Confirmed for Week 9 start Saints head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Siemian will start at quarterback Sunday against the Falcons. Impact Siemian and Taysom Hill (concussion) were both candidates to start after No. 1 quarterback Jameis Winston (knee) suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the Saints' Week 8 win over the Buccaneers, but Payton ultimately settled on Siemian, who backed up Winston in the victory. Siemian proved to be a capable game manager against a tough Tampa Bay squad, but his numbers (16-for-29 for 155 yards and a touchdown, two carries for two yards) weren't anything special from a fantasy perspective. Payton added that Hill will be active Sunday, so Siemian could be at risk of losing some snaps in the red zone, given that Hill provides a more formidable rushing threat. Moreover, Siemian will need to perform well against Atlanta to ensure he retains the starting gig beyond Sunday, as Payton appeared to suggest that the team's quarterback situation could be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.
NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE