The Saints ranked seventh in total defense (318.2 YPG) and fourth in scoring defense (19.7 PPG) last season, and DC Dennis Allen is now the new head coach after the retirement of Sean Payton.

Analysis: Ryan Nielesn and Kris Richard will take over DC responsibilities with Allen promoted, but the defensive structure should remain largely the same. The New Orleans D/ST also finished tied-10th in takeaways (25) and eighth in sacks (46) in 2021, and it returns most of his pieces this year. Malcolm Jenkins retired and Marcus Williams moved on to the Ravens, but the defense may be better off at safety given the additions of Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye. The Saints D/ST should once again be a…read more

The Saints allowed 178 yards and 10 points during the Week 17 win over the Panthers and play the Falcons on Sunday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST had seven sacks and two takeaways while giving up only 3.0 yards per play to Carolina. The unit has allowed only 33 total points across the past four games, and also has 17 sacks and five takeaways during that stretch. Atlanta has averaged 16.0 points over his past three contests, and QB Matt Ryan has four touchdowns and five interceptions since Week 9. The Saints D/ST will finish the 2021 regular season as a strong fantasy option in this divisional matchup.

The Saints allowed 259 yards and 13 offensive points during the Week 17 loss to the Dolphins and play the Panthers on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans had zero chance last week with a third-string QB under center in Ian Book, and the D/ST played well enough with three sacks and a takeaway while getting no help from the offense. Taysom Hill is back this week, so it should be business as usual in the Big Easy. Sam Darnold is back as the signal-caller for Carolina, and his turnover issues should provide plenty of opportunities. The Saints D/ST is one of the top options for Week 17.

The Saints allowed 302 yards and zero points during the Week 15 win over the Buccaneers and play the Dolphins on Monday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST continues to excel against QB Tom Brady, and the unit had four sacks and two takeaways while notching a shutout. Miami has been inconsistent over the past few weeks against lesser competition but has won six straight games, with QB Tua Tagovailoa finding his own a bit. The Saints D/ST is a solid option for Week 16 but may be a tad overvalued coming off last week's heroic effort.

The Saints allowed 256 yards and nine points during the Week 14 win over the Jets and play the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Analysis: It wasn't a surprising result, though it was a bit of a shock the New Orleans D/ST didn't manage a takeaway, though it did have three sacks. The unit has seemingly had the number of QB Tom Brady since he joined Tampa Bay, but that should hardly be counted on when evaluating this matchup. The Saints D/ST has struggled to produce since the two sides matched up in Week 8 and is a poor option for Week 15 versus the Bucs.

The Saints gave up 377 yards and 20 offensive points during the Week 13 loss to the Cowboys and play the Jets on Sunday.

Analysis: It wasn't a bad performance from the New Orleans D/ST -- especially since its offense had four turnovers -- but it was a forgettable fantasy effort with one sack and one takeaway. It's been a brutal stretch over the past five games, but playing New York this week is a fantastic opportunity to turn things around. Rookie QB Zach Wilson has struggled taking care of the ball, and the Jets lead the league with 25 giveaways while averaging only 18.1 points per contest. The Saints D/ST is one of the…read more

The Saints surrendered 31 points and 361 yards during the Week 12 loss to the Bills and play the Cowboys on Thursday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST had two takeaways and two sacks but was unable to consistently stop Buffalo's offense, as QB Josh Allen averaged 9.3 yards per pass. The Saints haven't been a productive fantasy defensive since scoring a touchdown against the Bucs in Week 8, and the unit has a tough matchup Thursday as the Cowboys could have back top wideouts CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper (illness).

The Saints allowed 33 offensive points and 380 points during the Week 11 loss to the Eagles and play the Bills on Thursday.

Analysis: Philadelphia attempted only 24 passes and ran for 242 yards, which is significant considering New Orleans is allowing only 3.4 yards per carry this season. The Saints had one takeaway and three sacks, which marks three consecutive contests with poor a poor defensive showing. The Bills managed only 15 points against the Colts last week but remain one of the top offenses in the league. The Saints D/ST is a subpar option on Thanksgiving while going up against QB Josh Allen.

