Following a four-week stint on the injured reserve after suffering up to 11 fractured ribs and a partially collapsed lung, Drew Brees is set to return to action as the Saints’ starting quarterback in Week 15 against the Chiefs.
According to Saints’ beat writer, Nick Underhill, the team has been planning and preparing all week for Brees to be the Week 15 starter. All practices with Brees have gone well and the team is gearing up for the playoffs.
As for Brees, health is the main concern. Twitter doctors across the platform have said it’s too early for him to return to action and there’s a real chance of re-injury.
BREAKING: Drew Brees is will start for the #Saints this weekend. He will be five weeks removed from a severe chest injury that involved a collapsed lung and 11 rib fractures.
According to our algorithm it’s too soon. He should see significant improvement next week.
— Inside Injuries (@InsideInjuries) December 18, 2020
Assuming he remains healthy, Brees will ignite the team’s surrounding fantasy talent and he is very startable in fantasy with two positive matchups on deck. Both games, first against the Chiefs and then against the Vikings, have shootout potential written all over them.
The Wolf has yet to update his Week 15 Fantasy Rankings, but he had Taysom Hill slotted as QB10. I would expect Brees to come in around that area and maybe even a bit higher against a Chiefs defense that’s gotten toasted in the recent weeks.
If you were able to stash Brees in your IR spot, you have a capable starting quarterback over the next two weeks. Also, he’s still available in 35 percent of leagues and is well worth the add to either start immediately or block your opponent, if necessary.
TAYSOM HILL
While I’m the President of the Taysom Hill Hater fan club, I have to admit he 100 percent exceeded my expectations as the Saints’ starting quarterback.
From both a real-life and fantasy perspective, Hill won games for the Saints and for his fantasy owners. He surprisingly completed over 72 percent of his passes in three of his four starts and accounted for eight total touchdowns during those four games. He also averaged over 20 fantasy points per game during that starting stretch.
With Brees back at the helm, Hill will return to his “jack-of-all-trades role” and this is “including some plays at QB,” according to Adam Schefter. AKA, he will go back to the annoying gadget player who takes Brees off the field in the red zone and will likely steal a few crucial touchdowns from Brees over the next two weeks.
As for Hill’s fantasy outlook, if you are running Brees out there as your fantasy starter, stash Hill on your bench as a “handcuff” because the old man is only one major hit away from re-injuring those fractured ribs.
So while Taysom owners may have cut him when they heard the news this morning, he would be a solid stash and a potential fantasy championship game starter in Week 16, as the Saints get the Vikings on Friday night if Brees were to get injured.
ALVIN KAMARA
Merry fuckin’ Christmas to Alvin Kamara owners.
As evidenced below, Kamara owners are counting their blessings that Brees will return to action just in time for the fantasy semis and finals. Once a candidate for Fantasy MVP, Kamara fell off a cliff when Taysom was named the starter.
In the first game without Brees, Kamara put up a paltry 10.50 half PPR points and then followed it up with a pathetic 5.70 fantasy points in the next game. Although he sort of recovered with 16.70 and 18.90 outings over the last two games, he was never the bonafide cheat-code that he was with Brees under center.
We all know Alvin Kamara's value has been tanked by Taysom Hill. But just how stark is it… and why would AK41 be a lock @ $7400 if Brees plays?
See: pic.twitter.com/3Fsie9ZtRx
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) December 17, 2020
With Brees’ return, expect the quarterback to get rid of the ball quickly to mitigate the chances of re-injury. As a result, Kamara will get peppered in targets and should be a PPR monster moving forward.
The Saints get the Chiefs in Week 15. A team that’s allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per attempt and the fourth-most yards per target (6.5 yds) to running backs.
In Week 16, the Saints get a bit tougher matchup against the Vikings. While they’ve allowed 120 rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry, they’ve only allowed three 100-yard rushers and three rushing touchdowns in the last four weeks. They’ve also given up the 13th fewest fantasy points to the running back spot this season.
Either way, Kamara is back and ready to carry fantasy squads to the promised land.
MICHAEL THOMAS & CO.
12/18 update: Michael Thomas is OUT for Week 15
The Saints’ fantasy-relevant pass-catchers of course get a boost, too.
While Hill kept Michael Thomassomewhat alive with three solid fantasy performances, last year’s top wideout has yet to score a touchdown this year. As noted with Kamara, Brees will likely look to get rid of the ball quickly, meaning Thomas’ patented slants should be money with Brees under center. Feel safe about locking MT into your playoff lineups.
Emmanuel Sanders fell off a bit with Hill, but he was a consistent double-digit scorer with Brees throwing him the rock. While it would be tough to feel confident about starting Sanders at this time, he’s not the worst streamer option and is available in 60 percent of leagues.
Although Jared Cook had a weird and shitty start to the 2020 fantasy season, he and Brees had a solid 2019 connection and scored four touchdowns with Brees this year. His value definitely increases and he could be another safety valve for the quarterback. At only $3,400 on DraftKings against a Chiefs team that cannot cover the tight end (28th), Cook is a good option at the most maddening DFS position this season.
SUMMARY
Drew Brees is back and for Saints’ fantasy owners, it couldn’t come at a better time.
Will Brees make it through the next two games healthy? We don’t know that. But we do know while he is on the field, Kamara will return to fantasy god status, while Thomas, Sanders, and Cook should receive significant bumps in their play.
For Taysom Hill owners, keep him stashed on the bench because there is a decent chance the 41-year old re-injures himself.
Either way, check The Wolf’s Week 15 Fantasy Rankings to see where Brees lands and whether or not you should start him in your fantasy semifinals.
