Pierre

Thomas

Through two games, Mark Ingram has 27 carries for 91 yards (3.4 YPC) while Pierre Thomas has 14 carries for 72 yards (5.1 YPC). Payton said the general plan is to give each a couple series at a time, but specific packages might “trump” that rotation. The goal-line work will usually include Ingram, making him worth sticking with in fantasy.

Eight touches represent Thomas’ smallest workload of the season, while Mark Ingram led the backfield with 11. Thomas did get one carry deep in the red zone against the Texans, but failed to execute. Thomas is going to need an injury to Ingram or Darren Sproles in order to be start-able in fantasy leagues. He’ll be a low-end flex option in Week 4 against Jacksonville.

Thomas’ biggest impact came in the passing game, where he had a tackle-breaking 18-yard screen pass and a 6-yard touchdown on the game-winning drive. He remains the third back in the Saints’ three-headed committee, averaging 57.4 yards from scrimmage per game heading into next week’s game against the Bucs.

“I’m great,” said Thomas. “Ankle’s all good. Body’s feeling good. Head’s feeling good.” It’s not clear how long the concussion symptoms lingered, though coach Sean Payton said a couple of days after the collision that Thomas was going to be “just fine.”

There’s a true three-man rotation going on in New Orleans as Darren Sproles saw 28 snaps. Ivory ended up with 15 touches while Thomas recorded 12. It’s the kind of split we’d expect going forward, although the Saints figure to run the ball less against the Falcons’ stout run defense this week. Both Ivory and Thomas are mere flex plays.

Arguably the Saints’ MVP through three quarters, Thomas was a tackle-breaking machine, maintaining his balance and refusing to go down on first contact. He averaged over nine yards through the air as well as on the ground. After losing an early score to Darren Sproles, Thomas was rewarded with a 1-yard plunge in garbage time. Heading into next Saturday’s game with the 49ers, Thomas and Sproles are clearly the Saints’ top two backs.

Darren Sproles played on just 20-of-59 offensive snaps and Mark Ingram was at 13. According to beat writer Jeff Duncan, “the Saints planned to employ a variety of plays for Sproles but the Falcons were well-prepared.” Sean Payton’s situational backfield will remain the status quo when the Saints come out of their bye in Week 12.

Chris Ivory is in line to take Ingram’s spot for a second straight game. Rotoworld matchups guru Evan Silva notes that Pierre Thomas, not Ivory, has been the primary goal-line back in Ingram’s three missed games this year.

Boasting one of the NFL’s most underrated run defenses, the Falcons shut down the Saints’ ground attack this week. Thomas’ 29 yards actually led the team. He’s averaging just under 60 scrimmage yards per game heading into the Week 11 bye.

One week after turning in his best rushing effort of the season, Thomas had his worst as Mark Ingram handled the load on the ground. Thomas has now alternated 50-yard rushing efforts with sub-30 yard rushing efforts over his past six games. The stat is a pure fluke, but does underscore the fact that he’s too unpredictable to be counted on as anything other than a flex option in 10-12 team leagues for the fantasy playoffs despite his contributions in the passing game.