The Saints allowed 264 yards and 23 points during the Week 10 loss to the Titans and play the Eagles on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans gave up only 4.6 yards per play but had two sacks and zero takeaways for the second straight game. Meanwhile, QB Jalen Hurts is playing some of his best ball of the season for Philadelphia, which may also be getting back Miles Sanders (ankle) from injured reserve, while rookie WR DeVonta Smith has four 20-plus yard catches the past two weeks. The Saints D/ST has been trending in the wrong direction and is a mid-tier option for Week 11.

The Saints allowed 27 points and 366 yards during the Week 9 loss to the Falcons and play the Titans on Sunday.

Analysis: Atlanta had only 18 first downs in the contest, but the New Orleans D/ST had minimal fantasy production with two sacks and zero takeaways. The Titans may now be without start RB Derrick Henry (foot), but it put up 21 offensive points during its first contest without him. QB Ryan Tannehill struggled against the Rams last week, but Tennessee still has a strong duo of wideouts with A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. Still, the absence of Henry is a huge detriment to the offense overall. The Saints D/ST…read more

The Saints allowed 421 yards and 27 points during the Week 8 win over the Buccaneers and play the Falcons on Sunday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST had three sacks and three takeaways, including a pick-six from P.J. Williams in the closing minutes to seal the victory. The Saints rank 10th in total defense (344.3 YPG), fourth in scoring (18.3 PPG), tied-20th in sacks (16) and tied-seventh in takeaways (13). Meanwhile, the Falcons are coming off a 13-point effort against the Panthers and are expected to miss WR Calvin Ridley (personal) for a second straight contest. The Saints D/ST is a strong choice for Week 9 given its…read more

The Saints gave up 219 yards and 10 points during the Week 7 win over the Seahawks and play the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans was without a takeaway in the contest but had five sacks while giving up only 4.0 yards per play and 14 first downs. Fortunes flip this weekend, as Tampa Bay enters the game averaging 33.3 points with only nine sacks given up and seven giveaways this year. QB Tom Brady continues to perform near the top of his game, leaving the Saints D/ST as an option to avoid for Week 8.

The Saints rank third in scoring defense (18.2 PPG) and 15th in total defense (354.0 YPG) and play the Seahawks on Monday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST gave up 4.9 yards per play to Washington in Week 5 and had a mediocre fantasy showing with two takeaways and two sacks. Overall the Saints have been a solid defensive unit in 2021, and a matchup with the Seahawks without QB Russell Wilson (finger) and RB Chris Carson (neck) is certainly a favorable outlook. New Orleans also ranks tied-fifth in takeaways (10) but is tied-30th in sacks (eight). The Saints D/ST is a strong option for Week 7 while going up against Geno Smith…read more

The Saints allowed 485 yards and 27 points during the Week 4 loss to the Giants and play Washington on Sunday.

Analysis: Neither defense provided much value in this one, as each teach had one turnover while recording zero sacks. It's a turn-the-page moment for the New Orleans D/ST which performed well over the first three weeks of the season. Washington's offense has fared pretty well with backup QB Taylor Heinicke leading the offense and is averaging 28.3 PPG in the past three contests. TE Logan Thomas (hamstring) is now on injured reserve, leaving WR Terry McLaurin as the lone major threat in the downfield…read more

The Saints allowed 300 yards and 13 points during the Week 3 win over the Patriots and play the Giants on Sunday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST had two sacks and three takeaways, including a pick-six from safety Malcolm Jenkins, while holding New England to 4.3 yards per play. Meanwhile, QB Daniel Jones and the Giants are taking much better care of the ball this season with only two total giveaways, though the offense is averaging only 18.7 PPG. New York's receiving corps could be in serious trouble this weekend, as Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Darius Slayton (hamstring) are both sitting out practice to begin…read more

The Saints allowed 383 yards and 26 points during the Week 2 loss to the Panthers and play the Patriots on Sunday.

