With Graham out, can Saints shoulder fantasy load?

Jimmy Graham owners everywhere had an “oh, crap” moment when they heard the news that their stud tight end is out 2-3 weeks with a shoulder injury.

With the Saints off last week, though, many of you hopefully secured the best possible option off the waiver wire because that's the horse you're riding until the calendar flips to November.

But here's the bigger question: What does this injury mean for the rest of the Saints' skill position players?

I, for one, own Drew Brees and am quite apprehensive about his numbers until Graham returns. And it's not like he's lighting the world on fire as it is with 9 TD passes and 6 INTs in five games. Brees ranks just 10th among QBs in fantasy points per game.

Still, unless you can pull off a creative trade, it's not like he's coming out of your lineup.

As for the rest of the point producers? It's a conundrum, for sure.

Graham is the focal point for every defensive coordinator when he sits down to devise a gameplan to try and slow down the league's second-highest rated offense (442.8 ypg). The task gets a lot easier now that they can focus on an aging Marques Colston (just 15 catches), a rookie in Brandin Cooks and a trio of running backs who are productive but don't scare anybody the way Jamaal Charles, Matt Forte, Marshawn Lynch or LeSean McCoy do.

Brees has dropped back to pass on over 63 percent of New Orleans' plays so far. I'd expect that number to drop as coach Sean Payton attempts to control the game more with the running game.

But who will emerge from that dreaded three-headed monster?

Mark Ingram may return this week from a hand injury, which would sap Khiry Robinson's value. And let's not forget about Pierre Thomas, who finds his way onto the field for about 5-12 touches a game.

My early prediction here is that Colston and Cooks' values will certainly rise, and some of you in deeper leagues may want to take a chance on Graham's backup, Ben Watson.

If all three RBs play, I'd view Ingram as a solid RB2, while Robinson and Thomas are middling flex options.

This week, I could see the Saints putting up some truly dreadful numbers against a Lions team that's allowing just 13.7 ppg. The two weeks after that look inviting, though, as New Orleans hosts Green Bay and then travels to Carolina (26.2 ppg allowed).

Nice moves: Just an editorial comment here on how much I enjoyed the Bengals' Jeremy Hill doing the Ickey Shuffle after he scored late in the fourth quarter Sunday. As a child of the '80s, it was great to see a young player paying homage to a team icon like Ickey Woods.

Amazing: Atlanta RB Antone Smith is averaging 15 yards on his 23 touches so far this season, scoring five times. He ranks eighth among RBs in fantasy points. Eighth. With 23 touches.

Starting him seems insane based on his opportunities, but his production certainly says otherwise. At this point, if you can start a third RB, I'd go with this guy until he cools off.

Good bets

• Bengals QB Andy Dalton and WR Mohamed Sanu at Indianapolis. Colts' pass D has been solid, but this should be a high-scoring game.

• Ravens QB Joe Flacco and RB Justin Forsett vs. Atlanta. OK, I'm drinking the Kool-Aid. Tough to ignore the sixth-ranked fantasy QB anymore.

• Browns RB Ben Tate at Jacksonville. Apparently, Tate (47-202-2 last two) was serious when he said he wanted his job back.

• Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald at Oakland. Fitz is back to WR3 status after last week's “comeback”.

Bad bets

• Giants QB Eli Manning at Dallas. Offensive line woes have completely halted the Giants' offensive momentum.

• Saints QB Drew Brees at Detroit. It's difficult to imagine sitting Brees, but I'm considering it in one league.

• Dolphins RB Lamar Miller vs. Bears. Hopefully Mel Tucker's D can put together solid outings in back-to-back weeks.

• Vikings RB Matt Asiata at Buffalo. The Bills have yet to allow a TD on the ground.

• Raiders WR Andre Holmes vs. Arizona. The Cardinals will devise a game plan to stop this suddenly hot fourth-year pro.

• Texans WR Andre Johnson at Pittsburgh. After his rare good game last week, it's time to trade Johnson. Remember, he hasn't gone over 5 TDs in a season since 2010!

jdietz@dailyherald.com