New Orleans Saints vs. Las Vegas Raiders Matchup Breakdown For Fantasy Football Week 3

• Spread: Saints -3.0
• O/U: 43.5
• Score Prediction (from the Fantasy Life NFL Betting Model):  NO 23, LV 19

Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Preview

After watching these games back throughout the weeks, few teams come off more likable than the Raiders. Weird historical juxtaposition from the "Win, baby, win" days, right? Partly Kirk Cousins' charm, with a smidge of that thing inside us that wants to cheer on an underdog. From a talent standpoint, this team's simply not that great (sorry). Maybe my nose is buried too deep in the spreadsheets, but bottom-tier marks in yards/play (4.7) and success rate (40.2%) usually only end one way, especially with quarterback concerns.

Credit Cousins for leading the league in passing TDs through two weeks (2), scoring three times more than his number of sacks taken. That's how you do it, folks. After what we saw in Seattle, maybe it shouldn't have come as such a surprise that Klint Kubiak would revolve his offense around an effective play-action game. Cousins' 150 play-action passing yards rank 7th, but having fewer attempts than anyone else ahead of him leaves him 2nd overall in EPA on those throws.

Tre Tucker acted as a benefactor of the play-action game but, more importantly, is winning over the middle of the field in 2026. At an elite 81% route participation rate, strong advanced metrics (21.6% target/route, 2.86 yards/route), plus a top-10 positional finish on the ledger, we could easily be looking at a wide-awake sleeper for 2026.

Rumors are swirling around a Brock Bowers return, which honestly gets me even more excited for Tucker as a secondary and perhaps overlooked option. Whether or not Bowers returns will most likely directly affect Michael Mayer more than anyone, though again, this team's desperate for pass-catching talent in general.

That's about all the positivity I can muster for the black and silver. Call me old-fashioned, but you can't be considered any sort of contender without the ability to run the ball. Yes, we like Ashton Jeanty … and Kolton Miller … and Tyler Linderbaum. What's not to like? Oh, I don't know, what about being 29th or worse in yards/attempt (2.8), success rate (36.4%), or explosive rush rate (3.0%) — and that's not to mention we're all still waiting for their first +20-yard attempt or rushing TD.

Don't confuse Jeanty's role as it pertains to fantasy with an actual, good real-life run game. And don't sell the Saints' defense short either — they've played the Lions and Ravens. The combo of LB Pete Warner, DE Chase Young, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, and S Julian Blackmon puts a legit playmaker at every level. Don't be shocked if and when LV looks listless on offense.

• Start: RB Ashton Jeanty, TE Brock Bowers, WR Tre Tucker
• Sit: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Jalin Nailor
• Sleeper: TE Michael Mayer

New Orleans Saints Fantasy Preview

Say what you will about me — I'm transparent and put my biases right out front ... I love this Saints squad. From the intense pace of play to elevated pass rates, innovation in a stubborn game always gets my attention. With that, if it's good for the goose, it's good for the gander — if the Saints don't figure out the run game, any hopes to take the NFC South division will wind up down the tubes.

Trust me, I'd love to sugarcoat the facts, but they famously don't care about my feelings: 3.0 yards/rush, 2.29 yards after contact per rush, 38.0% success, and a 3.8% explosive rush rate despite facing the second-lowest rate of heavy boxes (42%) are the pits. Lucky for New Orleans, they've been mostly able to overcome the fatal flaw, but for how long?

What a wild ride following the Saints' backfield has been. The front office backs up the Brinks truck for Travis Etienne on day one of free agency, only to have him lose high-value work to Kendre Miller, who eventually gets healthy-scratched a week later for an ancient Alvin Kamara. Make it make sense. And the craziest part? In a return start from injury, Kamara logged an incredible 14 touches on 19 snaps. What?!?

Visible frustration aside, Kamara's somehow a must-add in the year 2026… what a world. I'd probably extend that same honor to the discarded Miller, who will probably be back and playing in front of Etienne when Kamara eventually gets hurt again. Right now it's a mess. Honestly, I have no interest in finding out which Saints RB will be the one getting stuffed by that ferocious combination of defenders up front: Nakobe Dean, Maxx Crosby, and Kwity Paye. Good luck with that.

Pass catchers are especially fun to roster in the Big Easy since Kellen Moore combines such a fast pace with very little player rotation. Even though only four players really run routes (Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Juwan Johnson, Bryce Lance), the rookie doesn't get many opportunities. In fact, Bryce Lance has run the 9th-most routes among all WR/TE (77), but 112 players earned more targets (5). When it comes to the Big Three, it's smoke 'em if you got 'em …

• Start: QB Tyler Shough, WR Chris Olave, WR Devaughn Vele, TE Juwan Johnson
• Sit: RB Travis Etienne, WR Bryce Lance
• Sleeper: RB Alvin Kamara

Next Week's Bold Headline, Today

• The sound of horns in the street means Kirk Cousins and the Raiders finally got served their first long-overdue loss. New Orleans gets the W with another winnable game versus Atlanta on deck, leaving fantasy gamers scrambling to get a piece of this offense.