2011 Fantasy Football Player Spotlight: Mark Ingram

Perhaps the single most appealing player in 2011 drafts from a rookie perspective is Mark Ingram. Ingram enters the NFL with an insanely successful resume and, by landing with the New Orleans Saints, is set up for what could be an Adrian Peterson type of rookie campaign.

Ingram has had success on every level of football he has played, dating back to high school in Michigan where he was an All-State selection in both football and track. Ingram was in the spotlight while at Alabama en route to winning a Heisman Trophy and national title in three years.  Over his career at Alabama he average 1,319 all-purpose yards and 15 TDs per year. His 2009 campaign was one of the best individual seasons in both Alabama and NCAA history thus earning him and his school their first Heisman Trophy winner.

Ingram was drafted this past April by the Saints with the 28th overall pick. He was the first RB taken in the draft and landed in a spot that gives him the potential to be the breakout star of 2011. The Saints made it even easier when they parted ways with Reggie Bush.

The Saints do still have Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles in the backfield but Thomas has always been unable to stay healthy and Sproles' primary role will be to replace Bush and make an impact in their return game. That leaves Ingram with the golden opportunity to become the team's primary back. In an offense as explosive as the Saints' it should leave defenses in more Nickel and Dime sets in order to slow Drew Brees which in turn will give Ingram the ability to run free.

Ingram is a player you should have highly targeted in all draft formats but certainly in any rookie drafts he would be my main priority. The Saints ranked 28th in the run game last year mainly due to the fact that Pierre Thomas was expected to be the steady force. His injuries and Reggie Bush’s inability to be a consistent runner between the tackles were a big factor in the Saints draft and post-lockout moves. With Ingram the Saints are getting someone with good hands, quick feet and the ability to adjust to the game. All the years of SEC experience should also help Ingram adjust to the speed of the NFL game faster than most would expect him to.

Ingram may be slow out of the gates depending on how the Saints ease him in, but he should be a high-value player during the second half and in future seasons for fantasy owners.

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