Bub

Means

The move ends Means’ season unless he is released with an injury settlement. Means went down with an apparent lower leg injury in the Saints’ preseason opener versus the Chargers and was carted to the locker room. The second-year wideout had a chance at carving out a rotational role behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed before going down with the injury. Brandin Cooks now appears to be locked into the WR3 job for New Orleans.

A high-ankle sprain ended Means’ 2024 rookie year prematurely. Hopefully, this is unrelated. Before exiting, Means caught 1-of-2 targets for 12 yards. He is competing for the Saints’ No. 3 wide receiver role.

Means produced an intriguing three-game stretch in Weeks 6-8, catching 9-of-14 targets for 118 yards and one touchdown after slowly working his way into the wide receiver rotation. He unfortunately suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 8 and later experienced a setback in his recovery that prevented him from retaking the field in 2024. The speedy receiver has a chance to earn the Saints’ No. 3 wide receiver role this summer and is reportedly now back at “full speed,” ostensibly having put the medical issue behind him.

The Saints limp towards the end of the regular season in what has developed into a lost year after starting the season with the second most points scored through two games in league history. They will no trudge forward without the remaining two primary offensive pieces after losing Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill to injuries earlier this season. Wide receiver Bub Means was also ruled out by the team with an ankle injury while Marquez Valdes-Scantling is listed as questionable after failing to practice all week.

Means will spend another week on injured reserve. He returned to practice on Wednesday but was downgraded to a DNP for the following two sessions. Marquez Valdes-Scantling will remain Derek Carr’s top receiver for Week 14.

Means was designated to return earlier this week and got in a limited practice on Wednesday. If he didn’t practice Thursday, that could be due to load management as the team looks to work him back into the mix. The Saints have 21 days to activate Means from injured reserve, so there’s no guarantee we see him in Week 14 against the Giants.

When it officially happens, the Saints will open Means’ 21-day practice window. Means had an 8/45/1 line against Tampa during a game Chris Olave left early in Week 6, but otherwise has mostly been fantasy-irrelevant. How he’ll slot in with the Saints probably depends more on Olave’s future status than his own, but deep leagues can consider stashing him ahead of his return freely with no real update on Olave.

The Saints suddenly find themselves in a bind at running back after Miller’s move to injured reserve and backup running back Jamaal Williams’ status as doubtful for Week 9. The team is left with only Alvin Kamara and fullback Adam Prentice as healthy backs on the active roster, potentially opening up additional backfield snaps for queen chess piece Taysom Hill against the Panthers. Means’ absence likely thrusts recent acquisition Marquez Valdes-Scantling into meaningful snaps on the perimeter.

Means had one catch for 36 yards in the Saints’ Week 8 loss to the Chargers. The rookie went down late in the game and did not return to the field but was playing his normal backup role with Chris Olave back in the mix. Means caught 5-of-8 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in Weeks 6 and 7, but saw just one target on Sunday. He’ll likely miss a few games with the injury, but with Olave back, he can be dropped across all leagues.

Means, who had three grabs for 37 yards last week against the Broncos, took a backseat this week to Chris Olave, who returned to the lineup after suffering a brain injury two weeks ago. Means only ran a route on 10 of the Saints’ 52 drop backs. He is not fantasy viable with Olave in the lineup.