Marquez Valdes-Scantling has overproduced in a way since joining the New Orleans Saints. He was brought in for one purpose, give Derek Carr another deep threat after Rashid Shaheed went out for the season with injury. Valdes-Scantling has done that.
As the Saints prepare to take on the New York Giants, Michael F. Florio compared the production of Valdes-Scantling and Shaheed as he made a bold prediction. Florio believes Valdes-Scantling will catch two touchdowns of more than 50 yards.
Shaheed caught three passes that traveled over 20 yards in the air. Those three catches resulted in 172 yards and three touchdowns. Valdes-Scantling has caught the same amount of passes for 135 yards and two scores. That’s slightly less yards and one less touchdown, but comparable production.
Being a step below Shaheed still makes Valdes-Scantling a solid deep threat. The Giants have allowed the highest completion percentage on throws over 20 yards.
This is a great set of circumstances for the Saints. Two fifty-yard touchdowns is certainly bold, but the Giants allowing completions on 70 percent of deep targets at least suggests New Orleans can stretch the field consistently. It’ll be on Valdes-Scantling to make the most of those opportunities and on Carr to get him the ball.