Analysis: The New Orleans D/ST didn't have a terrible showing with two sacks and a takeaway, especially considering the offense managed a mere six first downs on the day. The absence of top CB Marshon Lattimore (hand) loomed large, and he worked as a limited participant at practice Wednesday. Rookie QB Mac Jones has found middling success in his first two starts, and the key will be slowing down Damien Harris and James White out of the backfield. This is a solid matchup for the Saints D/ST, especially if…read more

The Saints held the Packers to 229 yards and three points Week 1 and will play the Panthers on Sunday.

Analysis: The dominating performance was a major surprise, as 2020 MVP QB Aaron Rodgers was completely shut down after helming the league's best offense last year. Even more surprising: New Orleans had three takeaways after Green Bay turned the ball over only 11 times in 2020. Things should get easier in Week 2 against the Panthers, which put up only 19 points against the Jets last week. The Saints D/ST shouldn't be expected to replicate the Week 1 production but remains a strong option for this week's…read more

The Saints signed CB Desmond Trufant and traded for CB Bradley Roby (suspension) ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Packers.

Analysis: Roby will sit out Week 1 to finish up a suspension from last year, but Trufant should provide and immediate boost to a corner group that's lacking behind star Marshon Lattimore. Green Bay led the league with 31.9 PPG last season, and QB Aaron Rodgers will be back under center despite an offseason of drama, and his top weapons -- WR Davante Adams and RB Aaron Jones -- are also back and healthy. Even if he's unable to replicate his 2020 MVP performance, Rodgers aversion to turnovers makes the…read more

The Saints signed LB Kwon Alexander to a contract in early August.

Analysis: New Orleans offered little depth at linebacker to open training camp behind standout Demario Davis, but the addition of Alexander, who is healthy after suffering a torn Achilles late last year, could help shore up the unit. Safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Marcus Williams and CB Marshon Lattimore bring plenty of talent in the secondary, and DE Cameron Jordan remains a top-level pass rusher, though he's looking for a rebound campaign after totaling 7.5 sacks in 2020.

Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach sit atop the depth chart at defensive tackle to open training camp.

Analysis: Sheldon Rankins departed in free agency and David Onyemata is suspended for the first six games of the season, so New Orleans will have a pair of fresh starters at defensive tackle early in 2021. CB Janoris Jenkins also moved on, which should result in Patrick Robinson and rookie third-rounder Paulson Adebo playing significant roles. Overall the Saints remains in a good spot with the elite talents of CB Marshon Lattimore, DE Cameron Jordan and LB Demario Davis, though there's noticiably less…read more

The Saints spent their top-three picks on defenders during the 2021 NFL Draft, including DE Payton Turner at 29th overall.

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The Saints surrendered 364 yards and 33 points during the Week 16 win over the Vikings and play the Panthers on Sunday.

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The Saints gave up 411 yards and 32 points during the Week 15 loss to the Chiefs and play the Vikings on Friday.

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The Saints gave up 413 yards and 24 points during the Week 14 loss to the Eagles and play the Chiefs on Sunday.

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The Saints allowed 16 points and 332 yards during the Week 13 win over the Falcons and play the Eagles on Sunday.

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The Saints allowed 112 yards and three points during the Week 12 win over the Broncos and play the Falcons on Sunday.

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The Saints allowed 248 yards and nine points during the Week 11 win over the Falcons and play the Broncos on Sunday.

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The Saints gave up 13 points and 281 yards during the Week 10 win over the 49ers and play the Falcons on Sunday

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The Saints allowed three points and 194 yards during the Week 9 win over the Buccaneers and play the 49ers on Sunday.

Analysis: It was an impressive performance from New Orleans, as it had three takeaways and three sacks while holding Tampa Bay without a touchdown. Injury-racked San Francisco is up next, with Nick Mullens filling in at QB, while Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), TE George Kittle (foot) and Raheem Mostert (ankle) are on injured reserve. The Saints D/ST is coming off a strong effort and is an attractive option for Week 10.

The Saints allowed 23 points and 329 yards during the Week 8 win over the Bears and play the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans had only one takeaway but was continually putting pressure on QB Nick Foles with five sacks. Week 9 brings a much tougher matchup, as Tampa Bay ranks tied-sixth in sacks allowed (10), tied-ninth in giveaways (eight) and fourth in scoring (30.9 PPG). The Saints rank near the bottom of the league in takeaways (six), tied-10th in sacks (19) and 23rd in scoring defense (28.1 PPG), and they've largely been a letdown for fantasy purposes in 2020. Week 9 seems unlikely to shift that…read more

The Saints allowed 283 yards and 24 points during the Week 7 win over the Panthers and play the Bears on Sunday.

