Week 11 vs. Washington
Drew Brees completed 18-of-25 passes for 184 yards and also rushed twice for 6 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' Week 10 win over the Bills. Unfortunately, the Saints' running game was so dominant that the future Hall of Famer took a backseat in the team's win. In fact, that has been the story all season for Brees, who has been more efficient than explosive. He's been great, but nothing compared to what he has been for fantasy owners in the past.
The Saints will host Washington on Sunday and Brees is our No. 5 QB for Week 11. Washington ranks as fantasy's No. 13 defense against quarterbacks. It's a good but not great matchup. Unless you also have Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, or Carson Wentz on your roster, Brees should be in your lineup.
Week 10 at Buffalo Bills
Drew Brees completed 22-of-27 passes for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Saints’ rout of the Bucs last Sunday. Brees was once again efficient, although he now has thrown for over 300 yards once in his last four games (a rarity for Brees owners). He had a 33-yard touchdown on a screen pass to rookie Alvin Kamara in the second quarter in which Kamara was dazzling on the play. The other score was a 36-yarder to Ted Ginn in the third quarter to put the Saints up for good.
Brees is no longer lighting up the league because the Saints are more balanced offensively. He has a tough matchup this Sunday in Buffalo, where the Bills rank 10th against fantasy quarterbacks this season. Ranked as our No. 10 QB, view Brees as a low-end QB1 for Week 10.
Week 9 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Drew Brees completed 23-of-28 passes for 299 yards in the Saints' Week 8 win over the Bears. For the first time this season, Brees failed to throw a touchdown pass in a game. His overall play was efficient but he's only thrown 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in his last two games. The Saints are also balanced offensively for the first time since 2009 and are relying more on Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and the running game.
All of that being said, Brees is still a weekly QB1 and has a great matchup on Sunday when the Saints host the Bucs. Tampa Bay has zero pass rush, could be without starting corner Brent Grimes, and ranks 31st against fantasy QBs this season. Ranked as our QB2 for Week 9, make sure Brees is in your lineups this week.
Week 8 vs. Chicago Bears
Drew Brees completed 27-of-38 passes for 331 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in the Saints' Week 7 win over the Packers. Brees struggled early, throwing a pair of interceptions in the first half. He did rally to throw for over 300 yards but he didn't make the same brilliant reads that we're accustomed to seeing out of Brees. Nevertheless, he's a weekly start and ranks as our No. 3 QB for Week 8. Get him in your lineup for when the Saints host the Bears on Sunday.
Week 7 at Green Bay Packers
Drew Brees completed 21-of-31 passes for 186 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the Saints’ Week 6 win over the Lions. The entire game was a turnover fest but New Orleans escaped with its third straight win. Brees is now averaging 17.85 points per game but he’s capable of much more. Ranked as our No. 2 QB for Week 7, he should put together a solid effort against a Packers defense ranked 17th against fantasy quarterbacks.
Week 6 vs. Detroit Lions
Drew Brees completed 29-of-41 passes for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins in London. Brees wasn’t as sharp as he normally is to start the game, but he settled in during the second half. He completed 5-of-6 passes after halftime, leading the Saints on a touchdown drive. The Lions own the No. 7 fantasy defense against quarterbacks and force turnovers on a weekly basis, but Brees remains a high-end QB1. He’s our No. 3 ranked QB for Week 6.
Week 4 at Miami Dolphins (game in London)
Drew Brees completed 22-of-29 passes for 220 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in the Saints' Week 3 victory over the Panthers. Despite facing a Carolina defense that was lights out in its first two weeks, Brees and the Saints made it look easy last Sunday. For the first time in three weeks, New Orleans also showed some offensive balance, gaining 5.5 yards per carry on the ground.
Ranked as our QB5 for Week 4, Brees is a QB1 for Sunday morning's game against the Dolphins in London. He should shred Miami's pass defense, especially now that Willie Snead's suspension has concluded.
Week 3 at Carolina Panthers
Drew Brees completed 27-of-45 passes for 356 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 2 loss to the Patriots. Brees and the New Orleans offense did all it could to keep pace with New England, but Tom Brady and Co. scored at will in the second half. The Saints’ defense is horrible for Sean Payton, but great for Brees owners because the quarterback will be forced to throw plenty in the second half of games.
Brees has a difficult matchup on Sunday as the Saints travel to Charlotte. The Panthers rank as fantasy’s No. 6 defense against quarterbacks, but Brees remains a must-start in every league. Ranked as our QB9 for Week 3, fire up Brees as a QB1 for Sunday.
Week 2 vs. New England Patriots
Drew Brees completed 27-of-37 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown in the Saints' Week 1 loss to the Vikings on Monday Night Football. Fantasy owners had to sweat out a rare lackluster performance by Brees, who finally produced a touchdown drive on the Saints' last possession of the night. Four different times the Saints entered the red zone, but New Orleans settled for Will Lutz field goals all night.
Brees should rebound on Sunday when the Saints host the Patriots in their home opener. Alex Smith torched New England for 368 yards and four touchdowns in Week 1, so Brees is one of our top quarterback plays in Week 2. Ranked as our QB3, Brees needs to be in your lineup come Sunday.
Week 1 at Minnesota Vikings
Drew Brees is coming off yet another incredible season, finishing as fantasy’s QB3 in 2016. He passed for 5,208 yards with 37 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions on 471-of-673 pass attempts. It was the fifth time in Brees’ illustrious career that he threw for over 5,000 yards, and the first time since 2013. Even at 38, Brees is nowhere close to slowing down.
Now, Brees does have a tough Week 1 matchup when the Saints travel to Minnesota on Monday night. The Vikings own fantasy’s fourth-ranked defense against quarterbacks and they’ll be excellent again this season. Brees will often be in the top 3, but this week he’s our No. 9 QB.
That said, you drafted Drew Brees to be your QB1 every week. So put him in your lineup and forget about him until he’s on bye.
