Kelvin Banks Jr. delivered a solid NFL debut for the Saints, logging all 75 offensive snaps and demonstrating clean footing in pass protection. After a minor stat correction, his Week 1 pressure rate stood at 4.3% with just two pressures on 49 pass plays, placing him third among rookie offensive linemen. He earned a 69.1 overall grade and a 74.4 pass-blocking grade, signaling real promise for a 21-year-old rookie in a divisional showdown.

Week 1 wasn’t ideal for the Saints’ line, as Trevor Penning sat out and Taliese Fuaga left with a knee issue. Banks’ performance, coupled with the rest of the line returning healthy soon, could lift the entire unit and benefit Carr and the Saints’ receiving corps. The stat correction helps Banks’ case among rookie OLs, reinforcing the potential this group has as it continues to grow into a cohesive unit.

In fantasy terms, Banks’ early impact matters more for the Saints’ offense tempo and protection reliability than for individual stat lines, but it signals a room for upside as the line stabilizes. If Banks keeps developing and the Saints regain full strength on the left side, the floor for the passing game could rise, with Carr afforded more clean pocket time to target the likes of Olave and the tight ends as the season unfolds.