Updated: May 1, 2011
Quarterback:
1 – Drew Brees
Saint Drew was only minimally affected by the Madden Curse last season, perhaps because of his sainthood. Brees racked up 4620 yards with a 33:22 TD:INT ratio in another fabulous season, though he did have a few atypically bad games, contributing to those 22 interceptions. He had another stellar completion percentage at 68%, which means he should continue to thrive in that high-powered offense.
2 – Chase Daniel
The second-year man out of Missouri got on the field for 14 snaps in 2009, attempting just three passes. Expect similar output in 2011.
3 – Sean Canfield
Reserve/future contract
Running Back:
1 – Pierre Thomas
The ankle injury that kept him out most of last season has been surgically repaired, and Thomas looks to get back on track toward being a top fantasy back in 2011. His 3.2 YPC last season was nothing special, but he caught all 29 of his targets for a 100% catch rating. That will regress, but he is an underrated pass-catcher coming out of the backfield. With a new four-year contract in hand, expect Thomas to be a major part of the Saints offense for the foreseeable future.
2 – Mark Ingram (R)
Ingram could not have asked for much of a better situation to step into as a rookie. The Saints’ backfield may be crowded, but Ingram could wind up with the lion’s share of carries whether Thomas stays healthy or not. Ingram has something to prove after almost falling all the way out of the first round, and the former Heisman winner should be at the top of your dynasty rookie draft board.
3 – Chris Ivory
After a slow start filling in for Thomas and Bush last season, Ivory came on strong en route to a whopping 0.51 fantasy points-per-snap (PPS) figure. His workload figures to be impacted by a healthy Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram, though.
4 – Lynell Hamilton
5 – Joique Bell
6 – Chris Taylor
Reserve/Future contract
7 – Reggie Bush
The former Heisman winner/loser’s days are likely numbered in New Orleans with the arrival of Ingram and a $11 million roster bonus due.
Wide Receiver:
1 – Marques Colston
Colston had another solid season, making 70 catches on 102 targets for 1074 yards and 9 touchdowns. His 10 drops were a bit glaring, and Drew Brees likes to spread the ball around, limiting his fantasy value somewhat. He is still the WR1 on a team with a fantastic quarterback and overall offense.
2 – Lance Moore
Moore turned in a solid season, ranking 7th in the league with a 8.5 rating. A victim of Brees’ propensity to spread the ball around, Moore’s fantasy production was limited to a few big games and pedestrian numbers the rest of the time. Look for much of the same in 2011.
3 – Devery Henderson
Almost the polar opposite of Lance Moore, Henderson rated at the bottom of the league at -7.5. His potential had him starting the season as the WR3, but he was soon overtaken by the inconsistent Meachem.
4 – Robert Meachem
Inconsistency has plagued Meachem, who teases fantasy owners with his big-play potential on an annual basis. He led Saints receivers with a 14.5 YPC, but is not a solid fantasy option for next season.
5 – Adrian Arrington
Arrington was on the field for 55 snaps and caught 7 passes on 9 attempts last year.
6 – Andy Tanner
Reserve/Future contract
7 – Montez Billings
Reserve/Future contract
Tight End:
1 – Jimmy Graham
The projections and expectations have skyrocketed for Graham, who was such a pleasant surprise for the Saints that they cut Jeremy Shockey. Graham led all tight ends with 0.28 fantasy PPS last year, albeit his sample size was much smaller than the other leaders. It became increasingly apparent that Brees trusted Graham last season, especially in the red zone, and if that holds true in 2011, he could be in line for a top-5 fantasy season at the position.
2 – Dave Thomas
Thomas figures to have an important role in the New Orleans offense, considering he was on the field for 552 snaps as the TE3 on the team last year, seeing 42 targets in the process. If Graham falters or gets injured, Thomas could be this year’s Jacob Tamme.
3 – Tyler Lorenzen
Reserve/Future contract
Kicker:
1 – Garrett Hartley
Hartley won the job in the pre-season last year, then proceeded to try to give it away before stabilizing. His value should be slightly higher because the Saints play indoors, but his 78% field goal accuracy is a warning for him going into 2011.
Questions and comments are always welcome via Twitter – @PFF_Alex
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