Mark Ingram had a break out season in 2014. Ingram finished the season with 964 yards and nine touchdowns in only 13 games and his stats are only going to get better in 2015. The Saints made many off-season changes to their team and have focused more towards a the running game.
They traded away Jimmy Graham for Max Unger, They released Pierre Thomas and Signed Bryce Harris. Along with beefing up the line they signed on C.J. Spiller and extended Ingram’s contract. The Saints ran the ball 38.12% of the time last season and is possible to reach the 45-50% mark during 2015.
Spiller has recently had his knee scoped and has concerns of staying healthy. Ingram has expressed his want to take the brunt of the carries. He stated in August to ESPN “I know I’m a three-down back.” Starting the season as the Saint’s bell cow he will see plenty of work and get his chance to prove it.
Ingram had the most red zone targets of any running back in 2014 and is a shoo-in for 200 carries. He is currently being drafted as the 12th running back off the board, making him a great value. He has RB1 upside and his floor is a high-end RB2. Look for him in the third round of your draft as a solid running back pick.
| Career Stats | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Rushing | Receiving | Fumb. | KO Ret | Punt Ret | ||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rush | Yds | Y/G | Avg | 100+ | TD | Rec | Yds | Y/G | Avg | 100+ | TD | Lost | Yds | TD | Yds | TD |
| 2011 | NO | 10 | 122 | 474 | 47.4 | 3.9 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | NO | 16 | 156 | 602 | 37.6 | 3.9 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NO | 11 | 78 | 386 | 35.1 | 4.9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 68 | 6.2 | 9.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | NO | 13 | 226 | 964 | 74.2 | 4.3 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 145 | 11.2 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |