We have an intriguing TNF match-up ahead of us with the Saints hitting the road to face off with the Cardinals. Both teams have lost three of their last four games so we'll see who manages to put up a "get right" performance tonight!

By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter and LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) | 43.5 O/U

NO: 20.5 Implied Points | ARI: 23.0 Implied Points

Notable DFS Relevant Injuries: WR Marquise Brown (IR), RB James Conner (Questionable), WR Michael Thomas (OUT), WR Jarvis Landry (OUT), K Matt Prater (Questionable), RB Darrel Williams (OUT), TE Adam Trautman (OUT), WR Keith Kirkwood (Questionable)

Score Prediction: NO - 23, ARI - 24

Showdown Roster Construction (in order of preference): 3-3 Balanced, 4-2 Saints, 4-2 Cardinals

SICScore/Field View 👩‍⚕️🩺

via sicscore.com

Saints Defense / Cardinals Offense

Cardinals Defense / Saints Offense

Players & Stacks to Consider

Top Captains and Core Flex Plays:

QB Kyler Murray: He hasn’t been lighting it up, by any means, but Murray has maintained a 16.3 DKFP floor through six games this season. Murray’s dual-threat ability certainly adds to his high floor, and his rushing usage may benefit if RB James Conner (ribs) sits out for another game. Murray has racked up 142 yards on the ground in the last two games with Conner (mostly) sidelined. While Murray does lose Marquise Brown (foot) for an extended period of time, he gets back All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins from his six-game suspension along with a deep threat in WR Robbie Anderson, who was recently traded over from the Panthers. The Saints will also be without top corner Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) which clearly bodes well for Murray and the Cardinal’s passing game.

RB Alvin Kamara: His usage has been elite since returning from injury two games ago. Over the last two weeks, Kamara has taken 42 carries for 202 yards while tacking on 12 catches on 15 targets for 116 yards. He is still searching for his first touchdown of the season, and the way that the Saints utilize QB/gadget player Taysom Hill, particularly near the goal line, does take away from Kamara’s TD equity. However, volume is what we’re after here, and Kamara has seen plenty of that lately. The TDs will eventually come if Kamara continues to see 20-25 touches.

WR Chris Olave: With the continued absences of WRs Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle), rookie sensation Chris Olave should easily be able to pace the Saints in targets and air yards. Olave sat out last week due to a concussion, but in the four games prior, he commanded 39 targets (29.8% TGT%), an insane 706 air yards (47.2% Air Yard%), and a deep downfield 18.1-yard aDOT. For some comparison, the next-closest Saints receiver in air yards during that stretch was Tre’Quan Smith, who saw 194 targeted air yards… 504 fewer than Olave. While there is some uncertainty surrounding who will get the start at QB for the Saints tonight, there is nothing scary about the match-up with a Cardinals secondary that allows the 7th most FPPG to perimeter WRs (Olave: 70% perimeter%).

Flex Plays and Leverage Captain Options:

WR DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins’ return from his six-game suspension couldn’t have come at a better time following the week six foot injury suffered by current leading Cardinals receiver, Marquise Brown. Due to ending his 2021 season with an MCL sprain, Hopkins has not seen any live NFL action since week 14 last season. Perhaps he will have some light snap restrictions as he shakes off a little rust, but there is no question that he will immediately step in as the top Cardinals receiving option. Hopkins and Kyler Murray also have quite a bit of actual in-game experience and rapport in HC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, so it isn’t as if he’s stepping into an unfamiliar situation. And, as mentioned above with Murray, a big bonus for the Cardinals passing game, and Hopkins specifically, stems from not having to face top Saints CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) tonight. Even with Lattimore playing most of this season, the Saints have surrendered the second-most FPPG to perimeter WRs.

WR Rondale Moore: Moore was one of my all-time favorite players to watch in college, so I’m glad to see that he is setting up to have a fairly involved role. He’ll play second fiddle to Hopkins and could slide in behind TE Zach Ertz in target share. However, he has seen an encouraging 18 targets in the last two games which represents a 24.3% TGT% in that stretch. His targets typically come close to the line of scrimmage (5.3-yard aDOT) but that does lead to a high catch probability and Moore’s athleticism allows him to rack up some YAC yardage.

QB Andy Dalton: Dalton sticks out as more of a floor play than an upside captain option. He’s not an exciting play but assuming he gets the starting nod today, and nothing strange happens where Jameis Winston comes in, then Dalton is a decent bet for 12-15 FP against a Cardinals team that allows the 12th most FPPG to QBs.

