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    Saints place Kelvin Banks (ankle) on IR

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    NO Left Offensive Tackle
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    Saints placed Kelvin Banks (ankle) on injured reserve.

    The team signed long snapper Cal Adomitis and reached an injury settlement with running back Audric Estime in corresponding moves. Banks is undergoing surgery for a severe high-ankle sprain. He could return later this year, but the team will be without their starting left tackle for at least four games, and likely much longer.
Florio: Hurts controversy needs full examination
Mike Florio explains why unanswered questions remain in the Jalen Hurts controversy, including whether the NFLPA will seek a formal investigation and whether Hurts could consider legal action.

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  • CLE Running Back #36
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    It wasn’t an overly impressive day for Estime, who was on the Vikings’ practice squad earlier in the week. But in the fourth quarter, with the Browns trailing 10-3, Estime took back-to-back carries for six yards, with his second resulting in a two-yard touchdown that would tie the game with just over eight minutes left in regulation. Estime could see a similar role in next week’s game against the Titans if Quinshon Judkins (ankle) misses another game, but he’ll be hard to trust as far as fantasy is concerned.
  • CLE Running Back #30
    Estime’s signing comes as Quinshon Judkins is dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 5. Estime, who is only 23 years old, already feels like an NFL journeyman as he now heads to his fifth team in three seasons after brief stints with the Broncos, Eagles, Saints, and Vikings. The former fifth-round pick has rushed for 508 yards and three touchdowns in his career and rushed for 76-310-2 as a rookie with the Broncos. Estime could see snaps in Week 6 against the Ravens if Judkins is unable to play, but we wouldn’t expect to see anything close to a meaningful workload at this time.
  • NO Left Offensive Tackle
    He’s out indefinitely and this will be a major blow for the Saints offense. There’s a chance he returns at some point later this season. He almost undoubtedly will end up on injured reserve in the next few days. Banks had a 73.5 PFF grade last year as one of the brighter rookie tackles of the class of 2025. Asim Richards would seem like the likely short-term replacement.
  • NO Left Offensive Tackle
    Banks will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury, but the second-year tackle is likely looking at a 4-6 week absence if the MRI doesn’t reveal any additional damage. Banks has started all 19 games he has appeared in for the Saints since being drafted last year. He was replaced by fourth-year tackle Asim Richards in Sunday’s win over the Ravens, who allowed two pressures on the 15 pass-blocking snaps he was in on.
  • NO Left Offensive Tackle
    Banks was carted from the field in the third quarter with what was originally called a lower-leg injury after Ravens EDGE Mike Green collided with Banks’ legs on his way to sack Tyler Shough. The No. 9 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft has started every game he’s appeared in since being drafted and was replaced by Asim Richards.
  • NO Running Back #41
    Kamara logged two limited sessions to begin the week, and New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill said he thinks Kamara will play, barring a setback. We do not yet know Kamara’s practice participation level on Friday, but he is traveling with the team, which is a good sign. Kamara would be a PPR FLEX if active. He is expected to play on passing downs while starting RB Travis Etienne leads the team in carries. Etienne is the best bet to handle the primary red zone role, but Kamara has been a prolific touchdown scorer over his career and could factor in. The Saints ruled out RB Audric Estime (thigh).
  • NO Running Back #5
    The Saints’ backup running back statuses continue to change. Veteran No. 2 RB Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to be sidelined for at least one month, and RB Audric Estime is now sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Miller and RB Devin Neal (hamstring) both returned this week, though. Beat reporter Jeff Nowak notes that Miller, Neal and RB Ty Chandler were all allowed to rotate in for first-team reps today, as coach Kellen Moore presumably seeks out a viable primary backup for starting RB Travis Etienne. Per Nowak, Miller “looks sharp despite the time missed.” This is worth tracking for short-term bench stash purposes.
  • NO Running Back #5
    The good news is that Miller was not listed with a knee injury after suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 7 last year. The bad news is that he evidently has a new injury, and the Saints have a fairly deep running back room right now. RBs Devin Neal, Audric Estime, Ty Chandler and CJ Donaldson are all vying for roster spots. Per Underhill, Neal is taking advantage of the extra reps. He could have the inside track to the RB3 role right now.
  • NO Running Back #30
    Playing out the string for the Saints’ injury-ruined backfield, Estime reached 100 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career after posting 98 the week before. Not a bad end to the year for a player who spent the first half of the season on practice squads. Still only 22 years old, Estime is buying himself time to get established in the NFL, but he still probably mostly profiles as a special teamer if he’s going to make a 53-man roster out of camp. Considering the Saints’ issues at running back, it could very well be in New Orleans.
  • NO Running Back #41
    The team opted not to place Kamara on injured reserve, though he has been sidelined since Week 12. Unless something drastic occurs, Saints RB Audric Estime will start in Kamara’s stead against the Falcons on Sunday. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs, but it still gives coaches a chance to evaluate key players one last time.

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    Christian McCaffrey is questionable to return to Week 7 against the Falcons with a thigh injury.

