Remember when the Saints offense looked like a juggernaut this season after rolling past the Panthers and Cowboys in the first two weeks of the season? That seems like about 100 years ago, and since then, the team has lost seven straight games and cost their head coach his job. Turning things around will be tough with multiple injuries to overcome, but there’s still some fantasy life to be had in the wreckage of this offense, and I think Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($3,900) has a chance to make an impact over the next several weeks with Chris Olave (concussion), Bub Means (ankle) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) all on IR and Cedrick Wilson Jr. (shoulder) also out for this week.
He’s definitely not a sure thing, but here’s why I think MVS has a chance to be a great stash for the weeks ahead:
Making the case for Marquez Valdes-Scantling
We know that Derek Carr ($5,300) can throw the ball. He’s been a successful high-yardage, high-pass attempts producer in the past. He’s averaging over 200 yards per game in his six games this season. Last year, he totaled 3,878 passing yards in his first year with the Saints and he had four straight seasons with over 4,000 passing yards with the Raiders.
With Carr flinging the rock, Kubiak will be able to be more aggressive like he was earlier in the season instead of having to dial things back for rookie Spencer Rattler. With Kubiak’s scheme and Carr’s arm, the potential is there for a pass-catcher to produce–the problem is there aren’t many pass-catchers left.
Olave suffered his second concussion of the season in Week 9 and is expected to be placed on IR, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He could be done for the season along with receiver Rashid Shaheed, who has been out for the year since Week 6. Rookie Bub Means broke out for a minute but also landed on IR with an ankle injury. Last week after Olave left, Cedrick Wilson Jr. played more snaps than any other receiver but has also been ruled out for Week 9 with a shoulder injury.
To reinforce their receiving corps, the Saints signed Valdes-Scantling after he was cut by the Bills. In his six games in Buffalo, MVS had caught two of nine targets for 26 yards in six appearances. Before joining the Bills, Valdez-Scantling played two seasons in Kansas City, including one of the best years of his career in 2022, when he hauled in 42 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a big year with Green Bay in 2020 with 690 passing yards and six touchdown catches.
The future potential of Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Saints really have no other proven wide receiver options available. The only other active receivers on the roster are Mason Tipton ($4,500) and Jermaine Jackson ($3,100). Jackson has never even been targetd by an NFL pass and Tipton has 14 catches for only 99 yards this season. Last week, he failed to haul in any of his three targets.
The Saints offense will definitely rely on Alvin Kamara ($8,100) and tight ends Taysom Hill ($4,000) and Juwan Johnson ($3,300) to catch plenty of passes, but Valdes-Scantling has a wide-open opportunity in front of him to step up into a prominent role for an offense that should score points coming down the stretch.
Looking ahead, the Saints have the Falcons and Browns in the next two weeks befor their bye week in Week 12. In Week 13, he returns with a top-10 WR matchup against the Rams before games with the Giants and Commanders. In the last two weeks of the fantasy season, he’ll go to Green Bay on Monday Night Football just before Christmas and finish with a good matchup against the Raiders.
What to do with Marquez Valdes-Scantling
In season-long leagues, if you have an extra roster spot after moving a player to IR or are looking to get ahead of possible bye week issues later, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is almost universally available and can be a good stash if he steps into an involved role. He’s not a sure thing but is worth a speculative stash.
If you don’t have space to make the move now, at least keep a very close on his snap share and targets this week to see if he and Carr can form a solid enough connection to make him a value play gonig forward.
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