Adrian Peterson To The Saints? What's The Impact?

[Greg Ambrosius]

It's being reported that Adrian Peterson will soon be signing with the New Orleans Saints for a reported $3.25 million. Those reports also state that Mark Ingram will still be the lead back in New Orleans. My thoughts are: 1. Why is Peterson in such a rush to sign a miniscule contract; and 2) How does Peterson fit in with this Saints' pass-oriented offense?

It seems like a bad fit for everyone, but you can't blame the Saints for adding another good player for a small price. I'm not quite sure why the Packers didn't jump on this for $3.25 million. But from a fantasy perspective, it can't help the value of Ingram and it can't help the value of Peterson. I'm not even sure it helps Drew Brees, who normally throws the ball when inside the 5-yard line.

We have time to see this play out, but this sure is a weird one if it happens just before the draft. You'd think Peterson would have more value if he had just waited until after the draft. Then a desperate NFL team that didn't secure a Running Back in the draft would surely be calling. Or maybe Peterson sees the handwriting on the wall and nobody is calling.

What do you think? Does Peterson still have value in fantasy terms? Do you like this fit? Inquiring minds want to know.

[RI WORKHORSE]

I dont think anyone knows hows this is going to play out. This might be his last year. Maybe playing in a dome will help him out rather then playing in the cold.

Its worth it for any team to have peterson as your back up running back.

For fantasy, just creates more of a mess. Its roll the dice in the later rounds. Guys will over value him cause of his name. Its a gamble will it pay off????

[David U Kennedy]

I'd take AP as my 3rd or 4th RB. He is a "super human" and going to really good offense. Ingram has never stayed healthy. I think AP will be the Saint starter come week one. Who knows he could have a good year in that offense ala Curtis Martin at 32. 12 Tds and maybe 1200 yards are possible I think.

[Coltsfan]

I'd take AP as my 3rd or 4th RB. He is a "super human" and going to really good offense. Ingram has never stayed healthy. I think AP will be the Saint starter come week one. Who knows he could have a good year in that offense ala Curtis Martin at 32. 12 Tds and maybe 1200 yards are possible I think.

It's funny but I saw David was posting on this and I knew then that all I had to do was go with his opposite and I would have it settled...lol. (Just kidding David)

The last 5 years under Sean Payton, New Orleans has averaged 360 carries per year by there RB's. The last 3 years they have had 14 rushing TD's each year. Receptions tend to run about 127 for 1000 yards and another 5 TD's by receptions.

Given that information, I don't see Peterson making a difference in the team totals. Although if I was to guess he carries more downward risk to that number than having a chance of increasing it.

Mark Ingram has only missed 4 games the past 2 years including playing all 16 last year. That's not bad for a NFL RB. But last year he only rushed the ball 205 times and I'm guessing that is his ceiling this year. So I might divide up the stats like this?

Ingram 200 carries, 940 yards, 4 TD's to go along with 45 receptions, 330 yards and 2 receiving TD's. (208 fantasy points)

Peterson 140 carries, 550 yards, 9 TD's and minimal catches 15/120/1 (133 fantasy points)

This could all change because of injury but that's my take. Ingram becomes a RB2 and Peterson becomes a touchdown dependent bye week flex guy. And if I was betting an over/under on my Peterson estimates, I would take the under. There was a reason teams didn't sign him this year. It may have had something to do with his 1.9 yards per carry last year before getting hurt. His yards after contact also had a huge decline in 2015 which was a huge warning sign that 2016 may have been the first year of his decline. Perhaps a 32 year old RB with lots of mileage turns it around but there are very few examples of this.


Wayne

[Tom Kessenich]

I Tweeted the following and said it on our Sirius show last night:

Last season, the Saints gave their lead RB (Ingram) 15 carries or fewer in 10 games. Now they're bringing in Peterson and that's suddenly going to change? I'm not buying it. This is a strong pass-first offense with Brees and Peterson does not fit at all. What the Saints needed at RB was more of a third-down, receiving back, not another lead back who can't function at a high level in their passing game. Dan Woodhead, for example, would have been a sensational fit.

I think this is a massive blow for both Peterson and Ingram. I expect Peterson to be given every opportunity to start (they play the Vikings in Week 1 for cryin out loud) but a timeshare is almost certainly in play no matter how the final depth chart shakes out. I have no interest in either guy now. Both would be low RB3s/RB4 types on my board who almost certainly will be drafted higher than I have them targeted.

Pass.

[David U Kennedy]

I do see your point he doesn't ideally fit this offense. A pass catch back would fit what they do. But Chris Ivory fit this offense just fine and he has the same style as AP. Freeman and Coleman are proof that 2 RBs can produce numbers in a offense. For AP to put up good numbers he needs to be the starter and get the bulk of carries. Which would be based on he still has some juice left in them legs. He would have to be markedly better than Ingram who is a pretty good back himself. So is he the AP of OLD? We shall see. I made the mistake of discounting him the year he came back from the knee blowout. AP will enjoy some nice running lanes in that offense.

[Tom Kessenich]

Freeman and Coleman are both exceptional receiving RBs so they can be used in diverse ways.

Ivory and Ingram were redundant and though it took the Saints longer than it should have they eventually realized it and got rid of Ivory to keep the superior player.

Ingram and Peterson are redundant. It was a ridiculous signing on their part in my opinion and even more baffling from Peterson's perspective. He should've stayed with the Vikings. He'd at least be a lot closer to the Super Bowl than he is now.