New Orleans Saints - Fantasy News

Saints at Buccaneers Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Adam Markowitz

12/28/17

NFL

New Orleans Saints

Brandon Coleman

The New Orleans Saints are one win away from the NFC South title. They have gotten as friendly of a draw in Week 17 as they ever could have asked against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Though Tampa hasn't shown much of a pulse over the course of the end of the season, there's no doubt that this team is motivated to pull off this upset.

New Orleans Saints Week 17 Projected Fantasy Points
Alvin Kamara: 18.0 PFP
Drew Brees: 17.0 PFP
Mark Ingram: 16.5 PFP
Michael Thomas: 15.0 PFP
Wil Lutz: 9.5 PFP
Ted Ginn: 8.0 PFP
Brandon Coleman: 5.0 PFP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 17 Projected Fantasy Points
Jameis Winston: 16.0 PFP
Mike Evans: 11.5 PFP
DeSean Jackson: 8.5 PFP
Cameron Brate: 8.5 PFP
Peyton Barber: 7.0 PFP
Patrick Murray: 7.0 PFP
Chris Godwin: 6.0 PFP
Adam Humphries: 5.5 PFP
Doug Martin: 5.5 PFP

Start 'Em: Ted Ginn (8.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 9.22

Ted Ginn is a boom or bust candidate in Week 17, but he's got as friendly matchup against the Tampa Bay secondary. The Buccaneers rank last in the NFL in receptions allowed (211) and receiving yards allowed (2,746) to wide receivers.

Ginn hasn't hit nearly as many big plays down the field as we're used to seeing. In fact, his 54-yard touchdown catch last week against Atlanta was his longest reception of the season.

Still, Ginn figures to be targeted a bunch in this game, especially with Brandon Coleman having fallen out of favor in the New Orleans offense.

Sit 'Em: Brandon Coleman (5.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 4.15

For as good of a matchup as this is for Brandon Coleman, Drew Brees flat out doesn't trust him at this point. Coleman fumbled twice two weeks ago against the Jets, and he wasn't even targeted last week against Atlanta.

Coleman hasn't scored a touchdown since October 22. Since that point, he has exceeded 5.0 Dober Fantasy Points just twice.

In a game that means so much, Brees can't afford to trust Coleman, especially when he has Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn to throw the ball to.

Start 'Em: Jameis Winston (16.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 15.42

Don't tell Jameis Winston that Tampa Bay's season has been a disaster. He was beaming last week against Carolina, and he did everything he had to do to win the game, throwing for 367 yards.

In his last four games, Winston has completed 72 percent of his passes, averaged 305 pass yards per game and has a TD/INT ratio of 8/2.

The Saints' defense was surprisingly fantastic this season, but Winston is going to surely let it all hang loose in Week 17. Two touchdown passes should be enough to beat his Projected Fantasy Points total.

Sit 'Em: Doug Martin (5.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 7.18

Doug Martin's share of the Tampa Bay backfield has been dwindling with each passing week. The Muscle Hamster is set to be a free agent after this game is over, and there's no sense in using him over Peyton Barber.

Martin only carried the ball six times last week for seven yards, and he has hardly been on the field since fumbling against the Lions two weeks ago.

There's a chance that Martin could beat us with a touchdown run, but we suspect he's going to struggle to get on the field on more than 20 or 25 snaps in this game. His chances of getting to 55 yards are slim.