Flex Fillers, Fliers, and Sleepers:

QB Taysom Hill: Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston went a bit banged up this week. Both QBs shed their injury designations ahead of this game, and the feeling is that Dalton will be the guy who draws the start for the fourth consecutive game. Taysom Hill will trot out there in special gadget packages regardless of who starts. While he is primarily used as a runner, he did attempt four passes last week, and the Saints love to use him near the goal line. He’s a low-floor / high-ceiling play, but he is definitely on the FLEX radar in this game due to his multi-touchdown potential. He is not exactly coming in as a cheap play but that fact, combined with his volatility will keep his ownership in check.

TE Zach Ertz: I wouldn’t expect Ertz’s target share to take a major hit with Hopkins back in action. He has seen 10+ targets in four of his last five games and has scored double-digit DKFP in every game this season. The caveat here is that the Saints defense has been extremely stingy against opposing TEs, allowing the second-fewest FPPG to the position. However, Ertz is easily the most involved tight end they’ll have faced yet this season, and Ertz’s volume makes him a fine floor FLEX play.

WR Marquez Callaway: Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway are looking to operate as the second and third receivers behind Olave. Smith is more of a deep downfield threat which, hey, if he connects on one or two big plays, he could end up in the optimal lineup. However, Callaway projects for a safer target share due to leading all Saints WRs in snaps each of the last three games. Olave’s early exit in week five and absence in week six factor into Callaway’s high snap%, but the main point is that he’s been on the field more than Tre’Quan Smith so he feels like the ‘safer’ target.

K Will Lutz OR K Matt Prater: Both kickers are fine FLEX targets, especially in a domed match-up with an O/U total set at 43.5. Prater is considered a game-time decision, so Lutz would seem to be the preferred kicker since he carries no injury concerns.

TE Juwan Johnson: With TE Adam Trautman (ankle) out, that should open the door for Johnson to play upwards of 80% of the snaps. Trautman has a 50.9% snap% this season, behind Johnson’s 67.3% snap%. Johnson has been inconsistent and doesn’t provide any significant ceiling, but he has seen 5+ targets in 3-of-6 games this season, and the Cardinals have been pretty awful against TEs, allowing the second-most FPPG to the position.

Thursday Night Football TD Call 🏈

"QB" Taysom Hill

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Stack Concepts:

Note: [*Player Name] indicates captain selection.

*QB Kyler Murray, WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Rondale Moore: Routine CPTN Murray double stack.

*RB Alvin Kamara, QB Kyler Murray, WR DeAndre Hopkins: This is a solid “safe” stack with a game script independent Kamara at captain with a “bring back” stack of Murray and Hopkins on the other side. On DraftKings, this leaves you with $4,233 remaining for the other three FLEX positions, but it’s doable if you throw in a kicker and a punt play like TE Juwan Johnson or WR AJ Green.

*WR Chris Olave, QB Andy Dalton, WR Rondale Moore: Olave doesn’t have the best QB situation to work with but his projected volume gives him slate-breaking upside. Throw Dalton in at FLEX as a correlation play and run it back with a Cardinals receiver -- WR Rondale Moore being a nice, affordable option.

*WR DeAndre Hopkins, QB Kyler Murray, WR Marquez Callaway: Assuming Hopkins faces little to no snap restrictions and doesn’t have much rust to shake off, his DFS ceiling is as high as any player on the slate. When rolling out Hopkins at CPTN, I think you almost have to work in Murray in the FLEX as a correlation play. Callaway stands out as a nice, cheap bring-back option on the other side.

*WR Rondale Moore, QB Kyler Murray, RB Alvin Kamara (Fade DeAndre Hopkins): One of these days, Rondale Moore is going to rip off an insane highlight-reel catch and run. I’m not saying it’ll happen tonight, but the potential is always there. Watch his highlight film from his Purdue days to get an idea of what he can do. If he’s going to continue to see 8+ targets, he’s a viable contrarian CPTN play that will open up plenty of salary to spend on high-end FLEX players.

*QB Taysom Hill (GPP Only): Not really a stack suggestion here but deploying Hill as your captain is one way to get *really* different on this slate. His floor is not great whatsoever but, as we saw in week five, his ceiling is incredible. I would consider fading Alvin Kamara in any CPTN Taysom Hill lineups due to negative correlation.

PrizePicks TNF Power Play ⚡

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DeAndre Hopkins MORE than 13.5 Fantasy Score

Chris Olave MORE than 7.5 Receiving Targets

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That will wrap us up with today's "Primetime Preview" edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!