Emmanuel Sanders has a knack for landing on Super Bowl contending organizations. He started his career in Pittsburgh then moved on to Denver where he won a championship. He was most recently traded to the San Fransico 49ers, the latest Super Bowl runner up, and then inked a 2-year deal with the New Orleans Saints this offseason.
Signing to the Saints’ pass-happy offensive creates plenty of fantasy intrigue and gets the fantasy community excited. Does Sanders still have something left in the tank for another NFL season and, more importantly, can he still provide consistent fantasy value?
RETURN FROM INJURY
Sanders suffered an injury that would end most players’ careers, especially at 33 years old. He tore his right Achilles tendon in a Wednesday practice in 2018 but returned in 2019 for his first full season since 2016. He finished as the WR27 with 66 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns. His yards per reception (13.2) even increased a full point from 2018. Not bad for a guy recovering from an Achilles injury from the previous December.
Even late in his career, Sanders posted a 10.7% DVOA. Defense-adjusted Value Over Average tells us how much better a receiver is than an average receiver in the same situation. He continues to be a relatively productive player despite the jersey he wears or scars he bears.
SUPPORTING THE CAST
Another positive sign for Sanders is his new NFL Half of Fame-bound quarterback. Drew Brees has proven he can support multiple fantasy-relevant wide receivers. In 2016 Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks, and Willie Snead all received 100+ targets with Thomas and Cooks both finishing as top 15 fantasy wide receivers. Brees can clearly support multiple receivers but he simply didn’t have the talent around his last year to spread it around. Ted Ginn Jr. was their second-leading receiver and finished with just 30 receptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, pretty uninspiring. The Saints didn’t have a viable second option for Drew Brees at the wide receiver position last year, so Sanders should be a sight for sore eyes.
There’s also a stark difference in playstyle going from San Francisco to New Orleans. To put it in perspective, the Saints attempted 581 passes in 2019 while the 49ers finished with the fourth-fewest attempts in the league (478). The Saints passed the ball over 100 times more than San Francisco meaning there are significantly more targets available in New Orleans afforded to Sanders with more opportunities to produce.
PROVEN WR2
As previously mentioned, Drew Brees can support multiple fantasy-relevant wide receivers and Sanders has proven to be a threat as the WR2 on multiple teams. He was the number two option in Pittsburgh and initially in Denver. Sanders has received 90+ targets on three different teams. He finished with over 1,000 yards three straight seasons as the WR2 in Denver behind Demaryius Thomas. Even in San Fransisco, he was technically the number two receiver with Deebo Samuel leading the group.
Emmanuel Sanders has proven over time that his production and success are independent of the team he plays for whether he’s considered the number one option or not. The Saints’ offensive approach will only increase the probability he outperforms his 2019 numbers. His miraculous return from the Achilles injury in 2019 should thwart any durability concerns.
Sanders signing with the Saints is probably the best-case scenario for dynasty owners as it instantly increases his fantasy value. I would suggest exploring trade offers to move on from Sanders unless you plan on contending in 2020 as this trade will generate serious interest from your league mates.
Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or would like to discuss, you can find me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF.
