Tag: NFL Week 4

Carl Granderson tied for second-most QB pressures going into Week 4

Carl Granderson is tied for the second-most QB pressures going into Week 4. The Saints’ breakout star from 2023 has picked up where he left off in 2024:

Take a bow, Carl Granderson. Pro Football Focus charting found that the New Orleans Saints defensive end is tied for the second-most quarterback pressures around the NFL going into Week 4. The Saints’ breakout playmaker from 2023 has picked up where he left off in 2024.

Like Granderson, Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons also has 18 pressures through the first three weeks, and only Detroit Lions fan-favorite Aidan Hutchinson has more (25). And Granderson is consistently producing. He had three pressures in Week 1, eight of them in Week 2, and seven more in Week 3. Officially, Granderson has been credited with 3.0 sacks this season after notching 1.5 sacks in each of his last two games. But PFF gives full credit for half-sacks, so by their tracking he’s up to 4.0 of them.

Hopefully he can sustain this pace. Chase Young isn’t far behind with 15 pressures but unlike Granderson he isn’t finishing many pass-rush attempts with sacks. And after those two, no other Saints defender has more than 5 pressures on the season thus far. That’s disappointing. Hopefully someone like Cameron Jordan or Bryan Breseee steps up against the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday so Granderson and Young aren’t shouldering the load alone.

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Cameron Jordan searching for his first sack vs. Falcons post-Matt Ryan

Cameron Jordan is searching for his first sack against the Falcons since they traded Matt Ryan. Maybe Kirk Cousins can help him end that drought:

No one in NFL history has sacked a single quarterback more than Cameron Jordan has sacked former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. With the New Orleans Saints traveling to Atlanta on Sunday, this feels like an appropriate time to remind all Falcons fans of this fact.

Jordan and Ryan were both NFL iron men. During their 11-year overlap in the NFC South, neither of them missed a Saints versus Falcons game. In those 22 matchups, Jordan took Ryan to the turf 24 times, though since he split two sacks with other players, his official count is just 23.

The most consistent stretch came slightly before Ryan left Atlanta for the Indianapolis Colts. Jordan registered three consecutive two-sack games. He failed to register a sack in the next game, then exploded for seven sacks in the following two games. This six-game stretch accounted for 13 of the 23 sacks against Ryan.

Oddly enough, Jordan hasn’t registered a sack against Atlanta since Ryan left in 2022. Kirk Cousins is closer to Ryan’s level of mobility (and Jordan has 3.5 sacks against Cousins in six matchups, including the playoffs), so maybe that could help Jordan end the drought.

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Cameron Jordan on Falcons hate week: ‘Five days of screw them’

Cameron Jordan gets it. It’s Falcons hate week. That goes for everyone on Atlanta’s side, from the fans to Terry Fontenot:

If the New Orleans Saints had a player spokesperson, Cameron Jordan is on the shortlist of players to choose from. He’s probably at the top of the shortlist. He’s one of the most personable players on the team, which you can see as he makes his rounds in the sports media landscape, and he embodies the culture. Those two aspects merged on his own show, as Jordan laid out what hate week is all about.

“When Atlanta comes up on our schedule, we’ve got hate week coming up. There’s going to be five days of ‘Screw them,'” Jordan said, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.

If you’re on that side, you’re an enemy for a week, and that includes Terry Fontenot. Jordan doesn’t spare anyone, continuing: “The coach, the city, the GM that used to work for us. Everybody’s got to get it, and the city feels that.'”

Jordan is spot on. The city and everyone involved with the Saints knows what time it is. It’s hate week. This isn’t uncommon to hear from fans, and Jordan is one of the few players it isn’t shocking to hear this from.

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Fantasy football start/bench list: Week 4

Check out where your roster options fit into our Week 4 start/bench tiers.

Player analysis and projections can be found in our Start/Bench Tool customized to your myHuddle league scoring and rosters. All player listings by groups are in no particular order.

