Heading into Thursday Night Football, the New Orleans Saints injury report is a mile long, and the wide receiver position is impacted the most. Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) are out, so Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Mason Tipton are in.
Should fantasy football managers start any of them against the Denver Broncos in Week 7, and if so, which ones? We have the insight and projections you need to help you make the best decisions for your lineups.
Bub Means
Means was the standout producer from Week 6 due to the carnage at the WR position for the New Orleans Saints in Spencer Rattler’s first start. The fifth-round rookie led the team in targets (eight) and led the secondary receivers in snap share (69.7%) in the blowout loss to the Buccaneers.
He was a big play threat during his collegiate days, an interesting strength, but more for when Derek Carr is back under center. No Saints players had a double-digit aDOT last week, meaning he will need to post another impressive target share to prove deserving of your trust. It was also encouraging to see him lead the team in slot targets, but that role is in flux as this team adjusts to the rash of injuries.
Means is more of an interesting option moving forward than in Week 7. He is projected to score 8.3 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 3.3 receptions for 36.4 yards and 0.2 touchdowns.
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Wilson Jr. is playing for his third team in four seasons, and while he’s yet to break out, he certainly has the experience edge over these secondary pieces that are being pressed into a greater role. He led the Saints in slot participation in Week 6, and if he can carve out that role, there’s a path to Flex value in the short term.
For his career, Wilson has produced 12.2% over fantasy expectation, and his consistent route running should earn him as good an opportunity to see looks in this offense as anyone. With the most NFL reps under his belt, Wilson should be viewed as the most reliable of the healthy Saint receivers, though his upside is limited.
Wilson is projected to score 4.3 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 1.4 receptions for 17.8 yards and 0.2 touchdowns.
Mason Tipton
Tipton averaged 15.8 yards per catch during a four-year career at Yale, and while he only caught one pass in Week 6, he figures to be more involved this week against a Broncos defense that is down Patrick Surtain (concussion).
Tipton was on the field for 40.9% of the snaps last week, trailing both Bub Means (69.7%) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (53%), but that rate could shoot up if the Saints elect to deploy the shortest of their healthy receivers more in the slot in Week 7.
Last week, 47.5% of Spencer Rattler’s passes traveled no more than five yards downfield, making a chain-moving role next to Alvin Kamara a valuable one and one that this 24-year-old could fill tonight.
Tipton is projected to score 3.3 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 1.1 receptions for 16.2 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
