Kelvin Banks Jr. Headed for Surgery — What It Means for Olave and Shough

The Saints just lost the anchor of their offensive line. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. suffered a severe high ankle sprain during Sunday's Week 2 win over the Ravens, was carted off, and will undergo surgery, according to reports. He's out indefinitely, with a chance to return late in the season only if the recovery cooperates.

The injury looked ugly in real time — Banks got rolled up after a Mike Green sack and collapsed on the spot. That's a brutal blow for a 2025 first-rounder (No. 9 overall out of Texas) who started all 17 games as a rookie and was climbing fast, grading as Pro Football Focus' 12th-best tackle across the final five weeks of last season.

New Orleans (1-1) now turns to Asim Richards, a fourth-year pro with just five career starts, to guard Tyler Shough's blind side. Richards held up well as the Saints rallied, but the coaching staff had to keep chipping with an extra back or tight end to help him. The depth chart behind him is scary: after Fuaga and Richards, the only other tackle on the roster is 2026 undrafted rookie Mason Murphy.

What It Means for Shough

Shough was quietly trending up before this. He put up 170 PPR points over 11 games in 2025 (2,384 pass yards, 10 TD, 0 INT, plus 186 rush yards and 3 scores) and averaged +4.6 fantasy points above his season line over his last five games. Our model has him at QB25 (No. 95 overall). A weaker wall in front of him threatens both his rushing upside and his clean-pocket efficiency.

Chris Olave is the name most fantasy managers care about here. He's our WR6 (No. 27 overall) after a 100-catch, 1,163-yard, 9-TD 2025 that produced 270 PPR points, and he's running +3.9 fantasy points above his average over the last five games. More pressure on Shough could mean quicker throws and lower air yards — a real risk to Olave's ceiling, though the target volume should keep his floor intact.

The move: don't panic-drop anyone, but temper expectations. Hold Olave — the targets aren't going anywhere and he's too good to bench. If you can get a QB1-level offer for Shough on name value, it's a fine time to sell high before the line issues show up on tape. And keep an eye on New Orleans looking for tackle help; the group is thin and inexperienced enough that outside reinforcements are on the table.