Key: Upgrade / Downgrade

QUARTERBACKS WIDE RECEIVERS
BEST BETS Opp BEST BETS Opp
Kyler Murray WAS Nico Collins JAC
C.J. Stroud JAC Marvin Harrison Jr. WAS
Josh Allen @BAL Amon-Ra St. Brown SEA
GREAT STARTS Opp DK Metcalf @DET
Jayden Daniels @ARI Ja’Marr Chase @CAR
Joe Burrow @CAR GREAT STARTS Opp
Dak Prescott @NYG Stefon Diggs JAC
SOLID STARTERS Opp Amari Cooper @LVR
Lamar Jackson BUF CeeDee Lamb @NYG
Geno Smith @DET Mike Evans PHI
Brock Purdy NE Jayden Reed MIN
Baker Mayfield PHI SOLID STARTERS Opp
Jordan Love MIN Drake London NO
Jalen Hurts @TB Chris Godwin PHI
Patrick Mahomes @LAC Khalil Shakir @BAL
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp Chris Olave @ATL
Caleb Williams LAR Rome Odunze LAR
Aaron Rodgers DEN Diontae Johnson CIN
Jared Goff SEA Brandon Aiyuk NE
Sam Darnold @GB Davante Adams CLE
Andy Dalton CIN DJ Moore LAR
Daniel Jones DAL Justin Jefferson @GB
Kirk Cousins NO Demarcus Robinson @CHI
Justin Fields @IND Zay Flowers BUF
Derek Carr @ATL Rashee Rice @LAC
Anthony Richardson PIT Tyreek Hill TEN
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp Jauan Jennings NE
Jacoby Brissett @SF Tee Higgins @CAR
Justin Herbert KC Malik Nabers DAL
Skylar Thompson TEN Calvin Ridley @MIA
Tyler Huntley TEN Terry McLaurin @ARI
Deshaun Watson @LVR Jameson Williams SEA
Will Levis @MIA George Pickens @IND
Matthew Stafford @CHI FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp
Trevor Lawrence @HOU Michael Wilson WAS
Gardner Minshew CLE Brian Thomas Jr. @HOU
Bo Nix @NYJ Ladd McConkey KC
RUNNING BACKS Jalen Nailor @GB
BEST BETS Opp Garrett Wilson DEN
Saquon Barkley @TB Jahan Dotson @TB
Breece Hall DEN Darnell Mooney NO
GREAT STARTS Opp Jaylen Waddle TEN
Jahmyr Gibbs SEA Romeo Doubs MIN
Brian Robinson Jr. @ARI Rashid Shaheed @ATL
Devin Singletary DAL J. Smith-Njigba @DET
SOLID STARTERS Opp DeAndre Hopkins @MIA
Aaron Jones @GB Michael Pittman Jr. PIT
David Montgomery SEA Quentin Johnston KC
Chuba Hubbard CIN Christian Kirk @HOU
Kyren Williams @CHI Greg Dortch WAS
Bijan Robinson NO Christian Watson MIN
Alvin Kamara @ATL Xavier Worthy @LAC
De’Von Achane TEN Tutu Atwell @CHI
Zack Moss @CAR Tank Dell JAC
Jordan Mason NE Tyler Lockett @DET
Derrick Henry BUF Alec Pierce PIT
Josh Jacobs MIN Wan’Dale Robinson DAL
Najee Harris @IND Andrei Iosivas @CAR
Jerome Ford @LVR Jerry Jeudy @LVR
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp Xavier Legette CIN
Zach Charbonnet @DET SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp
James Conner WAS D. Wicks MIN
Zamir White CLE Tyler Boyd @MIA
James Cook @BAL Josh Reynolds @NYJ
J.K. Dobbins KC Allen Lazard DEN
Travis Etienne @HOU Josh Downs PIT
Braelon Allen DEN Tre Tucker CLE
Ezekiel Elliott @NYG Luke McCaffrey @ARI
Bucky Irving PHI Brandin Cooks @NYG
Tony Pollard @MIA Mike Williams DEN
Cam Akers JAC Keon Coleman @BAL
Jonathan Taylor PIT Keenan Allen LAR
Rico Dowdle @NYG A.J. Brown @TB
D’Andre Swift LAR DeVonta Smith @TB
Rhamondre Stevenson @SF Jordan Addison @GB
Tyjae Spears @MIA Rashod Bateman BUF
Carson Steele @LAC Jalen Tolbert @NYG
Rachaad White PHI Gabe Davis @HOU
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp Tyler Johnson @CHI
Alexander Mattison CLE DeMario Douglas @SF
Cordarrelle Patterson @IND Courtland Sutton @NYJ
Samaje Perine @LAC Jakobi Meyers CLE
Justice Hill BUF DEFENSIVE TEAMS
Chase Brown @CAR BEST BETS Opp
Tyler Allgeier NO Chiefs @LAC
Raheem Mostert TEN 49ers NE
Joe Mixon JAC GREAT STARTS Opp
Kareem Hunt @LAC Titans @MIA
Austin Ekeler @ARI Steelers @IND
K. Walker III @DET Texans JAC
Jaylen Warren @IND SOLID STARTERS Opp
Roschon Johnson LAR Cardinals WAS
Tyrone Tracy Jr. DAL Jets DEN
Javonte Williams @NYJ Packers MIN
Antonio Gibson @SF Cowboys @NYG
TIGHT ENDS Raiders CLE
BEST BETS Opp Browns @LVR
Cole Kmet LAR Dolphins TEN
Dalton Kincaid @BAL Bears LAR
GREAT STARTS Opp FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp
Tyler Conklin DEN Lions SEA
Travis Kelce @LAC Bills @BAL
SOLID STARTERS Opp Vikings @GB
Mark Andrews BUF Saints @ATL
Jake Ferguson @NYG Rams @CHI
Dallas Goedert @TB Eagles @TB
Brock Bowers CLE Giants DAL
Kyle Pitts NO SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS Opp Ravens BUF
Dalton Schultz JAC Panthers CIN
Pat Freiermuth @IND Broncos @NYJ
Zach Ertz @ARI Bengals @CAR
Mike Gesicki @CAR Colts PIT
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM Opp Buccaneers PHI
Isaiah Likely BUF Commanders @ARI
Brenton Strange @HOU Seahawks @DET
Cade Otton PHI Jaguars @HOU
Evan Engram @HOU Patriots @SF
David Njoku @LVR Falcons NO
George Kittle NE Chargers KC
Taysom Hill @ATL
Trey McBride WAS
Sam LaPorta SEA
Hunter Henry @SF
Jonnu Smith TEN
Eric Saubert NE
Noah Fant @DET
Colby Parkinson @CHI
Tommy Tremble CIN

