Just two grabs for Michael Pittman in loss to CLE

Vele’s nine targets ranked behind only alpha Chris Olave, although he was headed for another modest fantasy outing before a garbage time touchdown with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the blowout loss. Vele has yet to eclipse 69 yards through the first month of play as he continues to operate in an intermediate role for a Saints team struggling to attack downfield. Fantasy managers could consider sitting Vele against the ferocious Vikings defense in Week 5.

Johnson saw a slight uptick in snaps and routes after Noah Fant was inactive with an abdominal injury but returned a modest receiving line while being kept out of the end zone. The towering veteran finished third on the team in targets behind Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, the latter of whom scored the only receiving touchdown in a game that saw the two teams combine for seven rushing scores. Johnson remains a back-end TE1 for as long as rookie Jordyn Tyson remains sidelined, which appears likely to persist for another few weeks, at minimum. That holds true ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the vaunted Vikings defense.

Olave found himself with a relatively quiet receiving line in the first half as the Saints struggled to consistently move the football, something that has become far too familiar under head coach Kellen Moore’s tutelage. As has been the case for some time, Olave got going after the break, ending with his third 100-yard game in four tries, now trailing only CeeDee Lamb in receiving yards through the first month of the season. Fantasy managers will want to monitor the electric wide receiver’s practice status in the coming days after he pulled himself out of the game on the team’s final possession with some sort of ailment. If healthy, Olave remains an elite WR1 ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Vikings.

The Saints mustered just 16 running back carries in the first game without Travis Etienne, gaining just 50 yards on the ground in the blowout loss. The New Orleans offensive line was completely out-classed by the stout Atlanta defensive front. Kamara briefly departed with a knee injury that required two trips to the medical tent but would return to score his second touchdown of the evening in the fourth quarter. Kamara should continue to lead the backfield in the absence of Etienne and suddenly finds himself as an RB2 in fantasy circles ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Vikings.

Shough and the Saints stayed true to recent form as they quickly fell into a 14-point hole in the first quarter, with the team now averaging an almost eight point deficit at the half since head coach Kellen Moore took over to start the 2025 season. The team was unable to reproduce the second half magic they so frequently muster behind an overmatched offensive line. Shough needed a late touchdown toss to Devaughn Vele with less than two minutes to play to give fantasy managers something of value. Moore and Shough have their work cut out for them with Brian Flores’ relentless defense coming to town in Week 5, where Shough will be on the QB1/2 border in fantasy circles.

Dotson continues to operate as the team’s WR2 opposite Drake London but remains unlikely to return consistent fantasy production in an offense heavily concentrated on its top two options in London and Bijan Robinson. Dotson’s touchdown came in the fourth quarter with the team cruising, pushing the lead to 21 points with under 10 minutes to play. Fantasy managers can safely keep Dotson on the bench ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Ravens in Atlanta.

Pitts played just one snap on the team’s first two possessions before seeing modest usage the rest of the game. His counting stats were padded in the second half with a 28-yard, catch-and-run reception on a play action pass out of the flat. Pitts isn’t getting the snaps or route participation to return consistent fantasy production and is best left on fantasy benches for as long as Drake London remains healthy. That won’t change ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Ravens.

London turned in his second consecutive usable fantasy week with Michael Penix under center. The low volume can primarily be attributed to just 20 Penix pass attempts in a game Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson combined for 207 yards and five touchdowns on the ground on 33 carries. London could be tasked with more volume when the Falcons host the Ravens in Week 5, for which he will remain an unquestioned WR1 in fantasy circles.

Robinson watched from the sidelines as Bijan cashed in on two first quarter rushing scores, getting in on the fun in the second quarter with a touchdown from four yards out. He would add one from eight yards out in the third quarter and cap off his outburst with an 11-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter to send the Falcons to a 2-2 record ahead of a Week 5 meeting with the Ravens. Brian Robinson remains an elite handcuff but is unlikely to return consistent fantasy production for as long as Bijan remains healthy, despite the eruption against the Saints.

Week 4 marked Robinson’s second consecutive game going over 100 yards with two touchdowns on the ground, this time aided by a 59-yard touchdown run on his first touch of the game. The Falcons tied a franchise record with five rushing scores, with backfield mate Brian Robinson adding three to the two of Bijan. The return of quarterback Michael Penix has given the Falcons the threat of passing after dropping their first two games of the season behind suboptimal play from the position, and nobody has benefited more from reduced numbers in the box than Robinson. He’ll look to keep the momentum going as a top-tier RB1 when the Falcons host the Ravens in Week 5.