Alvin Kamara is in the news this weekend, with discussion/debate over what kind of suspension he might face for an incident over Pro Bowl weekend where he was arrested and is facing felony charges for "battery resulting in substantial bodily harm." I don't know how that will play out, but I know I won't be selecting Mark Ingram regardless.
Ingram is the veteran on New Orleans' roster who is the favorite to benefit should Kamara miss time (apparently, the team is bracing for as much as a six-game suspension from the league). Other running backs on the roster include Dwayne Washington, Devine Ozigbo, Tony Jones and undrafted rookie Abram Smith, who we'll get to in a moment. So Ingram is definitely the favorite to open as the starter if a Kamara suspension comes down this summer. Doing well, however, looks less likely.
Over the last two seasons, Ingram has received at least 5 carries in 16 games, for three different teams (Baltimore, Houston and New Orleans). In those games he's averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry just seven times, and reached 50 rushing yards three times. He's scored twice. Averages for that season's worth of games: 3.4 yards per attempt, 38 rushing yards, just under 2 receptions for 12 yards as a receiver.
| MARK INGRAM, LAST TWO SEASONS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Tm | Opp | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Rec | Yds |
| 2020 | BAL | at N.E. | 5 | 5 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 2020 | BAL | Dal. | 6 | 28 | 4.7 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | BAL | at Cin. | 9 | 39 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | HOU | Jac. | 26 | 85 | 3.3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | HOU | at Cle. | 14 | 41 | 2.9 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2021 | HOU | Car. | 6 | 21 | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2021 | HOU | at Buf. | 6 | 24 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | HOU | N.E. | 16 | 41 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | HOU | at Ind. | 18 | 73 | 4.1 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2021 | HOU | at Ari. | 6 | 9 | 1.5 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
| 2021 | NOR | T.B. | 6 | 27 | 4.5 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
| 2021 | NOR | Atl. | 9 | 43 | 4.8 | 0 | 5 | 21 |
| 2021 | NOR | at Ten. | 14 | 47 | 3.4 | 1 | 4 | 61 |
| 2021 | NOR | at Phi. | 16 | 88 | 5.5 | 0 | 6 | 25 |
| 2021 | NOR | Dal. | 10 | 28 | 2.8 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 2021 | NOR | at T.B. | 9 | 10 | 1.1 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Avg | 11 | 38.1 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 11.7 | ||
Ingram has had a credible career, including three trips to the Pro Bowl (none of which involved getting arrested). But he's 32 years old. If Kamara does get suspended for 6 games, there's a really good chance Ingram is a starting running back in the NFL for those contests. But good production seems pretty unlikely.
The sleeper here is Abram Smith. He was undrafted, so he's a longshot, but at least he isn't proven to not be very good, like the other backs on the roster. Smith rushed for 1,601 yards and 12 TDs at Baylor last year, converting from playing linebacker as a junior. If we're talking about last-round picks or dynasty league pickups, Smith is a guy who won't necessarily be on an NFL roster in September -- but the small chance of him being a starting running back at some point makes him a worthwhile flier. Don't get your hopes up, but I'd rather shoot for the moon with Smith, than the hill with Ingram.
--Andy Richardson