Patriots Week 4 injury report: Key OL starter returns to practice

An OL starter for the Patriots was back on the practice field on Wednesday

The New England Patriots released their first injury report ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

There were some new additions to the report this week, but there was also some good news with starting offensive guard Sidy Sow returning to the practice field as a limited participant.

The second-year lineman has been working his way back from an ankle injury, and he could be on the verge of returning to a struggling unit that desperately needs help.

Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez popped up on the report with a shoulder injury, along with tight end Hunter Henry (ankle) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (shoulder).

Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace both being on the report is concerning for a Patriots team set to go up against 49ers All-Pro pass-rusher Nick Bosa. Wallace filled in for Lowe as the starting left tackle against the New York Jets.

If both are unable to go, it would leave a massive hole on the offensive front and turn a bad situation into a full-blown catastrophe for the Patriots.

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An early edge in the divisional race at stake for the Saints in Week 4

An early edge in the divisional race is at stake for the Saints in Week 4. But the Falcons probably feel the same way:

The New Orleans Saints have the chance to take the all-time series lead over the Atlanta Falcons when the two teams face off on Sunday. As good as it will feel to say you lead the series against a heated rival, the game has more important impacts to the current season.

A victory would put the Saints up two games over the Falcons and they’d have the early tiebreaker. Week 4 may be a little early to be speaking about tiebreakers, but the Saints will have played two divisional games already by the end of the week.

It’s not too early to start calculating what a victory would mean from that perspective. A victory would keep Atlanta from winning the divisional series outright and give you the chance to complete a sweep at home later in the season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also have a tough game against the Philadelphia Eagles. A Saints win plus Tampa Bay loss would leave New Orleans all alone a the top of the division and end the streak of the Saints and Buccaneers mirroring outcomes.

A loss to Atlanta would drop the Saints to second at best in the division. New Orleans and the Falcons would have the same record with Atlanta holding the head to head victory. The Saints would have to then ensure they came down with the victory against the Falcons in Week 10 to avoid the season sweep.

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Initial Week 4 Saints injury report has Taysom Hill return to full practice reps

The Saints’ initial Week 4 injury report has 4 DNPs, but Taysom Hill (chest) is back to practicing fully after missing last week’s game:

The New Orleans Saints will be traveling to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4, and their initial injury report does not look great, as it looks similar to their initial Week 3 report in the number of non-participants.

