep”
Carr: “I got you” https://t.co/F03H6DfErh
— Kyle Soppe (@KyleSoppePFN) August 10, 2023
It’s not a big sample, but Shaheed did average 17.4 yards per catch last season despite an aDOT that was 16.6% lower than Olave’s.
Carr has completed at least 70% of his short passes (10 or fewer air yards) in each of the past eight seasons, something that should inspire confidence about his ability to maximize Shaheed’s varied skill set.
Invest with confidence at this price tag and watch Shaheed potentially bloom into a Flex option come bye-week season.