Kenny

Stills

The Saints waived the veteran in early December but the Saints’ COVID-19 spike brought him back into the fold. He finished the year with just six catches for 68 yards on 23 targets, which speaks to the field-stretching ability that New Orleans’ non-Jameis Winston passers had. Stills is entering his age-30 season and appears likely to be a veteran depth add again in 2022.

Stills had recorded two catches since Week 9 and five all year, totaling 5/64/1 across 12 appearances with New Orleans. The team signed Kevin White to their practice squad in a corresponding move.

The touchdown was Stills’ first of his second Saints go-round. Targeted from the eight-yard line with 1:06 remaining, Stills caught a pass in tight coverage and smartly extended for the plane. He corralled a 22-yard reception earlier in the proceedings. Today was the second time in three contests Stills drew five looks. There is probably room for more, but ceiling will remain close to an impossibility with Trevor Siemian attempting the bulk of the Saints’ passes.

Deonte Harris leaving the game with a hamstring injury didn’t affect Stills’ role in the New Orleans offense. Marquez Callaway is far and away Jameis Winston’s favorite wideout target, though Stills could carve out a downfield role if Harris misses the Saints’ next game in Week 7 against the Seahawks. He has ten targets in three games with the Saints this season.

NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill expects Stills to be involved on Sunday against the Patriots. The Saints wide receiver situation is already extremely unpredictable. It just got even more opaque. With Stills in the mix this week, Alvin Kamara looks like the only Saints skill player that can be trusted in fantasy lineups this week.

Now 29, Stills’ career has taken a steep downturn in recent years after productive seasons with the Saints and Dolphins. Stills spent the first two years of his career in New Orleans with coach Sean Payton before being traded to the Dolphins where he spent the next four years. Stills has bounced around with the Texans and Bills the past couple seasons. Stills should have a good shot at being promoted to the 53-man roster sometime soon.

As did Marqise Lee. The Saints thumped the Packers on Sunday but remain direly low on experienced wideouts, and that will remain the case for over the next month as Michael Thomas rehabs on the PUP list. Stills entered the league with the Saints and has experience in coach Sean Payton’s system, though that was seven years ago at this point. Were Stills to land in NOLA, re-draft value would obviously be unlikely for someone who has caught only 51 balls since the end of the 2018 season.

Stills will be active for the first time since Buffalo signed him to the team’s practice squad on January 4. The Bills are struggling with wideout injuries, with Cole Beasley playing through a lingering knee injury and Gabriel Davis suffering an ankle injury in last week’s win over Baltimore. Bringing Stills off the practice squad indicates one or both receivers will be out Sunday. Davis, who missed practice all week before practicing in a limited capacity on Friday, is considered questionable to face KC in the AFC Championship Game. Isaiah McKenzie and Stills would be in the mix Sunday if Davis or Beasley are inactive. Stills is an intriguing option in large-field single game DFS contests.

Stills had to settle for practice squad work after a market failed to develop following his release from the Texans, though it could be a short stay on the taxi squad. Whether or not Stills gets promoted for Saturday’s Wild Card showdown with the Colts could depend on Cole Beasley’s (knee) status. Capable of providing immediate help both inside and out, Stills is an excellent reinforcement/back-up plan for this craziest of years.

His visit is happening soon and the expectation is that he’ll officially sign shortly after. Consider this an official report. Stills will be eligible for the Bills’ playoff run once he passes COVID-19 protocols. If Cole Beasley’s injury isn’t serious, the Bills will have a stellar receiver depth chart featuring Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Beasley, Gabriel Davis, and Stills.