Emmanuel Sanders News

Emmanuel Sanders

33-Year-Old Wide ReceiverWR

New Orleans Saints

2020 Receiving Stats

REC

YDS

726

AVG

11.9

TAR

2020 Receiving Projections

REC

YDS

AVG

TAR

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2020 Fantasy Outlook

Sanders was a difference-maker for the 49ers after they acquired him midseason, averaging 9.5 YPT and 13.9 YPC over 10 games and giving them a viable third weapon alongside George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. But this offseason he signed a two-year deal with the Saints to pair with Drew Brees and play second fiddle to Michael Thomas. At 5-11, 180, Sanders is small but quick, and he's always had decent long speed (4.41 40 at the 2010 combine). But at 33, he's almost certainly lost half a step, and it's unclear how he'll slot into the New Orleans offense. Deep threat Ted Ginn is gone, but third-year man Tre'Quan Smith is younger and probably at least as fast as Sanders at this stage of their respective careers. Moreover, Thomas is a target hog, tight end Jared Cook earned Brees' trust late last year, and tailback Alvin Kamara gets a lot of looks out of the backfield. But unless Smith takes a big leap forward, Sanders profiles as the No. 2 WR and likely slot man when Thomas lines up outside. Read Past Outlooks

RANKS

#103.6

ADP

Overall

Wide Receiver

Bye Week 6

Height 5'11"

Weight 180

DOB 3/17/1987

College SMU

Drafted 3rd Rd 2010 #82 Overall

Falls flat in Sunday's win

WRNew Orleans Saints

January 10, 2021

Sanders caught two of three targets for three yards in the Saints' 21-9 win over the Bears on Sunday.

ANALYSIS
The veteran wideout entered the game riding a streak of four games with at least 60 receiving yards or a touchdown, but he fell completely flat in this one, ceding work to two recently-activated receivers, Deonte Harris and Michael Thomas. Sanders' production will likely be hit-or-miss with those two players back in the fold, but a friendly matchup with Tampa Bay in the NFC divisional round presents a bounce-back opportunity for Sanders.

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NFL Stats

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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats

See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.

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Advanced NFL Stats

How do Emmanuel Sanders' 2020 advanced stats compare to other wide receivers?

This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.

Air Yards Per Game

53.1

Air Yards Per Snap

1.33

% Team Air Yards

23.2%

% Team Targets

16.1%

Avg Depth of Target

9.1 Yds

Catch Rate

74.4%

Drop Rate

4.9%

Avg Yds After Catch

2.8

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2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2020 NFL Game Log

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2019 NFL Game Log

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2018 NFL Game Log

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2017 NFL Game Log

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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart

Snap Counts

Snap %

Saints 2020 WR Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts

T.Tre'Quan Smith

E.Emmanuel Sanders

M.Michael Thomas

M.Marquez Callaway

D.Deonte Harris

J.Juwan Johnson

L.Lil'Jordan Humphrey

A.Austin Carr

B.Bennie Fowler

T.Tommylee Lewis

#% of Team Snaps

67258%

61453%

40135%

28925%

19317%

18216%

11110%

817%

565%

232%

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#2 WR

Saints

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Receiving Alignment Breakdown

See where Emmanuel Sanders lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.

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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense

How does the Buccaneers pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?

The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is.

vs Buccaneers

Sunday, Jan 17th at 6:40PM

Overall QB Rating Against

84.2

Cornerbacks

87.8

Safeties

56.2

Linebackers

94.6

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2020 Emmanuel Sanders Split Stats

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Measurables Review View College Player Page

How do Emmanuel Sanders' measurables compare to other wide receivers?

This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.

Height

5' 11"

Weight

180 lbs

40-Yard Dash

4.40 sec

Shuttle Time

4.10 sec

Cone Drill

6.64 sec

Vertical Jump

39.5 in

Broad Jump

126 in

Bench Press

12 reps

Hand Length

9.25 in

Arm Length

32.00 in

Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Emmanuel Sanders

Weekly Rankings: Divisional Round Value Meter

2 days ago

It's now time for Davante Adams to face Jalen Ramsey and the Rams pass defense. Where does he rank among WR's this week?

DraftKings NFL: Tournament Strategy for Wild Card Sunday

6 days ago

James Conner hasn't done much since October, but he still has the lead role in Pittsburgh's backfield, so he could be busy if the Steelers establish a lead over the Browns.

