Navigating The Saints’ Week 11 Bye and Your Fantasy Lineup

The mid-to-late season bye weeks are always a headache for fantasy managers, and Week 11 brings the Bayou blues with the New Orleans Saints hitting their off-week. While the Saints’ offense hasn’t been a model of consistency, they have a handful of players who are must-starts when they are on the field. Losing them, especially key contributors like Alvin Kamara and the quietly consistent Juwan Johnson, forces immediate action for managers fighting for a playoff spot.

This bye week isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a critical stress test of your roster depth.

The Fantasy Fallout: Who Hurts the Most?

• Alvin Kamara (RB): He remains the engine of the Saints’ offense, particularly in PPR formats where his receiving work is invaluable. His high-end RB1/low-end RB2 production is difficult to replicate. Losing him means a massive hole in your starting lineup, and you can’t afford a zero from the position.
• Chris Olave (WR): Olave has navigated the Saints’ inconsistent quarterback carousel (Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler have both seen action) to deliver respectable, if sometimes volatile, WR2 numbers. He is the clear top target, and his deep threat ability means he offers high upside every week.
• Juwan Johnson (TE): The biggest surprise fantasy asset on the Saints is arguably Johnson. He is currently ranked as a TE1 (TE8 overall) and has been on a tear with four straight weeks of solid production. In the wasteland that is fantasy tight end, losing him is a genuine problem.
• Tyler Shough (QB) / Saints D/ST: While Shough and the Saints Defense are more often streamable options than locked-in starters, managers who have been using them need to find a one-week replacement.

Waiver Wire Replacements: Scouting the Streams

The waiver wire is thin, but desperation breeds creativity. Here are some of my top suggestions for fantasy managers needing a one-week plug-and-play for their missing Saints.

Alvin Kamara (RB): Replacement Strategy: Target a volume-driven RB in a favorable matchup, or a pass-catching specialist for PPR.

Chris Olave (WR): Look for a high-target-share player with a decent QB in a game with a high over/under

Juwan Johnson (TE): The classic Tight End Stream—look for targets and a good red-zone matchup.

Saints D/ST: Stream based on matchup. Target bad offenses, especially those starting backup QBs or those with high turnover rates.

Final Opinion: A Small Bye, a Big Impact

Only two teams are on bye in Week 11 (Colts and Saints), which means the overall waiver wire isn’t completely barren. However, the quality of players missing from the Saints’ roster, particularly Kamara and Johnson,makes this a high-impact bye week for managers who rely on them.

The key to surviving this week is prioritizing opportunity over star power. Don’t chase the big name; chase the big snap count and the good matchup. Getting one decent week out of your replacement is all you need before you can welcome your Saints back for a key Week 12 divisional matchup against the Falcons.

Let us know in...