Analysis: Carolina found minimal room on the ground with 37 rushing yards, but QB Teddy Bridgewater averaged 9.1 yards per pass and had only five incompletions. Not much came out of this matchup for fantasy defenses, with one turnover and two sacks between the two teams. The Bears present a much more attractive matchup, as they failed to score an offensive touchdown versus the Rams last week. The New Orleans D/ST hasn't lived up to its potential so far in 2020, but Week 8 presents a strong opportunity to…read more

New Orleans comes out of its bye week ranked eighth in total defense (337.4 YPG) and 24th in scoring (30.0 PPG) entering Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Analysis: The Saints had plenty of trouble prior to the bye against the Chargers, as rookie QB Justin Herbert put up 27 points, had zero giveaways and was sacked three timed. New Orleans hasn't provided a lot of playmaking so far, as it ranks middle of the pack in sacks (13) and tied-24th in takeaways (five). The Panthers have been up-and-down in 2020 and committed three turnovers last week against the Bears, so the Saints D/ST should be a decent option for Week 7, especially if CB Janoris Jenkins…read more

The Saints allowed 29 points and 281 yards during the Week 4 win over the Lions and play the Chargers on Monday.

Analysis: Detroit scored two touchdowns within the first five minutes of the game, but New Orleans locked things up the rest of the way to help deliver a 35-14 lead by the third quarter. The Saints had three sacks and one takeaway while giving up only 5.6 yards per pass. The Chargers have struggled with giveaways (seven) this season, but rookie QB Justin Herbert has looked good since making his debut, but the absence of RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring) should allow the Saints to focus their defensive efforts…read more

The Saints surrendered 369 yards and 37 points during Sunday's loss to the Packers and play the Lions in Week 4.

Analysis: New Orleans had one sack and zero takeaways as QB Aaron Rodgers consistently move the ball despite the absence of top-WR Davante Adams (hamstring). The Saints have now given up 71 points and nearly 750 yards over the past two games. Detroit ranks tied-23rd in sacks allowed (nine) but have only two giveaways through three games, so there may not be many playmaking opportunities. The Saints D/ST is a decent matchup for this week, but it will need to perform better after losing the past two games.

The Saints allowed 377 yards and 34 points during the Week 2 loss to the Raiders and play the Packers on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans had three sacks and one takeaway but otherwise struggled to slow down Las Vegas after the first quarter, allowing it to go 10-for-17 on third-down conversions. Green Bay is averaging 42.5 points and 505 yards through two games, though neither of the defenses faces are particularly good. QB Aaron Rodgers appears to have rediscovered his MVP-level form, which makes this a dangerous matchup to consider. The safe bet is to look elsewhere for Week 3, though that outlook could change if…read more

The Saints allowed 271 yards and 23 points to the Buccaneers in Week 1 and play the Raiders on Monday.

Analysis: New Orleans had an impressive defensive performance in the season opener, recording three sacks, three takeaways and scoring a defensive touchdown. The Raiders put up 34 points, didn't allow a sack or have a turnover in Week 1, but the Saints D/ST remains a solid fantasy matchup for this week.

The Saints will host the Buccaneers in Sunday's season opener.

Analysis: The Saints D/ST would be an easy start against QB Jameis Winston and the turnover-happy Bucs last year, but Winston is now with the Saints as a backup, while the Bucs have retooled their offense around Tom Brady. Even with WR Mike Evans (hamstring) questionable to play, Tampa Bay has plenty of weapons with WR Chris Godwin, TEs Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, and RBs Ronald Jones, LeSean McCoy and Leondard Fournette. New Orleans has plenty of defensive talent and can match up with…read more

The Saints finished 2019 ranked 11th in total defense (333.1 YPG), 13th in scoring (21.3 PPG), third in sacks (51) and tied-10th in takeaways (23).

