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New Orleans Saints

Saints look ready to make Kamara their third-down back

The Saints are trying to trade Travaris Cadet, says Aaron Wilson on Twitter. Wilson is a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, primarily covering the Texans, but he has some contacts around the league. He probably has a relationship with Cadet’s agent, because he was the first to announce when Cadet re-signed with New Orleans.

After re-signing Cadet, the Saints drafted Alvin Kamara in the third round. With this latest development, I take that as a sign New Orleans believes Kamara is ready to be the team’s primary back on passing downs. The Saints also have Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson, but Kamara is a much better pass catcher than either of those guys (particularly Peterson).

The dumpoff pass to the running back is huge in Sean Payton’s offense, so Kamara is very much on my radar – especially in a PPR format. Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas – seems like the Saints have a running back with 70-plus catches almost every year.

In the last five years, only 10 teams have completed over 125 passes to running backs in a season. The Saints have done it five times. The rest of the league combined has done it only five times.

Kamara was not heavily used as a runner in college. He ran for 698 and 596 yards in his two seasons, averaging 6.2 per attempt, as the Vols stuck with a committee. But he did catch 74 passes for 683 yards and 7 TDs in those two seasons. Looks like they’re going to plug him into that Bush-Sproles role.

Before re-signing with the Saints, Cadet considered offers from the Jets and Bills. If New Orleans releases him, he’ll probably wind up trying to win a roster spot with one of those teams. Buffalo looks like the most logical fit.

TEAMS WITH 100+ RUNNING BACK RECEPTIONS
YearTeamNoYdsAvgTD
2013New Orleans17112447.36
2012New Orleans14111798.410
2015Detroit13512169.05
2015San Diego13411478.66
2014New Orleans1329397.14
2015Philadelphia1288786.93
2013Atlanta1278316.56
2015Baltimore1278796.96
2016New Orleans1278847.010
2015New Orleans12710648.43
2012San Diego1238376.81
2012Oakland12010228.53
2016Baltimore1187256.12
2014Buffalo1148607.52
2014Detroit1139308.26
2013San Diego1128477.67
2013Detroit11110799.73
2014Chicago1088648.04
2012Atlanta1077637.13
2013Kansas City1069699.18
2014Oakland1067096.73
2015New England103104310.19
2016Cleveland1029048.90
2014Pittsburgh1029549.43
2014Atlanta1018308.26

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index