The New Orleans Saints are dead last in the NFC South, sitting at 1-7 midway through the 2025 regular season. As a result, the Saints could become sellers with the November 4 trade deadline fast approaching. One of the names continuing to bounce around the rumor mill is Rashid Shaheed.
If you own the fourth-year wide receiver in fantasy football, where Shaheed ends up could have massive implications on your season. Here’s a quick breakdown of the situation, as well as the broader implications post-deadline.
Rashid Shaheed Trade Rumors
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported October 25 that league sources believe Shaheed “can be had for the right price.” Teams are calling New Orleans to show interest in both Shaheed and Chris Olave, while veteran Brandin Cooks is a “candidate to be traded” as well.
With the Saints trying to sign Olave to a long-term extension, however, it seems unlikely that they will ship out their No. 1 receiver. As for Shaheed, Schefter reported that New Orleans’ asking price is a third-round draft pick. Considering Shaheed is a 27-year-old pending free agent, that price may have to come down for a deal to get across the finish line.
How will the Saints’ QB situation impact fantasy?
Amid all the trade rumors, the Saints announced Tuesday that Spencer Rattler would no longer be their starting quarterback. Coach Kellen Moore benched Rattler against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, replacing him with rookie Tyler Shough midway through the third quarter.
Shaheed is currently WR29 in fantasy, doing most of his damage with Rattler at the helm. He caught three of four targets for 30 yards on Sunday before the change. Once Shough was running the offense in garbage time, Shaheed totaled six catches on eight targets, taking them for 45 yards.
On the whole this season, Shaheed is averaging 11.6 PPR fantasy points per game. He topped out at 21.4 in Week 5, clearing double digits three times. Outside of his 6.8-point outing against the Patriots in Week 6, Shaheed scored at least 8.0 PPR fantasy points in every other game. Based on how often Shough fed him down the stretch in Week 8, Shaheed should still have a high floor as long as he stays in New Orleans. A Cooks trade could even open up more opportunities for Shaheed.
Rashid Shaheed Ideal Landing Spots
According to Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos have been the most aggressive teams in terms of pursuing a receiver on the trade market.
Both Shaheed and DK Metcalf are home-run hitting vertical threats, so their fit alongside each other might be sketchy. At the same time, Shaheed would easily slot into the depth chart above Calvin Austin III and give Aaron Rodgers another wideout to target in an oddly tight end-heavy offense. Shaheed’s speed, Rodgers’ reliance on quick throws and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s tendency to get guys in space could work in the receiver’s favor. Metcalf also proved he could coexist with Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the Seahawks, albeit in a different offensive scheme.
In Buffalo, Shaheed would have to compete with Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, not to mention Curtis Samuel at the end of the roster. Joshua Palmer could soon return from knee and ankle injuries as well. The Broncos boast a similarly crowded wide receiver room, with Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr. and Pat Bryant flanking Courtland Sutton. Mims is in concussion protocol, though, and Bryant is a rookie who has only very recently taken on a consistent role.
Between those three teams, the Steelers would probably present Shaheed to best opportunity to take a leap forward. He would have a decently high ceiling with the Bills and Broncos, but a lower floor than he has right now with the Saints. The Patriots and Buccaneers have also come up as potential fits for Shaheed, just ones that carry similar fantasy drawbacks as Buffalo and Denver.
A trade from New Orleans to Pittsburgh could vault Shaheed to WR2 status. But it he went anywhere else, he would probably be the same fringe FLEX play he is with the Saints.
