Talk is cheap, but if people are going to talk about you, at least let it be good. That's the case with new Saints tight end Coby Fleener, who has Drew Brees excited about the possibilities throwing to his new receiver.
"We watched a lot of film on him last year, just because we played in the AFC South," Brees said. "It felt like every time we turned on the film to watch an opponent that we were about to play, I'm watching Colts film or Fleener film. It was like, 'Man, this guy has an uncanny ability to separate.' He's always open."
The Saints beat writer for the New Orleans Times-Picayune charted targets at the team's recent minicamp. Three players led the team with eight targets each: Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Fleener.
It's reasonable to guess that Fleener will be a big part of the passing game, perhaps somewhat short of the go-to status Jimmy Graham used to have, but more involved than Benjamin Watson was a year ago. And Watson, of course, had a surprisingly productive season, catching 74 passes for 825 yards and 6 TDs.
Even that kind of season from Fleener would give him a ton of value in fantasy leagues, especially in leagues where tight ends get 1.5 points per reception. And Fleener is nearly eight years younger than last year's starter.
Fleener never quite put it all together with the Colts. He never really separated from Dwayne Allen, and when both were free agents this offseason, Indianapolis threw its lot with Allen, not Fleener.
But the prospects of playing in an offense with Drew Brees are pretty enticing. Everyone is saying and doing the right things. So far, so good.
--Andy Richardson