Blake Grupe leads Saints countdown to kickoff with the Week 1 opener vs. Arizona looming in 19 days. No. 19 has emerged as a trusted weapon for New Orleans, fresh off a rookie season that mixed boom-or-bust moments with clear range and leg strength. He was undrafted in 2023, beat out Wil Lutz, and then leaned into big kicks from beyond 50 yards—six makes, longest 57—in 2024 while escalating his kickoff power. Yet competition remains alive with Charlie Smyth nipping at his heels, keeping Grupe’s spot honest as New Orleans aims to maximize every opportunity in a potentially unsettled offensive start. Grupe’s consistency and clutch range could be the Saints’ best chance to rack up points early, especially if drives stall in the opening weeks against a defensively capable Cardinals squad.

Grupe’s journey from Missouri’s Smith-Cotton to Arkansas State and Notre Dame, then into the NFL as an undrafted free agent, underscores a profile built on power and improving accuracy. A late-season 46-yard miss at Green Bay in his rookie year haunted a playoff-clinching tie-breaker, but his 2024 numbers told a different story: clean extra points, 87.1% field goals, and a reliable long-range tool that should keep Saints fans optimistic about their scoring ceiling in the early going. With the offense expected to be dynamic enough to threaten from inside the red zone, Grupe’s leg could become the difference-maker in a few nail-biters, especially in a home opener against Arizona where every three points count.

As New Orleans leans on Grupe’s range to put points on the board, fantasy managers should watch the Week 1 setup closely. If the offense stalls, Grupe could become a high-floor, high-ceiling kicker play early in the season, offering steady points from field goals and occasional multi-kick games. His performance will also shape how aggressively the Saints deploy him in tight spots—whether as a weekly staple in standard leagues or a risk-reward option in deeper formats.