Corner Report: Wild-Card Round

7 days ago

With Ben Roethlisberger back in at quarterback Diontae Johnson should see his target volume spike back upward against a reeling Cleveland defense.

Hidden Stat Line: Targets, Routes & Snaps from Week 17

10 days ago

It was mostly a quiet season for Jared Cook, but he solidified his role over the past month and should be a big part of the Saints' passing attack in the playoffs.

Weekly Rankings: Wild Card Week Value Meter

10 days ago

Josh Allen will kick off the action on Wild Card weekend with a home game against the Colts.

Past Fantasy Outlooks

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

After a year in the wilderness with terrible quarterbacks and an injured ankle, Sanders bounced back in 2018 with an underrated season - a robust 8.9 YPT and four catches of 40-plus yards in only 12 games. Prorated over a full season, Sanders' numbers come out to 131-95-1,157-5. The Broncos were so pleased they exercised their option on his contract in March, guaranteeing $1.5 million of his $10.15 million salary for 2019, a strong sign they expect him to be their No. 1 target again. That's the good news. The bad news is Sanders turned 32 in March while rehabbing from Achilles surgery in December. in the second week of preseason games. Moreover, while Sanders thrived with the mediocre Case Keenum under center last year, he'll have to adjust to newly acquired Joe Flacco, a player who's been on the downside of his career for half a decade. Throw in a new head coach and offensive coordinator, and it's a lot to pick up while not being fully up to speed all offseason at an age when most receivers hang it up. At 5-11, 180, and with 4.41 speed, Sanders has always been fast and quick, but keep in mind that 40 number was taken nine years ago. Following a return to health this summer, Sanders' main competition for targets is the untested trio of Courtland Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton and Tim Patrick -- none of whom were overly impressive last season -- as well as first-round rookie tight end Noah Fant.

A Week 5 ankle injury largely derailed Sanders' season, so don't read too much into his career-low per-play numbers and meager fantasy output. That he played with three of the worst quarterbacks in the league didn't help, either. At 5-11, 180, Sanders is small, but he's fast (4.41 40), quick and agile. He turned 31 in March, but smaller receivers often age well, and he hadn't shown significant signs of decline before the injury. For 2018, Sanders' outlook is markedly improved. For starters, he's had an entire offseason to get healthy, and Case Keenum should be a significant upgrade over the trio of scrubs with whom Sanders played last year. Finally, the Broncos still have a narrow receiving tree - at press time, Demaryius Thomas is the only experienced player of note on their depth chart, though rookie second-rounder Courtland Sutton should work his way into the mix eventually.

Like Demaryius Thomas, Sanders benefits greatly from the Broncos' narrow passing tree. Without a reliable third receiver, no pass-catching TE of which to speak and with backs who catch passes occasionally but no one who specializes in it a la Theo Riddick or James White, the Broncos essentially target two players regularly every week: Thomas and Sanders. For that reason, even when the team had an elite defense and a below-average first-year starter in Trevor Siemian, Sanders (even with Thomas opposite him) saw 137 targets. At 5-11, 180, Sanders is small, but he's fast (4.40 40), exceptionally quick, runs good routes and has good hands. Despite his diminutive stature, Sanders saw plenty of red-zone work (22 targets, 4th), but caught only three TDs in that area. Sanders didn't make many big plays (13.1 YPC, 7.5 YPT, 12 catches of 20-plus and two of 40 or more), but that's likely on the Broncos quarterbacks as Sanders had six 40-plus plays with Peyton Manning's decaying carcass the prior year. The Broncos will again enter Week 1 with Siemian under center, but he'll be more experienced this time around, and new offensive coordinator Mike McCoy could add some life to the passing attack. The Broncos also drafted rookie speedster Carlos Henderson and signed Jamaal Charles, but neither should hugely impact Sanders' targets.

