ESPN.com writer Mark Triplett wrote Thursday that he thinks New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has missed his chance to become the team's primary runner. Triplett said he expects Pierre Thomas to start getting more of a featured look from the team, with Ingram sliding back a bit on the depth chart.
Mark Ingram might have missed his chance for Saints, fantasy owners
After poor production through two weeks and a toe injury, one beat writer says he thinks the Saints might start looking more toward Pierre Thomas. We break down the fantasy implications.
Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE
Ingram has rushed for only 31 rushing yards on 17 carries so far this season, and missed practice Wednesday with a toe injury. He’s averaging 3.8 yards per carry over his two-plus-year career, with ten total touchdowns.
Fantasy impact: Darren Sproles, of course, is still the running back fantasy owners want in New Orleans. This is particularly true in PPR leagues, as Sproles is still an elite pass-catching running back, but it applies in standard leagues as well. Ingram and Thomas have both been underwhelming for years.
There was some thought entering the season that Ingram, with Chris Ivory gone to the New York Jets and the team trying to make Ingram more of the lead guy instead of in a time-share, would make the leap to serious fantasy relevance, but that definitely hasn't happened so far, either through gameplan or player production. Even if Triplett is wrong about Thomas leap-frogging Ingram in usage, neither guy is worth much more than an end-of-the-fantasy-roster slot, only starting when owners are desperate due to injuries or byes.
