Deonte Harty

2023 will be Harty's fifth season in the NFL and his first away from New Orleans. With the Saints the 25-year-old accumulated 64 receptions, 793 receiving yards and four TDS in 40 games, but most of that production came in years two and three. Now that Harty is past the toe injury that limited him to just four games in 2022, the 5-6, 170-pounder will compete with Khalil Shakir, Trent Sherfield and Justin Shorter for snaps at wide receiver behind Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, while giving the Bills another option as a returner along with Nyheim Hines.

Harty signed his restricted free-agent tender in April, keeping him in New Orleans through the 2022 season. The 24-year-old wideout has made most of his impact on special teams as a returner, but he also had a career-high 36 receptions in 2021 on his way to 570 yards and three touchdowns. Harty now will face an uphill battle for offensive snaps and targets with Michael Thomas returning from injury, the free-agent addition of Jarvis Landry and Chris Olave's arrival as first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Expectations were raised for Harris in 2020 after the Assumption product came out of nowhere to earn Pro-Bowl honors as a rookie for his work as a returner. Unfortunately, a neck injury held the speedster to nine games, and Harris ultimately didn't have a consistent role on offense behind Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Tre'Quan Smith. In fact, the performance of undrafted rookie Marquez Callaway might mean Harris enters this season as nothing more than the Saints' fourth wide receiver. On the other hand, the team lost Emmanuel Sanders in free agency and now has Michael Thomas rehabbing from ankle surgery, so there's an obvious need for someone to step up at wide receiver. Even though success at Harris's size (5-6, 170) is uncommon at the pro level, there seems to be an opportunity for an explosive player like Harris to take advantage.

The speedy wideout will try to earn a roster spot this offseason as he battles Austin Carr and Bennie Fowler for depth behind Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Tre'Quan Smith. As the team's primary kick and punt returner, Harris displayed his electric talents as a rookie with a punt-return touchdown in Week 3 of 2019, and those abilities should give him a leg up in making the final roster. There are plenty of mouths to feed in the passing game, so even if Harris makes the cut, he's unlikely to have fantasy relevancy in most formats.