    McCaffrey was used heavily on the first drive with the 49ers down so many offensive players, and he came out of that drive with a touchdown but also a thigh injury. The trainers worked on him on the sideline for two drives before finally bringing him into the medical tent. The 49ers do have a bye next week, so they could try to get him back into the game, but they are also up 14-3 at this point, so the Falcons will likely need to get the game closer. Kaelon Black will continue to see a workhorse role while CMC is sidelined.
  • BAL Quarterback #8
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    CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reports Lamar Jackson (ankle) will play in Week 8 against the Bills.

    Reporting from the sideline of Sunday’s Ravens vs. Bengals game, Wolfson reports that Ravens head coach Jesse Minter told her Jackson would play in Week 8. According to Wolfson, the late decision to sit Jackson this week came after the team had a chance to review footage of Jackson in practice. Minter said Jackson still didn’t look like himself in practice, which is why the team opted to give him one more week away. This is the first time Minter has committed to Jackson returning, so hopefully this is a good sign for his Week 8 availability. We will, of course, be monitoring his practice throughout the week until he is fully removed from the injury report.
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    Juwan Johnson caught 1-of-3 targets for seven yards in the Saints’ Week 7 loss to the Steelers.

    Johnson was solid over the first four weeks of the season, but this was another clunker for the 30-year-old tight end. After going over 50 yards in his first four games and bringing in three touchdowns, Johnson has just 23 total yards without a score in the next three. Because of positional value Johnson can’t be completely ignored, but the Saints haven’t paid much attention to him lately, so it’s time to look for alternatives, at least.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • NO Wide Receiver #19
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    Barion Brown caught all three of his targets for 57 yards in the Saints’ Week 7 loss to the Steelers.

    Brown did virtually all of his damage on a 49-yard connection that helped set up the only touchdown of the day for the Saints. The 22-year-old also had 97 yards in return yardage, and the athleticism of Brown was apparent even on a limited amount of touches. The sixth-round selection is worth keeping an eye on in in dynasty leagues, but isn’t someone fantasy managers can trust in redraft formats as of yet.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • NO Wide Receiver #14
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    Devaughn Vele caught 5-of-5 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 7 loss to the Steelers.

    Vele brought in a one-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal late in the second quarter to tie the game at 10-10. It would be the last points the Saints would score. Vale has hovered around these numbers through the first half of 2026, and while it provides Shough with a nice safety valve, it’s not exactly what fantasy managers should be chasing. He’ll be a WR4 in Week 9 against the Browns after the Saints “enjoy” their bye in Week 8.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • NO Wide Receiver #12
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    Chris Olave caught 6-of-10 targets for 57 yards in the Saints’ Week 7 loss to the Steelers.

    Olave was once again a shorter-yardage target with a long gain of just 14 yards in the contest. Tyler Shough missed the 26-year-old on what would have been a walk-in touchdown from deep on a disappointing day for the top target in the Saints’ passing attack, at least based on expectations. He’ll remain one of the top fantasy receiving options in his next game, but that won’t come for two weeks as the Saints get a bye before facing the Browns in Week 9.
    - Christopher Crawford
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    Pat Freiermuth caught 2-of-4 targets for 20 yards in the Steelers’ Week 7 win over the Saints.

    Freiermuth didn’t appear to be bothered by his calf injury, and he quadrupled the targets of Darnell Washington (4-to-1) in this game. Washington was able to convert his only target for a touchdown, however, and Freirmuth dropped what would have been a 20-yard gain in the third quarter. Freiermuth will likely get a similar amount of targets in Week 8 against the Browns, for better or worse.
    - Christopher Crawford
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    Darnell Washington caught his only target for a four-yard touchdown in the Steelers’ Week 7 win over the Saints.

    Washington used his massive — massive seems like a huge understatement — size to haul in a touchdown near the sideline. That’s his third touchdown in four games, and it’s pretty clear that he’s become a focal point once the Steelers get inside of the red zone. He just isn’t much of one outside of those opportunities, and that makes him the most touchdown dependent tight end to ever exist. Maybe a little bit of hyperbole there. Washington will try and score again in Week 8 against the Browns.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • PIT Wide Receiver #17
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    Germie Bernard caught 3-of-5 targets for 27 yards in the Steelers’ Week 7 win over the Saints.

    Aaron Rodgers was focused on hitting his halfbacks out of the backfield much more than his wideouts, and Bernard was unable to get much done outside of a 20-yard reception. The rookie wideout had gone over 80 yards in his last two games, but this shows the volatility in Bernard’s fantasy profile as a rookie. He’ll look to bounce back against the Browns in Week 8.
    - Christopher Crawford
  • NO Running Back #41
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    Alvin Kamara rushed six times for five yards in the Saints’ Week 8 loss to the Steelers, adding seven receptions for 57 yards.

    Tyler Shough ended up leading the Saints with seven rushing yards. Yikes. Kamara was effective as a receiver out of the backfield, but to say that New Orleans struggled to run the ball is quite the understatement; finishing with 18 yards on 17 attempts. The good news for fantasy managers that used Kamara is that he was effective out of the backfield as a receiver, but it’s a modest day for the 31-year-old. Kamara and the Saints will try and get something going after a bye against the Browns in Week 9.
    - Christopher Crawford