The Saints have lost six games in a row; the early-season salad days are long gone. But their struggles and injuries probably mean some of their players are available on waivers, and those players need to be considered this week. Because they're playing at Carolina.
Carolina has the league's worst run defense, allowing 155 yards per game and 14 touchdowns. Frequently with defenses like that, the pass defense is ranked favorably -- as with the case with the Panthers a year ago (23rd against the run, 1st against the pass). But not this year.
The Panthers are almost as bad against the pass this year, and that gets Mason Tipton (pictured, probable No. 2 wideout) and Juwan Johnson (busiest tight end lately) on the radar as possible waiver pickups. Guys like Chris Olave should definitely be starting, as should Alvin Kamara.
Even with all the rushing production against the Panthers, look at the numbers compiled by opposing receivers thus far. (For this table, I'm using the best numbers from opposing top 2 wideouts and tight ends.) A lot of good games against Carolina this year, with a few No. 1s having their best games and several No. 2s producing, too. At both wide receiver and tight end.
| OPPOSING RECEIVERS VERSUS CAROLINA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Rec | TD |
| Shaheed, N.O. | 3 | 73 | 1 |
| J.Johnson, N.O. | 2 | 26 | 1 |
| Moreau, N.O. | 4 | 43 | 1 |
| Johnston, LAC | 5 | 51 | 2 |
| Tucker, L.V. | 7 | 96 | 1 |
| Meyers, L.V. | 7 | 62 | 1 |
| Chase, Cin. | 3 | 85 | 1 |
| Higgins, Cin. | 6 | 60 | 0 |
| Moore, Chi. | 5 | 105 | 2 |
| London, Atl. | 5 | 74 | 1 |
| Pitts, Atl. | 3 | 70 | 0 |
| McLaurin, Was. | 6 | 98 | 0 |
| Ertz, Was. | 4 | 40 | 1 |
| Sutton, Den. | 8 | 100 | 0 |
| Trautman, Den. | 4 | 85 | 1 |
We'll see where guys like Tipton and Johnson actually show up in tomorrow's Weekly. New Orleans might be starting a backup quarterback, and will certainly favor the run. Even Chris Olave had a quiet game in the earlier meeting.
But those with waiver runs this evening can consider Tipton and Johnson, and maybe No. 2 running back Jamaal Williams while they're at it. The Panthers have been that bad this year. New Orleans, of course, scored 47 points in this matchup back in Week 1. They're not doing that again, but there should be plenty of yards and several touchdowns in play.
--Andy Richardson