New Orleans sits at 0-2 after two tight losses, with first-year play-caller Kellen Moore guiding a still-developing offense. Spencer Rattler has shown clear improvement, protecting the ball and giving the team a plausible path to wins, while Alvin Kamara has been the offense’s brightest asset, grinding out yards and highlighting week-to-week upside. The passing attack hasn’t clicked consistently yet, though Juwan Johnson has offered a spark. The defense has had sturdy moments but can’t close out games. They head to Seattle salivating at a break in the schedule with 15 games left to salvage the season.

Their upcoming matchup vs Seattle is a key test, as the Seahawks bring a different style that can reveal where New Orleans must grow in the passing game and in situational efficiency. With football life in the balance for fantasy managers, this is a pivotal week to gauge progress from Rattler and Kamara, and to watch how the defense handles Seattle’s pace and offense.

Division standings show Tampa Bay up 2-0, Atlanta 1-1, and Carolina 0-2, setting a challenging but navigable path for New Orleans with 15 games remaining to flip the narrative.

0-2 starts are historically brutal, but the NFL’s 17-game era offers room to rebound. A new PANIC score aggregates five panic biomarkers—closeness of losses, head coach security, rookie/young-talent performance, fan sentiment, and the volume of controversial decisions—to rank the league’s 10 winless teams. Kansas City sits at 3.5 while Miami trails at 9.5, with a clear path to calm through improved play, coaching steadiness, and roster decisions that shape playoff odds and fantasy value.

The list spans KC, NO, CLE, NYJ, CHI, CAR, HOU, NYG, TEN, and MIA, each evaluated for the risk of panic in a 17-game season. The piece translates a season’s early chaos into actionable fantasy and betting takeaways: which young players might break out, which coaches face pressure, and how schedules and QB development influence upside in the months ahead.

Week 3 NFL survivor chatter centers on Seattle vs. New Orleans, a key NFC clash with Seattle as a 7.5-point favorite but notable injury concerns in the Seahawks’ secondary with Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori listed as questionable. The Saints counter with Spencer Rattler’s rising play, and the SportsLine Projection Model pegs a 38% upset probability for New Orleans, a figure higher than many Week 3 road options. The model, backed by a 37-17 run and a 10,000-simulation approach, has shifted opinions on several Week 3 favorites and offers a data-driven path for survivor pools.

Also in the mix are seven games with spreads of 6+ points, including Dolphins-Bills, Packers-Browns, Jets-Buccaneers, Raiders-Commanders, Chiefs-Giants, Lions-Ravens, and Saints-Seahawks. The piece highlights how savvy players are treating Week 3 not just as a set of favorites, but as a puzzle where value and risk are weighed against a long-term survivor strategy.

Week 3 tight end fantasy pivots lean toward volume and matchup. Juwan Johnson is the clear TE1 with elite route involvement and double-digit targets, setting a high ceiling against Seattle. Jake Tonges has seized the 49ers’ Week 3 start, leveraging a favorable Cardinals matchup. T.J. Hockenson should rise with extra targets in a favorable clash. Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts carry risk after slow starts, while Tucker Kraft remains a risky but intriguing week-3 option with upside in a Packers offense that is leaning into his breakout stretch.

Week 3 starts hinge on role and opponent, with Johnson’s workload a standout edge, Tonges in a plug-and-play scenario, and Hockenson presenting a dart-throw upside play if the game plan tilts his way. Pitts and Andrews require price-conscious rostering given early-season patterning, while Kraft’s spike weeks keep him in the streamer conversation. Carolina’s weak TE defense and Cleveland’s softer matchup for Kraft are key elements for Week 3 decision-making.