#154 overall · NO · 114.4 projected half-PPR pts · -31.4 Draft Value
New Orleans Saints — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
The Saints defense has shown a consistent pass-rush presence over the past three seasons. New Orleans posted 34 sacks in 2023, 39 in 2024, and 44 in 2025, arriving at a three-year average of 39 sacks per season. Fumble creation has been similarly steady: 8 forced in 2023, 12 in 2024, and 11 in 2025, averaging 10.3 per year. The 2023 season stands as the clearest evidence of ceiling: 18 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries, 2 defensive touchdowns, and a safety, with the unit allowing 327 points against. That kind of turnover production, if it resurfaces, is what separates a streaming DST from a weekly starter.
What the model projects
The projection is 114.4 half-PPR fantasy points for the 2026 season. That places New Orleans at DST17 and #154 overall, landing in Tier 9. The draft value is -31.4, meaning the projection sits below replacement level at the DST position in a 12-team half-PPR format. The bye week falls in Week 8, which is worth noting for roster planning.
| Sacks | INT | FF | FR | TD | Saf | PA | PA 0 | PA 1-6 | PA 7-13 | PA 14-20 | PA 21-27 | PA 28-34 | PA 35+ | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 34 | 18 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 327 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 | — | 145.0 |
| 2024 | 39 | 14 | 12 | 3 | 1 | — | 398 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 98.0 |
| 2025 | 44 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 1 | — | 383 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 111.0 |
| 3-yr avg | 39 | 14 | 10.3 | 8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 369.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 101.7 |
The range of outcomes
The three-year history illustrates how wide DST variance can run. Points allowed swung from 327 in 2023 to 398 in 2024 to 383 in 2025. Interceptions dropped from 18 in 2023 to 14 in 2024 to 10 in 2025. Fumble recoveries went from 11 in 2023 to 3 in 2024 and back to 10 in 2025. Defensive touchdowns have held at just 1 or 2 each year. The sack line is the most stable piece of the profile, climbing each season, but turnovers have been volatile enough that the gap between a good Saints season and a poor one is substantial. A repeat of 2023-level turnover production would push the unit well above its current projection; a repeat of 2024-level production would not.
How to draft him
New Orleans does not have a market ADP across public 2026 drafts, which means the unit is not being consistently drafted on the platforms tracked. At DST17 with a negative draft value, this is a late-round or post-draft-pool option at best. The sack rate is a real asset, and the 2023 turnover ceiling is worth remembering, but the projection and rank reflect three years of declining interception totals and inconsistent scoring. Target this unit only after your roster needs at every other position are addressed, and keep the Week 8 bye in mind when setting your streaming schedule.
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Questions drafters ask
The projection is 114.4 points and the draft value is -31.4, placing New Orleans below replacement level at DST17 and #154 overall in Tier 9. The numbers do not support spending a meaningful pick on this unit.
New Orleans recorded 34 sacks in 2023, 39 in 2024, and 44 in 2025, for a three-year average of 39. The sack line has climbed each year and is the most consistent part of the unit's recent production.
Quite volatile. Interceptions went from 18 in 2023 to 14 in 2024 to 10 in 2025. Fumble recoveries were 11 in 2023, dropped to 3 in 2024, then rebounded to 10 in 2025. The three-year averages are 14 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries per season.
New Orleans does not have a consistent market ADP across tracked platforms for 2026 drafts. Given the DST17 position rank and negative draft value, this unit fits as a late-roster add rather than a planned draft target.
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Beyond the numbers
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