Saints Week 6 start-sit: Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, Devaughn Vele, Juwan Johnson

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele and tight end Juwan Johnson are Week 6 fantasy football starts against the New York Giants, while Alvin Kamara’s back injury pushes him to flex status and opens deep-flex value for Kendre Miller.

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Chris Olave (illness) is questionable after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday before a limited session Friday, and Kamara (back) is questionable after three limited practices. Saints at Giants kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium.

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Why Devaughn Vele is a confident start

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (14) celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Vele leads all NFL receivers with 207 routes run, and his 91% snap share is the highest among New Orleans wideouts. That role has produced at least six targets in all five games, including nine in the Week 4 loss to Atlanta, when he caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Minnesota held quarterback Tyler Shough to 96 passing yards in Week 5, and the 6-foot-5 receiver finished with four catches for 26 yards. The Giants are a softer test because they allow 25.4 half-PPR points per game to wide receivers, and they’ve ruled out cornerback Colton Hood (concussion) and safety Tyler Nubin (neck).

Olave ranks second in the NFL with 537 receiving yards, so his absence would make Vele the Saints’ top wide receiver against a short-handed secondary. Even with Olave active, the former Utah walk-on’s route volume makes him a WR3 with a steady floor, and he moves into WR2 range if Olave sits.

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Juwan Johnson’s matchup improves after Minnesota

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) looks on against Minnesota Vikings | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Johnson caught four of five targets for 16 yards against the Vikings, a defense that has allowed the second-fewest receptions to tight ends. That dud followed four straight games with at least 53 receiving yards, and he’s totaled 248 yards, three touchdowns and five catches of 20-plus yards this season.

The Giants have allowed 33 catches to tight ends, tied for sixth-most in the league, and 10.9 half-PPR points per game to the position. Nubin’s absence takes a starting safety out of coverage, and Johnson has seen seven red-zone targets, scoring from 1 and 2 yards out against Las Vegas in Week 3.

Johnson has drawn at least seven targets in three of five games, and that volume against a defense that gives up steady catches to tight ends makes him a TE1 start in Week 6.

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How much will Kamara play?

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback C.J. Henderson (26) | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Kamara played through the same back injury in Week 5 but logged a season-low 12 snaps, turning three carries into 12 yards and losing six yards on two catches. CJ Donaldson led the backfield in snaps while handling pass protection, and Miller took most of the carries.

The 31-year-old’s Week 4 game against Atlanta showed what he offers when healthy: seven carries for 23 yards and two touchdowns, plus five catches for 35 yards. Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) remains on injured reserve, but coach Kellen Moore has made clear the Saints won’t lean on one back.

“Very few times this league is one running back going to haul the load. That’s just what this league is,” Moore said.

New York has allowed 122.8 rushing yards per game, eighth-most in the NFL, and 19.6 half-PPR points per game to running backs. If he’s active, Kamara is a flex play because of his receiving role, but another limited snap count would cap his output. Saints inactives are due at 11:30 a.m. ET.

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Kendre Miller as a deep flex

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) runs against Detroit during | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Miller handled 10 of the backfield’s 17 carries against Minnesota, gaining 30 yards and scoring on a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He has 29 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns this season.

The efficiency concerns are significant. Miller ranks 43rd among 44 qualifying backs with 1.45 yards after contact per attempt, and he ran one route last week without drawing a target, so his fantasy day depends on reaching the end zone.

Still, New York no longer has defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the middle and has given up 17 carries of 10-plus yards. Miller is a deep flex in 12-team and larger leagues as a goal-line bet, and he’d move into RB2 range as the lead runner if Kamara is inactive.

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