Taysom

Hill

Per usual, Hill was moved around the formation for all four quarters. The most interesting development in his usage was an increase in his role as a true running back. Hill got a carry while lined up as a running back before backup running back Jamaal Williams and had four total attempts before Williams saw his first. Hill nearly found paydirt as a receiver with a 50/50 ball in the end zone but was able to come down with it. The shift in usage should help smooth out Hill’s fantasy production with a higher floor of rushing yards. He will rank as a TE2 for his Week 2 matchup with the Cowboys.

Holker earned an undrafted free agent contract after leading 2023 FBS tight ends in targets (105), receptions (64) and receiving yards (766). He is unlikely to hop Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill on the depth chart in year one but should be safely stashed on dynasty benches and monitored in deep, tight end-premium leagues.

While the Saints continue to expand Hill’s package, Fowler said, “It could look slightly different than in previous years.” The offensive weapon could reportedly play “up to five positions” this season, as coaches “believe he has more to give” heading into his eighth season as a pro. Fantasy managers who can deploy Hill as a tight end on their roster could have a nice edge at the position if things play out well for him this season. Last year, Hill totaled 692 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns while catching 33 passes. He had career-highs in both receptions and receiving yards (291) and finished as the TE15 in fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. He’s a low-risk, high-reward player who remains an interesting stash in fantasy leagues.

This seems to confirm reports that Hill could stand to see his package role grow further heading into the new season after serving as a multifaceted and dynamic player in various packages over the previous three seasons in New Orleans. We are likely to see more of the same usage in the backfield while he lines up under center or as a back in addition to both slot work, inline work, and wide work as a pass-catcher. Weekly volume is likely to change dependent on the matchup, leaving Hill better served as a best ball target as compared to a redraft or season-long contributor. Even so, current ADP suggests there could be significant weekly upside at a modest price on sites where he maintains a tight end designation.

According to Saints beat writer Nick Underhill, the Saints converted Hill’s base salary into a signing bonus to take his cap number from $15.7 million to $6.8 million. The conversion means Hill is now set to count $18 million toward the team’s cap space next season, but they’ll almost certainly find a way to get out of that when the time comes. The league’s ultimate gadget player totaled 692 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns last season and will be 34 before the start of next season. He remains a potential cheat code in leagues where fantasy managers can roster him as a tight end but has no upside as a quarterback at this time.

It was reported yesterday that Johnson suffered a lower leg injury. We now know that he suffered a foot injury that will require surgery to fix. Schefter also noted that the “belief for now is that [Johnson] will be back for the start of the season,” but it sounds like he will miss all or most of training camp. Johnson caught 37 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season and doesn’t have much fantasy upside outside of being a week-to-week streaming option. His absence should open up more opportunities for Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau this offseason, with Hill being the only fantasy-relevant player at this time.

Cannella has been a standout tight end for the UFL’s Arlington Renegades. He totaled 496 yards and a league-leading six touchdowns over five games for the Renegades during the 2024 UFL regular season. Cannella was targeted on 21 percent of his routes, a strong rate for a tight end. The former Auburn product has had tryouts for other NFL teams, including the Packers. He likely wouldn’t see much playing time behind Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill if he makes the New Orleans roster.

Hill, listed as a tight end but used through the years as a versatile offensive weapon, was seen taking direct snaps on offense and working with the special teams unit. Hendrix said Hill being deployed in the “backfield is starting to be a pretty exciting thing to see unfold. There was a play in team where he was the running back in shotgun and took the run left for a nice little gain. On that play, we also saw two players go in motion, with Juwan Johnson and Dallin Holker.” It appears new Saints OC Klint Kubiak is willing to retain always-shifting package of Taysom plays that have been intriguing and sometimes frustrating for fantasy purposes. Hill and Kubiak reportedly met in the offseason to discuss Hill’s role in the Kubiak system; Hill said the conversation was “super positive.” Taysom in 2023 finished as fantasy’s tenth highest scoring tight end, just behind Trey McBride. Continued backfield usage for Hill in 2024 would be decidedly bad news for Alvin Kamara’s touchdown upside.

It was another solid fantasy season for Taysom Hill, who emerged as more of a legitimate receiving threat in 2023. He ended the season with 33 catches on 40 targets for 291 yards in 16 games, all of which were career highs. He also added six touchdowns through the air to go along with four rushing touchdowns and 401 rushing yards on 81 carries (4.95 yards per carry). Despite his reputation as a gadget quarterback, Hill threw only 11 passes on the season, his fewest since 2019, completing six of them for 83 yards and a touchdown. It appears that, with Derek Carr in town, Hill will operate as more of a true tight end and red zone rushing threat. Those red zone carries will likely make him a fringe TE1 option, albeit a risky one, in a deepening tight end group for fantasy.

Hill also completed 1-of-2 passes for 11 yards. He continues to be utilized as a swiss army knife all over the field for the Saints as a rusher, thrower, and pass-catcher. Hill’s highlight was making a nice 22-yard grab at the pylon to score a Saints touchdown in the second quarter. Hill is a risky tight end play against the Falcons in Week 18.