Saints beat writer Nick Underhill was asked to predict who would get more touches -- Mark Ingram or C.J. Spiller.
Let’s assume the Saints log 430 carries next year. I’ll give 185 to Mark Ingram, 140 to Spiller, and the rest to the other guys. Those numbers might seem conservative, but 430 carries would put New Orleans right in the middle of the league.
With the baseline set, I expect Spiller to end up with more touches. I think he’s going to be a big player in the passing game, working out of the backfield and split out as a receiver.
Look, I’ll be honest, I probably have unreasonable expectations for Spiller. I think he’s going to do big things. I’ve let my mind run wild, envisioning all the different ways a creative coach like Sean Payton could use him.
Going back to the question, I think it will be close, but I’ll give Spiller the edge in touches.
We have Ingram projected to carry the ball 212 times, with Spiller getting 80 carries and Robinson with 72, so we favor Ingram heavily in the running game with Robinson seeing more of a role as well. Still, Spiller is an attractive pick, especially in PPR formats. Underhill did say he had "unreasonable expectations" for Spiller, so his projections should be taken with a grain of salt. For more on Spiller, check out Senior Editor John Paulsen's recent article, The Case for C.J. Spiller in New Orleans.
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