Marquez

Callaway

Callaway last played for the Saints in 2023, though he saw no touches and just 28 snaps in three games. The former undrafted rookie free agent had his best season in 2021, catching 46 passes for 698 yards and six touchdowns as a Saint. Callaway returns to the NFC South to provide receiver depth for the Bucs’ practice squad.

Callaway reunites with head coach Sean Payton after spending two seasons with him in New Orleans. An undrafted rookie free agent from the 2020 class, Callaway emerged to go for 46-698-6 in his second season with the Saints. At this time, He currently finds himself in a deep receiver room that included Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick, and K.J. Hamler. However, if any rumored trades of Sutton or Jeudy come to fruition, there’s a chance Callaway could see a slight boost in playing time. He has no real fantasy value at this time.

The target of a ton of target volume buzz in 2021, Callaway fell to just a 16/158/1 line in 2022 as he was mostly phased out of the offense. In the four games in which he saw at least five targets, he only went over 36 yards once. Callaway could be an interesting reclamation project elsewhere, but it’s hard to believe he’s more than a deep stash in larger leagues at this point.

This one is a bit of a surprise, as Callaway is listed with the first team receivers on the team’s official depth chart. Callaway has seen his snaps dialed back significantly over the last three weeks and was never on the radar as a fantasy option.

One of Callaway’s missed connections was a horrible bobble that led to one of Andy Dalton’s two pick-sixes. Not ideal. Callaway ended up getting out-targeted by Tre’Quan Smith behind Chris Olave and watched role players Kevin White and Rashid Shaheed contribute the big plays DFS players were hoping would come from Callaway. Even if Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) remain sidelined for Week 8, Callaway will not be a recommended WR4 against the Raiders.

And back to nowhere he returned. Callaway led the team’s wideouts in targets with their top three targets sidelined, but didn’t do much beyond some gritty slant catches. If Chris Olave is cleared ahead of next week, Callaway will be a showdown slate-only option as the Saints take on the Cardinals on Thursday night. If Olave remains out, Callaway might merit a low-end FLEX spot.

Thomas was always a long shot to suit up for Week 4 in London after missing practice all week. Hopefully this is not a long-term issue for Thomas, who has 16 receptions on 22 targets in three games, including three touchdowns as the team’s best red zone pass catcher. Thomas’ Week 4 absence could be a major boon for Jarvis Landry. Marquez Callaway could see starter’s snaps with Thomas sidelined, though Callaway is not a fantasy option this week. Chris Olave, meanwhile, should continue seeing a glut of targets, even with Andy Dalton likely under center for New Orleans.

Callaway underwent surgery in January but practiced without limitations this spring. The third-year receiver is healthy but has been buried on the depth chart with the additions of Jarvis Landry and first-round WR Chris Olave this offseason. Callaway will likely need an injury in front of him to open the season higher than the Saints’ No. 4 wideout.

Callaway had surgery in January and could be held out of offseason workouts, but there’s no concern over his camp status. Coming off a career-high 46/698/6 line, Callaway enters 2022 as the Saints’ likely No. 2 receiver behind Michael Thomas.

Given how he’d been coming on with target volumes of nine and ten in back-to-back non-Ian Book weeks, this is a particularly brutal crash-and-burn. Callaway was a productive underneath receiver but never became the preseason breakout pick some were hoping he’d be. Even despite the bust, he finished as the Saints target leader and had the most receiving touchdowns on the team. If the Saints had to play with their roster today, Callaway would likely enter 2022 as the No. 2 wideout behind Michael Thomas -- but Thomas’ situation is very unsettled and it should not surprise anyone if he doesn’t suit up next year. Callaway has some WR3/FLEX juice heading into 2022 as the most reliable target on a bad offense.