The Saints did pick up multiple injuries in their Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, with quarterback Derek Carr (left groin), defensive back Alontae Taylor (illness), linebacker Demario Davis (hamstring), running back Alvin Kamara (hip/ribs), and right guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) all being new additions to the list. The four DNPs are all players from this list, as Carr was the only one of the five who practiced, as he hit the full practice threshold.

In good news, tight end Taysom Hill (chest) has returned to full practice after his Week 2 injury, and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (calf) has upgraded to limited from last week as well.

Linebacker D’Marco Jackson (calf) and offensive lineman Landon Young (foot) are both trying to work their way back from their respective injuries, and both started off limited which is a good sign, depending on how they progress through the week it could indicate they may be available.

On the other side of the report, the Falcons have only one player listed which is right tackle Kaleb McGary (knee), who did not practice as most expected. While this seems short, it is worth noting that center Drew Dalman (ankle) was placed on injured reserve just before this report came out, so the Falcons will be without at least one offensive line starter, potentially two.

Here is the full initial injury report for both teams:

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NFL power rankings roundup: Saints rankings plateau entering Week 4

The Saints’ ratings in NFL power rankings have plateaued after their Week 3 loss to the Eagles. They’ve got a lot to prove in Week 4:

The New Orleans Saints Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles tamed how many media outlets view the team heading into Week 4, as many of their ratings of the Saints went down or stagnated compared to last week. Fortunately, many of the ratings did not go too low, and every outlet still has the Saints in the top half of the league, most of them by a good margin as well.

The Saints got all the way up to third in some rankings last week which was really fun to see, and this week they remained as high as seventh but also went as low as 14th compared to the low of 12th entering Week 3. Here is the full list of how they are rated:

High: 7th – Low: 14th – Average: 10.5

To be frank, many outlets see the Saints as we fans and media do still, good but not great. They rank behind the elite of the league who have been performing since Week 1 and even back to last season when factoring in expectations, but ahead of most of the middle of the road teams who are of a similar record. The first two weeks did a good job of solidifying the Saints for at least a week with a buffer for a loss, but their matchup with the Atlanta Falcons will be a critical one to keeping hopes high and potentially moving them up the boards again.

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Where the Saints come in on USA Today’s Week 4 NFL power rankings

Let’s take a look at where the Saints rank on the freshly-updated USA Today power rankings heading into Week 4:

The New Orleans Saints’ 2-1 start has left many media outlets feeling mixed on their reactions to how the team should rank among the NFL’s elite. On the one hand, they started off 2-0 and had 91 points through two games, and on the other hand, they looked less than stellar against the Philadelphia Eagles, especially without Erik McCoy.

Across the media landscape they have dropped a few positions but typically not too many, and this is the same case as the USA Today power rankings, which put the Saints at No. 9. Last week the Saints came in at No. 6on this list, however, their loss and a few teams continuing to look good moved them down a little bit. Here’s what USA Today’s Nate Davis had to say about the Saints after Week 3’s close loss:

“So much focus has understandably been devoted to their offense. But when was the last time you saw a slot corner (Alontae Taylor) among the league’s sack leaders (3½)?”

He makes a good point as well, the offense got a lot of attention when it was good, and the same when it was bad in Week 3. However we have neglected to talk about the defense, including Alontae Taylor, which with the exception of a few plays has looked pretty outstanding for having to carry the load in Week 3.

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Jonathan Vilma on the call for FOX broadcast of Saints-Falcons

Here’s a quick look at the broadcasters and field reporter for the New Orleans Saints’ Week 4 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Jonathan Vilma is on the call:

The New Orleans Saints will get one of their own on the call for their Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, with Jonathan Vilma as an analyst, as well as Kenny Albert on play-by-play and Megan Olivi reporting from the sidelines. So far this season he has had the following matchups as a broadcaster:

  • Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants
  • Week 2: Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
  • Week 3: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns

The 2017 inductee into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame will travel to Atlanta, as the Saints play in a pivotal divisional matchup with the 1-2 Falcons who will look to take the second NFC South spot away in the standings.

It will be intriguing to hear how the former Saints Super Bowl champion views the team, and what his opinions on Klint Kubiak are, as well as the newfound offensive successes in the first two weeks, as well as their Week 3 loss. For a divisional matchup, it is only fitting to have someone from one of the two teams in the building on the call, as Vilma has first-hand experience of what this rivalry has been like in the past.

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