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Saints' young phenom finally receives nationwide respect heading into 2024
USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints don't  have a receiving group that will grab any headlines. That being said, there's plenty of talent to go around. They can make enough plays to win the NFC South. 

Who can emerge as a key play maker for Derek Carr and co? Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.

Shaheed is one of the most underrated players in the NFL.

Shaheed's value comes in multiple sections of the field. He returns kicks/punts with the best of them, and he's grown into a legitimate force on offense. 

Derek Carr found a connection with him over the second half of 2023, and now, he may have an even bigger role under reliant Kubiak. He's found unique ways to use Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and others over the past few seasons. 

According to PFF, Shaheed generated 474 receiving yards on deep targets (20+ air yards) last season, ranking fifth in the NFL. The only players with more deep receiving yards than Shaheed in 2023 were Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, Mike Evans, and DJ Moore -- each a standout in an elite tier of wide receivers. Together, these four have accumulated 33 NFL seasons, during which they have achieved a remarkable 27 (81.8 percent) 1,000-yard seasons. -- GiveMeSport.com

Chris Olave is the best wide receiver on the Saints, but don't overlook Shaheed. It appears that he's caught the eye of national media, including Pro Football Focus.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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