New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is expected to take a step back this upcoming season. He wasn't as productive last year and now he's lost tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks and receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins.
Fantasy football draft strategy: Will Drew Brees be OK with his old weapons?
Drew Brees is expected to see his numbers slide. Should you pick him up in fantasy football leagues with the decreased demand?
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Well, nobody told Brees he was going to decrease his production in the preseason. He boasts a near-perfect 156.0 passer rating, completing 12 of his 16 passes for 199 yards and two scores. Second-year receiver Brandin Cooks looks like the real deal with seven catches for 164 yards and two scores.
The Saints have also strengthened their offensive line, which should allow Brees to take more five-step drops and get the ball down the field to guys like Cooks -- he has three catches of at least 20 yards in the preseason.
Fantasy impact: Brees had his worst season since 2009 with just 33 TDs and 4,952 yards, which is still not bad at all. Perhaps the fantasy community is writing him off a little too soon, considering he’s the fifth QB coming off the board. If he slips to QB6-8 in your draft, it makes sense to pick him up.
