Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara Breaking Records Amidst Defensive Woes

New Orleans' awful defense is forcing Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas to set records, and change fantasy seasons.

The Saints defensive woes continue, and Fantasy Owners should rejoice at the ungodly, record-setting stats this will produce. In fact, Drew Brees broke the NFL record for completions in Sunday’s shootout versus Atlanta, going 39-of-49 for 396 yards and 3 TDs, all while adding 2 Rushing Scores for over 40 FPs. Brees trails only fellow record-setter Patrick Mahomes in FPs on the year (89.72), and, even at 40, seems bound to return to his silly “Cheat Code” stats while trading blows with opponents each week. 

Meanwhile, fantasy’s top-scoring WR Michael Thomas continues to redefine “Target Hog” while setting his own records. The third-year monster hauled in all 10 of his targets for his third straight 10+ reception day, and his 38 catches through three weeks is the most in NFL history. He’s hauled in an insane 95% of his 40 targets, and is on pace for 203 receptions on 213 targets. Though this pace is obviously unsustainable, Thomas feels likely to maintain his No.1 WR pace amidst the defensive regression.

Not to be outdone, backfield dynamo Alvin Kamara drew a whopping, NFL RB-record 20 targets, hauling in 15 of them for 124 yards, while adding 66 more yards on the ground. Kamara simply refuses to go down on first contact, and is the engine of the league’s highest scoring attack. If drafting today, Kamara would be worth the second overall pick in all reception-based formats, and Top 4 across all leagues. He’s on pace for 203 targets and 160 receptions, and will continue to dominate even when Mark Ingram returns.

This outpour, of course, is fueled by the Saints’ massive defensive regression. In 2017, New Orleans’ annually awful defense took a massive step forward, going from 31st in Points Allowed per Game (28.4) to 14th (21.2). In the process, Brees’ dipped under 32 TDs for the first time since 2008 (10 seasons), and the Saints ranked outside the Top-5 in Passing Yardage for just the second time in Brees and Sean Payton‘s decade together.

If the first three weeks and the Saints last-ranked defense (34.3 PPG) are any indication, thenBrees, alongside Thomas and Kamara, will send this passing game right back to the tops in the NFL. They have plenty of more records to chase, after all.

Author

  • Founder of Roto Street Journal. Lover of workhorse backs, target hog wideouts, and Game of Thrones. Aspiring to be the "Brady" and "Leo" of the fantasy universe.

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