Monday Night Showdown Slate Article- Saints @ Raiders

Jeff Bergerson
By Jeff Bergerson September 20, 2020 20:49

Monday Night Showdown Slate Article- Saints @ Raiders


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The big news for Monday nights tilt between the Saints and Raiders is the absence of game changer Michael Thomas. It has us questioning how effective the Saints offense is going to be on the road without their biggest weapon. The Raiders defense did give up plenty to Teddy Bridgewater and company last week (269 yards passing and a td and 97 yards and 2 tds to McCaffrey). The biggest thing is trying to identify who will be the big recipient of all of Thomas’s normal workload.

Certainly there is Emmanuel Sanders who becomes their top wide receiver, even though he was barely involved in last week’s game catching only 3 balls for 15 yards on 5 targets. His targets will certainly increase this week and his production should as well against a worse secondary. Other receiver options include Tre’quan Smith and speedster Deonte Harris. Neither was involved much in the offense either last week, but Smith will now be a member of the starting lineup. When Tre’quan gets targets, he produces, so I like him the best of the receivers for the price.

The pass catcher who I believe will have his production increased the most in Thomas’s absence is Jared Cook. 5 catches for 80 yards on 7 targets last week. Cook was a steady contributor to the offense last year and the Raiders linebacker, Nick Kwiatkoski who would be part of the coverage on Cook is out. Cook is an outstanding option for increased volume and to produce value.

Christian McCaffrey rushed for 97 yards and two tds and added 3 catches of 38 against the Raiders last week. Alvin Kamara was not extremely effective last week, but the Bucs up front are no joke and Kamara still managed to get into the box twice. With Thomas out, the Saints most explosive weapon by a mile now is Kamara.  Even though Latavius Murray ate into his volume, Kamara has the highest ceiling on either side of the ball in this game. He is the most expensive, but I want him as captain on at least half of my rosters and own him overall on 80%.

Sean Payton’s pet, Taysom Hill carried the ball 3 times and caught and threw a pass last week. He is always a threat to steal a td, but he is 100% dependent on scoring a touchdown, so I will own a little, but not much.

Josh Jacobs slaughtered the Panthers last week, but the Saints are a big-time step up in class this week. They held the Bucs runningbacks to 22 carries for 71 yards 3 yds per carry. Last season here are the rushing totals for Saints opponents over their last six games-Panthers 31 (including CMAC who only managed 26), Titans 68, Colts, 39, 49ers 129, Falcons 65, and CMAC again for 64. Those are some legit running games and offensive lines. At the same time however the Saints are susceptible to backs catching the ball out of the backfield.  The rumors of Jacobs being more involved in the passing game came to fruition in week 1 as he had 4 grabs for 46 yards on 6 targets. Being multi dimensional and being the goal line back creates some confidence, and although I will roster him, I will not have him as captain, because I feel like his ceiling is limited here.

Darren Waller picked up where he left off last year as he caught 6 balls for 45 yards on 8 targets last week. Derek Carr’s favorite pass catcher should see the same volume this week.

Henry Ruggs is expected to return and is a weapon, however Marshon Lattimore will likely be on him most of the game as he travels from side to side. That is not promising for Ruggs. Slot corner has been an issue for the Saints for years with PJ Williams and now Chauncy Gardner-Johnson. Godwin continued that last week with 6 catches for 79 yards. Hunter Renfrow is the Raiders slot receiver and with Lattimore on Ruggs, this could give some opportunity to Renfrow.

Must Haves:

Kamara $11,400
Brees $10,600
Jacobs $9,600

Home Runs Balls:

Tre’Quan Smith $6,400
Deonte Harris $2,400

Favorite players for the price:

Jared Cook $8,000

Best Low Dollar Options:

Renfrow $5,800
Murray $3,400
Taysom Hill $2,200

Best Correlating Plays/Stacks:

Kamara/Carr/Waller
Brees/Kamara/T Smith/Jacobs
Kamara/Murray/Saints D

 

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Jeff Bergerson
By Jeff Bergerson September 20, 2020 20:49

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