Week 6 is in the books, and we are barrelling toward the midpoint of the NFL season. I am back to help you fill out the back end of your roster. Once again, this is not a waiver wire column, these are players that you could add now or wait and watch. My goal is to make you aware of some players off the beaten path. This week we are looking into the New Orleans Saints receiving corps with an electric player out of Assumption College, a 2019 All-Pro, and a Pro Bowler in Year 1. Deonte Harris is a 5’6” WR/Returner that could be a sparkplug type player for the Saints in the future.
Past Production and 2020
If I told you there was an All-Pro player available in Dynasty that was only owned in 6% of leagues, you probably wouldn’t believe me. That is what Deonte Harris was last season for the Saints. He was an electric return man that received accolades as the best in the game in 2019. Offensively he got very little playing time as a rookie. He had only 17 targets and 13 receptions. In the playoffs, he had a huge 50-yard catch against the Minnesota Vikings, that demonstrated what Harris is capable of as a wide receiver.
Turning on the film of Deonte Harris as a returner, you can see why the Saints love what he brings to this team. He’s a guy who is patient with the ball in his hands that can make guys miss. Don’t believe me? Watch these highlights from 2019.
In 2020 Harris has already eclipsed his offensive role from 2019. Harris has said that he worked hard this offseason to improve his receiving skills. He has been targeted 11 times this season resulting in 7 receptions for 55 yards. He also has 4 carries for 30 yards. The bright spot this year was when the Saints played the Raiders in Week 2 where he had a 52% snap share to go along with 4 touches for 34 yards. The arrow is pointing up on Deonte’s usage in this offense. Harris receives a 22% target rate and a 14.9% hog rate (targets per snap, capturing the rate of passing game utilization on a per play basis), which is 59th and 32nd at the position.
Future Outlook
Deonte Harris signed a new 3-year deal in 2020 and will be a restricted free agent in 2022. With a lot of discussion about the future in New Orleans with Michael Thomas and Drew Brees, this situation is trending in the right direction. New Orleans is undoubtedly in salary cap hell next season, at a whopping -81 million in the hole. The Saints have ramped up Harris’s role in the offense. I could see it growing even more throughout this season resulting in an even bigger role in 2021 and beyond.
The Saints currently have only 5 receivers under contract for 2021. Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have the biggest cap hits, as expected. However, the Saints could get out of Sanders’s contract at the end of this year. The ideal situation is we see a Sproles-type situation for Harris at the receiver position.
The great thing about Harris is the fact that he is in New Orleans, where they have a history of putting players that are as dynamic as he is in positions to succeed. From Darren Sproles to Taysom Hill to Alvin Kamara and now to Deonte Harris, I fully expect Sean Payton to maximize Deonte’s production going forward.
Despite the situation in the future, with either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill at quarterback, there is room for more work from the receivers. For Harris, a quarterback switch would probably be beneficial, as Brees has his favorites in this offense. Nonetheless, keep an eye on Harris or add him now. It is up to you.
Thanks for checking out this week’s Sleeper of the Week. I look forward to Week 7 action and finding you some more gems throughout the season.
Previous Dynasty Sleepers of the Week
You can follow me at @Cmoney52 on Twitter. You can message me or shoot me a tweet if there are players you would like to be featured in this segment.