Like teammate Demaryius Thomas, Sanders' production fell off last year due to the precipitous decline in quarterback play from Peyton Manning. Sanders still managed 14.9 YPC and 8.3 YPT (a far cry from his 10.0 YPT in 2014) and, like Thomas, scored six TDs, only on 40 fewer targets and 12 fewer red-zone ones. Sanders increased his catches of 40-plus yards (six last year, four in 2014), but, more significantly, his catches of 20-plus decreased from 24 to 12. At 5-11, 180, with 4.40 speed, excellent quickness and good hands, Sanders is still capable of big plays, but the Broncos' offense was decidedly less explosive in 2015. While Mark Sanchez – or whoever gets the bulk of the team's snaps this year – will be a major upgrade from 2015 Manning; the days of the record-shattering Broncos offense are long gone. And if the Broncos' defense is anywhere near as good as last year's, Denver might find itself running more. Nonetheless, there's little depth beyond Thomas and Sanders, so a repeat of something approaching last year's target volume is likely.

Improvement from Sanders was expected in his new environment, but hardly to this extent. Paired with Peyton Manning, Sanders finished fourth in the league with 101 receptions, tied for third for catches of 20 or more yards (24), fifth in YPT and fifth in receiving yards. The 5-11, 180-pounder also saw 20 red-zone targets (T-10th) and 10 targets inside the 10 (T-7th). Manning and the Broncos aren't shy about using small, quick receivers from in close as they did with Wes Welker in 2013, and Sanders is essentially a younger version with more long speed (4.40 40) and explosiveness. Sanders' opportunity and red-zone upside are capped by playing opposite a target monster in Demaryius Thomas, and there's some chance Manning will drop off at age 39. But unless second-year man Cody Latimer takes a huge leap forward, the Broncos suddenly lack depth at receiver, and Sanders is virtually assured a sizable piece of the Denver passing game. The acquisition of injury-prone Owen Daniels to replace the departed Julius Thomas at tight end probably won't affect Sanders much, either.

Sanders enters a crowded situation in Denver with Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas the favorites to see most of Peyton Manning’s targets. But last year there was plenty of room for those three and Eric Decker, and now there’s a 136-target void to be filled. Sanders should see at least some of those targets, though the Broncos also drafted Cody Latimer in the second round. At 5-11, 180 and running a 4.40, Sanders is small, fast and quick, a completely different style of receiver than Decker and as such probably won’t see many of Decker’s 23 red-zone targets. But anyone projected for a significant role in Peyton Manning’s passing game needs to be considered, and should something happen to the 33-year old Welker, Sanders would be the favorite to take on his role.

With the departure of Mike Wallace, Sanders stands to inherit the Antonio Brown role. The problem is Brown is still around, and no one on the team is Wallace. At 5-11, 180, Sanders along with Brown are likely to form the smallest tandem of receivers in the league. Sanders runs a 4.4 40, and he’s got good quickness, so like Brown he's dangerous in the open field. But neither is suited to red-zone work, and with tight end Heath Miller still recovering from a major late-season knee injury, we'd have to think other receivers will be involved when the team gets near the goal line. Of course, third-round draft pick, Markus Wheaton, is yet another small, quick wideout in the Brown/Sanders mold, so maybe the Steelers are bucking the big-receiver trend on purpose.

A foot injury cost Sanders five games last year, but by that point he had already been supplanted by Antonio Brown as Ben Roethlisberger’s co-favorite receiver (along with Mike Wallace). At 5-11, 180, Sanders is small, but he’s got excellent speed, running a 4.4 40 at the NFL Combine a couple years ago and good quickness. With Hines Ward retiring and Wallace unhappy, Sanders could have an opening to take on a more significant role. But chances are he opens the year as the team’s No. 3 receiver.

Taken in the third round last year, Sanders progressed as the season went on, emerging as the team's third receiver behind Hines Ward and Mike Wallace. At 5-11, 180, Sanders has plenty of speed, but his lack of size limits his red-zone upside, and Wallace is the team's first option for stretching the field. Sanders broke his foot in the Super Bowl but is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp.

The speedy Sanders was taken in the third round of the 2010 draft. Considering the depth the organization has at the receiver position, he'll at best battle Atwaan Randle El for the third receiver spot. The number three spot served Mike Wallace well in 2009 (756 yards, 6 touchdowns), but with the team expected to run the ball a bit more this year, odds are whoever wins the day for the third receiver role will not match Wallace's output from last year.

More Fantasy News

Scores fifth touchdown in finale

WRNew Orleans Saints

January 3, 2021

Sanders caught nine of 13 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 33-7 win over the Saints.