New Orleans loses Bub Means to a season-ending ankle injury, a setback that tightens the Saints' WR depth in 2025. Means, a promising second-year prospect, will miss the entire year after seeking a second opinion on his ankle. The Saints quickly signed Roderick Daniels Jr. to help fill the void, signaling a continued push toward youth and development on offense. Injuries also kept veteran depth thin across the roster as the club focuses on a broader rebuild around young talent.

Fantasy managers should watch how Daniels Jr. and the rest of the receivers step into expanded roles in the wake of Means’ absence. With Means out, distribution among remaining targets will shift, elevating sleepers and rookies who flash in camp and the preseason. New Orleans remains hopeful the core grows healthier in 2026, but the immediate fantasy impact hinges on who seizes opportunities in the WR room and how aggressively the Saints commit to the young group early in the season.

Bub Means sustained an ankle injury against the Chargers and is seeking a second opinion, clouding his exact timeline. The Saints are already short on depth at wideout, and the injury could push Means toward an IR stint rather than waivers. New Orleans added rookie Roderick Daniels Jr. after a tryout, but it isn’t clear if he’ll replace Means or Chris Tyree in practice. Sidelined, Means’ absence creates more opportunistic volume for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, with Shaheed’s role perhaps expanding if Means misses time.

Beyond Means, Olave and Shaheed remain the focal points in a Saints offense that values efficiency from its pass game. The Leauge-wide nods on 53-man projections didn’t factor Means as a roster lock, amplifying the fantasy calculus around the Saints’ WR corps. The Chargers matchup underscores the volatility of Saints pass-catchers until Means’ fate is clearer, though Olave’s floor remains high and Shaheed’s ceiling could rise with increased targets.

New Orleans opened the preseason against the Chargers with several injury withdrawals, highlighting early-depth concerns for the Saints. Will Clapp exited as Trevor Penning walked off on a cart, while Bub Means and Mason Pline also left the field. Clapp is the clear backup to Erik McCoy at center, and Penning had been handling the bulk of left-guard reps, so the team will be watching their recoveries closely. Coach Kellen Moore offered little on severity and stressed that testing results will dictate next steps.

Health looms large in the Saints’ planning, especially as discussions with the Rams about joint practices hinge on the squad’s availability. Pline appeared to have suffered the most serious injury among the quartet, while the others await clarity after tests. The early setback underlines the impact of early-season depth on the offense and how fantasy managers should monitor line health and contingency players as updates roll in.

Bub Means exited the Saints preseason game with a lower leg issue, adding to questions about New Orleans wide receiver depth behind the top trio. Means, a fifth‑round pick last year, flashed in practice but his season ended last year due to an ankle injury. He logged one catch for 12 yards in the game before leaving, and the depth chart behind the top receivers looks thin as camp continues.

If Means’ injury is serious or lingers, the Saints could lean more on veterans and the remaining depth options, potentially shifting targets and reps in ways fantasy managers will want to monitor. Means’ nine catches for 118 yards and a TD in seven games last season show ceiling, but health history adds a layer of uncertainty to his fantasy upside this year.