Fantasy Football Projections: Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles and Saints Backfield

We are all enamored by what New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his talented group of wide receivers and tight ends are capable of each week. 

Brees distributes the ball to all of his pass-catchers and makes at least one or two jaw-dropping throws each Sunday. 

What about the running backs?

Time to give them some love. 

Let's project what they'll do against a very poor Panthers run defense in Week 5. 

This one has shootout written all over it.

Mark Ingram

His numbers to date: 53 carries, 184 yards (3.5 average) 1 TD 

Some of us thought Ingram was bound to explode onto the scene as a rookie right away.

In the past, quarterbacks have been the ones who have struggled in their first season, but in today's NFL, for some reason, it has taken the top-tier running backs more time to transition to the pro game. 

Ingram is slowly getting more comfortable within the Saints offense. He received 17 carries (the most he's received all year) and gained 55 yards (the most he's gained all year) against the Jaguars last week. 

The more confidence Sean Payton has in Ingram, the more he'll be on the field. 

As much as New Orleans loves to throw the ball and is very successful doing it, they are facing the 31st ranked rush defense in the league. 

The Panthers are giving up 143.8 yards per contest. 

Wow. 

Projection: 14 carries, 85 yards 1 TD

Pierre Thomas

Thomas entered the year as the incumbent starter despite battling a nagging injury that held him out of the majority of 2010. 

He has been productive when he's had the ball in his hands, (averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry and 8.2 yards-per-catch), yet he hasn't received more than 11 total touches in any game.

The Saints love their "running back by committee" approach, and I think that continues this week. 

Projection: 5 carries, 28 yards  3 catches 43 yards

Darren Sproles

What a free agent pick-up by the Saints front office. 

Payton is utilizing Sproles wonderfully, and as usual, is catching a ton of passes out of the backfield. 

Just when their opponent is really keying in on their talented group of receivers and tight end Jimmy Graham, New Orleans calls a sweep or tosses a screen to Sproles, and the defense is caught totally off-guard.

A great novelty to have. 

Projection: 5 carries, 40 yards  6 catches 64 yards