On a conference call, Sean Payton said they’re going to see how Willie Snead handles this week of work. Then see how much they can use him Sunday.

Snead entered the league as an undrafted free agent signed by the Browns in 2014. He was cut late in camp, tried out for the Giants and made the Panthers’ practice squad before finally landing on the Saints’ practice squad in December of 2014. The following season, he drew 101 targets, catching 69 passes for 984 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with 72-895-4 on 104 targets in 2015, finishing as a low-end WR3 in both seasons while playing 15 games each year. He’s a great route-runner, and should benefit from the departure of Brandin Cooks, who leaves 117 targets up for grabs. Snead has played at least 70 percent of the snaps in 17 games over the past two seasons and has caught 5.8 of 8.2 targets for an average of 77 yards and 0.24 touchdowns per game. Had he played at that rate last year, he would have finished as the No. 14 receiver in standard leagues and as the No. 12 receiver in PPR formats. He was primed for a sizable role prior to the suspension, and Brandon Coleman has played well in his place. He has some work to do to get back to fantasy WR3 status.

Saints WR Willie Snead's three-game suspension was for a personal conduct violation that stemmed from an off-season DUI.

Related players: Ted Ginn, Brandon Coleman, Coby Fleener

Snead will certainly have fantasy value when he returns in Week 4, but this is a blow to his overall value heading into the final weekend of fantasy drafts. Ted Ginn and Brandon Coleman figure to benefit the most, though neither has much experience playing in the slot, where Snead played 43% of the time (per Player Profiler). Coby Fleener may also spend more time in the slot to help offset the loss of Snead in September. Ginn was already a great value in the 12th round; now he looks even better in the double-digit rounds.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead was among 11 players to not practice Tuesday as the team prepares for Thursday's preseason finale.

For Snead, it marked the second consecutive day he was not on the field for undisclosed reasons. Snead played in the third preseason game and totaled one catch for 4 yards on 21 offensive snaps.

Related players: Ted Ginn

We just posted a new item from ESPN where the author feels Ted Ginn may have passed Snead on the depth chart as the team's WR2. Obviously Snead missing practice isn't going to help the situation, but on top of that Snead apparently hasn't done a whole lot in camp to this point.

I pretty much expected Willie Snead to settle in as the New Orleans Saints' No. 2 receiver after they traded Brandin Cooks this offseason.

But as this summer has gone on, it's starting to look like veteran newcomer Ted Ginn Jr. might push him for that unofficial title -- or, better yet, that the Saints might not have anyone who is considered a No. 2 receiver behind Michael Thomas.

The story went on to say the Saints love to spread the ball around. Snead has had a very quiet summer, with just three catches for 18 yards in a total of three preseason games. There are other hints - like Ginn being listed ahead of Snead on the Saints' unofficial depth chart and Snead playing deep into the fourth quarter of New Orleans' second preseason game.

So far, Saints WR Brandon Coleman looks the part. He's winning on short, intermediate and deep routes, and he's gaining yards after his catches. Backup quarterback Garrett Grayson labeled him the MVP of camp so far and said Coleman "looks like a totally different receiver."

Related players: Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn, Willie Snead

With Michael Thomas and Willie Snead looking like the top-two guys, Coleman is also battling Ted Ginn for playing time. The story said if he continues to play well, the team will have to find ways to get him the ball, but it's looking like a crowded WR group right now.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead is officially in the fold.

Snead signed his tender as an exclusive-rights free agent, according to Monday's NFL Transactions report.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Snead will earn a base salary of $615,000 under the tender, but the Saints and Snead are eyeing a longer deal.

This updates a previous report that said Snead hadn't signed, but intended to report to camp. He's expected to play a big role in the offense as the team's WR2.

Saints wide receiver Willie Snead has not signed the exclusive rights free agent offer that the team tendered early this offseason and made no bones about his desire for a different deal than the one-year, $615,000 one that’s on the table, but that won’t stop him from being at training camp on Thursday.

Snead wrote in a text message to Josh Katzenstein of the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he will report to camp with the rest of the team’s veterans.

“No holdout,” Snead wrote. “I’ll be on the practice field Thursday.”

Snead has 141 catches for 1,879 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two seasons and is set for a big role in the offense again this year. If he doesn’t sign a multi-year deal with the team this season, Snead will be a restricted free agent in 2018.