NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (14-4)
New faces: TE Jared Cook, C Erik McCoy, DT Malcolm Brown, RB Latavius Murray, OL Nick Easton, DBs CJ Gardner-Johnson and Saquan Hampton, DE Mario Edwards Jr., RS Marcus Sherels.
Key losses: RB Mark Ingram, C Max Unger, DT Tyeler Davison, DE Alex Okafor, TE Ben Watson.
Strengths: QB Drew Brees has been highly efficient at executing coach Sean Payton's offense for decade-plus. Although Brees is 40, he has yet to show considerable decline. WR Michael Thomas is elite, should be even tougher to cover with addition of receiving TE Cook. RB Alvin Kamara has been problematic for defenses because of versatility as runner and receiver. DE Cam Jordan, LB Demario Davis and CB Marshon Lattimore give Saints talent and leadership at each level of defense. Kicking game excelling with veteran P Thomas Morstead and strong-legged PK Wil Lutz.
Weaknesses: Lots of youth, inexperience at receiver corps leaves depth uncertain if Thomas or veteran Ted Ginn Jr. go down. Cook is only established receiving TE. DBs including Lattimore struggled with consistency last season. Some uncertainty around pass rush with more reliance on second-year DE Marcus Davenport and with DT Sheldon Rankins recovering from Achilles tendon injury.
Fantasy Players To Watch: Kamara had 1,592 yards and 18 TDs from scrimmage last season. Thomas had 125 catches for 1,405 yards and nine TDs last season. Brees passed for 32 TDs while throwing only five INTs last season.
Vegas Says: Win Super Bowl 10-1. Over/under wins 10 1/2.
Expectations: Saints have won NFC South two years running and held leads in final 30 seconds of each of past two playoff losses. Two seasons ago, Stefon Diggs scored 61-yard TD — "Minneapolis Miracle" — as time ran out. Last season was "NOLA no-call," in which officials missed helmet-to-helmet hit and pass interference penalties against Rams, helping Los Angeles rally to tie NFC title game with 15 seconds left in regulation and win in OT. Most prominent players are back from those two seasons and hungry as ever.
