The New Orleans Saints don’t have a receiving group that will grab any headlines. That being said, there’s plenty of talent to go around. They can make enough plays to win the NFC South.
Who can emerge as a key play maker for Derek Carr and co? Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
Shaheed is one of the most underrated players in the NFL
Who will be your team’s breakout player this season? pic.twitter.com/So79S1nyTK
— PFF (@PFF) May 18, 2024
Shaheed’s value comes in multiple sections of the field. He returns kicks/punts with the best of them, and he’s grown into a legitimate force on offense.
Derek Carr found a connection with him over the second half of 2023, and now, he may have an even bigger role under reliant Kubiak. He’s found unique ways to use Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and others over the past few seasons.
According to PFF, Shaheed generated 474 receiving yards on deep targets (20+ air yards) last season, ranking fifth in the NFL. The only players with more deep receiving yards than Shaheed in 2023 were Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Mike Evans, and DJ Moore — each a standout in an elite tier of wide receivers. Together, these four have accumulated 33 NFL seasons, during which they have achieved a remarkable 27 (81.8 percent) 1,000-yard seasons. — GiveMeSport.com
Chris Olave is the best wide receiver on the Saints, but don’t overlook Shaheed. It appears that he’s caught the eye of national media, including Pro Football Focus.
Shaheed just received even more love on social media from another football analyst
Ian Hartitz has a knack for posting clips of players that are overlooked around the NFL. His latest is for Shaheed, where he’s clearly showing how explosive the wideout can be. He seems to be a big fan of the young receiver that is set to keep improving in 2024.
Saints WR2 Rashid Shaheed
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 9, 2024
I’m not sure how under-the-radar Shaheed can be by the time the season actually starts. It seems like more and more people are realizing how valuable he can be for multiple units on the football field. The respect is deserved.