The Saints have signed Adrian Peterson, and that looks like a major blow to the value of Mark Ingram. One spin is that Peterson will replace Tim Hightower as a change-of-pace option in New Orleans, but that seems really unlikely. The two backs aren't particularly similar.
This story suggests that Peterson should be the backup, but we'll see. He's not an ideal fit to play in passing situations; for his career he averages under 2 receptions per game. And the idea that he'll be a closer to help finish out games is belied by the fact that ball security has long been an issue for him.
Over the last two seasons, 57 running backs have touched the ball at least 200 times. Tim Hightower didn't fumble once on his 266 touches. Peterson fumbled 8 times on his 397 -- one of the worst rates in the league.
The only way this deal makes much sense for the Saints is if they view Peterson as the main runner, with Ingram sliding back into the Hightower role -- playing in passing situations and getting fewer carries than Peterson. Granted Peterson is 32 years old and averaged a pitiful 1.9 yards per carry in his limited healthy action a year ago. But it's not going to be surprising if he opens the year as the lead back.
Ingram, by the way, has 4 fumbles on 467 touches the last two years -- half as many on 70 additional touches as Peterson.
| RUNNING BACK FUMBLES, 2015-2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | F | Pct |
| Alfred Morris, Was.-Dal. | 285 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 276 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Tim Hightower, N.O. | 266 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Danny Woodhead, S.D. | 203 | 0 | 0.00% |
| Charcandrick West, K.C. | 296 | 1 | 0.34% |
| Thomas Rawls, Sea. | 278 | 1 | 0.36% |
| Theo Riddick, Det. | 268 | 1 | 0.37% |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 442 | 2 | 0.45% |
| Matt Asiata, Minn. | 202 | 1 | 0.50% |
| T.J. Yeldon, Jac. | 398 | 2 | 0.50% |
| Lamar Miller, Mia-Hou | 540 | 3 | 0.56% |
| Darren Sproles, Phil. | 341 | 2 | 0.59% |
| Matt Forte, Chi-NYJ | 510 | 3 | 0.59% |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 334 | 2 | 0.60% |
| Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 481 | 3 | 0.62% |
| LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 477 | 3 | 0.63% |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 619 | 4 | 0.65% |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 303 | 2 | 0.66% |
| Rashad Jennings, NYG | 440 | 3 | 0.68% |
| Justin Forsett, 3 tms | 289 | 2 | 0.69% |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 281 | 2 | 0.71% |
| Jeremy Langford, Chi. | 251 | 2 | 0.80% |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 473 | 4 | 0.85% |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 467 | 4 | 0.86% |
| DeMarco Murray, Phi-Ten | 583 | 5 | 0.86% |
| Christine Michael, 3 tms | 230 | 2 | 0.87% |
| Todd Gurley, Rams | 571 | 5 | 0.88% |
| Chris Johnson, Ariz. | 227 | 2 | 0.88% |
| Shaun Draughn, Cle-SF | 213 | 2 | 0.94% |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 519 | 5 | 0.96% |
| Darren McFadden, Dall. | 308 | 3 | 0.97% |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 307 | 3 | 0.98% |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 595 | 6 | 1.01% |
| Ronnie Hillman, Den-Min | 279 | 3 | 1.08% |
| Latavius Murray, Oak. | 535 | 6 | 1.12% |
| DeAngelo Williams, Pitt. | 356 | 4 | 1.12% |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 345 | 4 | 1.16% |
| Spencer Ware, K.C. | 326 | 4 | 1.23% |
| Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 484 | 6 | 1.24% |
| Doug Martin, T.B. | 479 | 6 | 1.25% |
| Charles Sims, T.B. | 233 | 3 | 1.29% |
| Alfred Blue, Hou. | 310 | 4 | 1.29% |
| Terrance West, Ten-Blt | 293 | 4 | 1.37% |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 354 | 5 | 1.41% |
| Eddie Lacy, G.B. | 282 | 4 | 1.42% |
| Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 512 | 8 | 1.56% |
| David Johnson, Ariz. | 556 | 9 | 1.62% |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 370 | 6 | 1.62% |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 238 | 4 | 1.68% |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 207 | 4 | 1.93% |
| Devontae Booker, Den. | 205 | 4 | 1.95% |
| Adrian Peterson, Minn. | 397 | 8 | 2.02% |
| Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 295 | 6 | 2.03% |
| Chris Ivory, NYJ-Jac. | 414 | 9 | 2.17% |
| Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 228 | 5 | 2.19% |
| James Starks, G.B. | 273 | 6 | 2.20% |
| Matt Jones, Wash. | 270 | 8 | 2.96% |
--Andy Richardson