This week, the New Orleans Saints will face the New York Giants in Week in 6 of the 2026 regular season. To break it down, Ed Valentine of Big Blue View joins us to preview this weekend’s matchup.
NJ: Do you expect newly acquired QB J.J. McCarthy to see the field at any point this season, or has Jameis Winston done enough to establish himself as the starter for the remainder of the year?
EV: McCarthy already has seen the field. The Giants have a ‘McCarthy Package’ that they used for the first time
last Sunday against the Commanders. I expect we will continue to see that. As for the rest of the year, I couldn’t tell you. Teammates love and respect Jameis, and are happy playing for and with him. That said, John Harbaugh is not going to sit back and do nothing if Winston plays poorly and the season starts to go sideways. Right now, Winston is playing well enough and the Giants are doing well enough no change will be made anytime soon. Can I guarantee Winston will start for the remainder of the year? No.
NJ: Who are some notable names who will be sidelined for the Giants on Sunday against the Saints? Is there a particular area in which New Orleans could exploit?
EV: Well, of course QB Jaxson Dart and edge defender Brian Burns are out for the year. Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and edge defender Abdul Carter, both with calf injuries, could miss Sunday. Carter is the Giants’ best defender and pass rusher, and he would be sorely missed.
NJ: If you could take one player off the Saints’ roster and put him in the Giants’ lineup, who would it be? Why?
EV: Chris Olave. That’s easy. Put Olave with Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely, and the Giants would be in the conversation for the best trio of pass catchers in the NFL. The Giants need more explosive plays, and adding another star receiver to the mix would help get them.
NJ: Who is one Giants player you think Saints fans should keep an eye on Sunday—someone who may not receive much national attention but could have a strong performance?
EV: If you haven’t been paying attention to the Giants, I think you will be surprised how much of the passing attack runs through tight end Isaiah Likely. He was a backup for the Baltimore Ravens. He joined John Harbaugh with the Giants, and he is becoming a star. He is second in the league among tight ends with 33 receptions, second in target share, and fourth in receiving yards.
NJ: According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Saints (-112) are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Giants (+104) in Sunday’s matchup; what is your final score prediction and how do you see the game playing out?
EV: In our weekly picks, I took the Giants. They are simply finding ways to play through their mistakes, and Harbaugh has them believing they have earned the right to win and to be a good team. Problem is, if Carter doesn’t play, that is a huge problem for New York. He is the driving force in their pass rush, and they wouldn’t be the same defense without him.
Thank you again to Ed Valentine for joining us to preview this week’s matchup! You can check out the rest of his work here.
