Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
This week’s Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades elevate the performance by New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to the highest grade earned by a qualifying Saints player so far this season. The young passer has begun to move himself from the “starting quarterback runway” conversation firmly into the “long-term option” conversation. He still has important elements of that consideration to prove ahead of him, but is making a strong case for himself in the meanwhile.
Top 5
QB Spencer Rattler – 93.2
LB Pete Werner – 87.2
DE Chase Young – 85.1
DT Davon Godchaux – 77.1
LT Kelvin Banks Jr. – 69.8
Rattler’s 93.2 grade is the highest grade earned by a Saints player with more than 15 snaps in a game so far this year. He finished Sunday’s game 20/26 for 227 yards. PFF credits just one drop on Rattler’s six incomplete passes, which many would argue should be more. His 102.6 passer rating is the second-highest mark of his career. It was a strong day for Rattler despite the loss.
Werner played his least amount of snaps since the 2023 season, but had one of his better games. With a tackle for a loss and sack, his grade saw a boost. He added three defensive stops and allowed just two catches for 15 yards on his four targets in coverage.
Young’s season debut was a promising one. He had a lot of wins on the defensive line both in pass rush and in the run game, however several in the pass rush category did not lead to pressures. But as Young settles into his new system, there may be better production on the way for the edge rusher. Young notched three pressures on Sunday.
With a tackle for a loss and a pair of defensive stops, Godchaux had a nice performance against his former team. Beyond his established presence in run defense, the former LSU Tiger also added three pressures including a quarterback hit. Sunday’s game was one of the most statistically impactful of Godchaux’s early time as a Saint.
The first-round rookie Banks had one of his better games in young career against the Patriots. He allowed three pressures, but all were hurries. He was taken into the injury tent at one point in the game, but found his way back into the lineup quickly on the same drive. He continued to perform well in protection even after that. Banks has still only allowed one sack so far this year, per PFF.
Bottom 5
CB Quincy Riley – 27.8
S Jonas Sanker – 38.9
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – 40.6
TE Juwan Johnson – 41.1
LG Trevor Penning – 44.5
A trio of young defensive backs falls to the bottom three of the game’s grades. Together, RIley, Sanker and McKinstry were credited with allowing eight receptions on 10 targets for 181 receiving yards and all three passing touchdowns as the closest defenders on targets. A rough day for the young triumvirate who will be looking for a bounceback opportunity next week at the Chicago Bears.
Johnson’s grade dropped sharply due to the late turnover, but he also received a 24.0 grade for his work as a run blocker. Penning’s grade was shot by a 27.3 pass blocking grade despite only surrendering two pressures and being called for a penalty.
