The New Orleans Saints may lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in week three, but it wasn't all negative. Despite some struggles, certain players impressed and continue to make a positive impact in 2026.
These early-season games are important to help identify the key contributors. With this in mind, the Saints' week three loss wasn’t useless, as it’s becoming obvious who some of the impact players are, causing their stock to rise. Sadly, the opposite is also true, and some disappointed, leaving fans questioning their worth.
As a result, it’s important to acknowledge these players whose stocks are rising/falling. In this instance, six players are included in the stock report.
Chase Young once again headlines the Saints' winners.
Chase Young
Remember when people said Chase Young was overpaid? Yeah, put that to rest.
Young dominated the Raiders with two sacks. He put constant pressure on Kirk Cousins and showed up on crucial third downs. Additionally, he was stout against the run and helped contain an efficient Las Vegas rushing attack.
Khristian Boyd
Who could’ve seen this coming? 2024 sixth-round pick Khrisitan Boyd had a breakout performance on Sunday. He wreaked havoc against the run, tallying two tackles for loss.
Beyond this, Boyd showed promise as a pass rusher. He won’t be an All-Pro, but his development into a quality role player would elevate the Saints’ defensive line and give Brandon Staley another dynamic option.
Tight ends
The Saints’ tight ends were stellar outside of Juwan Johnson’s fumble. They were the focal point through the first three quarters and combined for 12 receptions, 86 yards, and four touchdowns.
It’s pivotal that Johnson, Noah Fant, and Oscar Delp are reliable options for Tyler Shough. Their doing this gives Kellen Moore flexibility in the offense. The offense will continue to thrive if these three keep impressing.
Injuries and inconsistency plague the Saints' losers.
Travis Etienne Jr.
Labelling Travis Etienne a loser isn’t telling of his performance. He had 13 attempts for 57 yards and was rolling in the second half. However, he aggravated his hamstring and will miss a few weeks.
This is crushing for a struggling rushing attack, especially since they were just finding their rhythm. While Etienne will return, his absence could prove detrimental to the Saints' offense.
Turnovers
There’s one theme when the Saints struggle: the offense committing turnovers. It was present in their first half against the Detroit Lions, and it showed up again on Sunday.
This isn’t singling one person out, as blame can be assigned everywhere. There were interceptions, fumbles, and blocking blunders frequently in the fourth quarter. Expect the Saints to struggle if this trend continues.
Brandon Staley
Brandon Staley has done a fantastic job this season; this isn’t affecting that, but the Raiders had his number. The Saints’ defense was incapable of stopping Brock Bowers and the passing attack.
Once again, the offense didn’t help by giving the Raiders extra possessions, but this was still their worst performance. They must improve to make a run at the playoffs.
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