Analysis: Cameron Jordan has three straight years of at least 12 sacks and will continue to lead a potent pass rush, and the signing of S Malcolm Jenkins bolsters an already strong secondary with Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins at CB. The Saints are poised to be a reliable fantasy defense again in 2020.

New Orleans gave up 28 points and 397 yards during the Week 16 win over Tennessee and plays Carolina on Sunday.

Analysis: The Saints appeared to be in major trouble early after giving up a pair of long touchdowns during the first quarter, but they played much better the rest of the day with five sacks and one takeaway. The Panthers have lost seven straight contests and put up only six points against the Colts last week. RB Christian McCaffrey remains the key to the offense with 1,361 rushing yards and 933 receiving yards. Carolina ranks tied for last in the league in sacks allowed (56) and 31st in giveaways (32),…read more

The Saints held the Colts to 205 yards and seven points in Week 15 and play the Titans on Sunday.

Analysis: New Orleans allowed only 2.9 yards per play and only the one score, but their fantasy production was somewhat limited with only one sack and zero takeaways. Ryan Tannehill has been one of the most productive QBs in the league since taking over the starting role, while RB Derrick Henry has 688 rushing yards in the last five games. The New Orleans D/ST has been good enough most of the season to remain a decent option for Week 16, but Tennessee has been significantly improved offensively in the…read more

The Saints gave up 516 yards during the Week 14, 48-46 loss to the 49ers and play the Colts on Monday Night Football.

Analysis: New Orleans had three sacks and one takeaways, but neither defense had much success Sunday. Week 15 presents a much better matchup versus Indianapolis, which mostly features a middle of the pack offense. RB Marlon Mack should be the focal point, which bodes well for the Saints since they have the fifth-ranked rush defense (94.2 YPG). The New Orleans D/ST is a quality option for a rebound performance in Week 15.

New Orleans racked up nine sacks in the Week 13 win over the Falcons and will host the 49ers on Sunday.

Analysis: The Saints were absolutely relentless in their pursuit of QB Matt Ryan, totaling 53 lost yards on the nine sacks. The Falcons ran an absurd 85 plays and had the ball over 35 minutes, but the sacks plus three takeaways provided plenty of production for the Saints. San Fran features a run-heavy offense, but that's been New Orleans' calling card this season, as it allows only 88.6 YPG on the ground. The 49ers are second in the league in scoring (29.1 PPG) and are sixth in yardage (378.0 YPG), but…read more

The Saints allowed 351 yards during Sunday's 34-31 win over the Panthers and will play the Falcons on Thursday.

Analysis: New Orleans escaped with the victory, though it was fortunate to do so with Carolina kicker Joey Slye missing two PATs and a late chip-shot FG. Regardless, the Saints recorded four sacks and recovered one fumble, but they were unable to intercept QB Kyle Allen, who struggled in recent weeks. WR Julio Jones is dealing with a shoulder injury and didn't practice Monday, which could factor significantly in Thursday's contest. The Saints D/ST has been good enough this season to be a solid option…read more

The Saints allowed 334 yards and 17 points to the Buccaneers in Week 11 and will play the Panthers on Sunday.

Analysis: The absence of top-CB Marshon Lattimore ended up mattering little, as QB Jameis Winston stayed true to form and tossed four interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick that Marcus Williams returned for a touchdown. QB Kyle Allen is also coming off a four-INT performance for Carolina, and he's thrown a pick in four straight games (nine INTs overall). The Saints D/ST is an attractive option for Week 12 given the Panthers' recent offensive struggles.

CB Marshon Lattimore suffered a hamstring strain in Sunday's 26-9 loss to the Falcons and is considered week-to-week. The Saints play the Buccaneers in Week 11.

Analysis: Lattimore's absence would be significant for New Orleans, as Tampa Bay's WR tandem of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both rank top five in the league in receiving yards. The Saints certainly didn't play poorly against the Falcons, but one sack and zero takeaways made if an unproductive afternoon. The Buccaneers are 31st in the league with 21 giveaways, but they also have the third-best scoring offense (28.9 PPG). It will be worth checking out available streaming options for Week 11 should…read more