New Orleans offered a mix of strides and stumbles in its first preseason test, leaning on a handful of standouts to set early fantasy expectations. Tyler Shough flashed arm talent with a 54-yard hookup to Mason Tipton, while Shough also produced solid yardage (165) and a TD in his day’s work. Kevin Austin Jr. seized a roster moment, snagging four targets for 42 yards and displaying obvious chemistry with Shough. On defense, Jaylan Ford piled up five tackles and three assists, backed by Fadil Diggs’ four tackles and a sack, signaling potential IDP upside if the Saints lean on this unit. The Saints’ backfield, however, offered caution: Cam Akers managed only nine yards on four carries as Rattler’s legs kept drives alive but his passing was uneven, culminating in seven completions on 11 attempts for 53 yards, three sacks, and a fumble before he left the field. Dillon Radunz’s shaky protection underlined the continued OL questions heading into Week 1, a reminder that pass protection and QB timing will drive early-season fantasy value. In sum, Shough’s ceiling is worth monitoring as a late-round QB option, Austin Jr. looks like a real on-roster candidate with big-play potential, and Ford and Diggs gave Saints fans hope for defensive contributions—while the rest of the performance will fuel late-cut battles and depth-chart debates.