Getty Gallery: 5/5
Start: RB Mark Ingram vs. Falcons
Sit: RB Dion Lewis at Texans
Alvin Kamara is obviously a must-start each week, but the Saints are proving their offense can support multiple running backs in fantasy. Ingram is coming off his second straight 100-yard rushing game. To fantasy owners' delight, Ingram is also getting the ball in the red zone as his two touchdowns in Week 11 show.
Ingram is okay not getting as many touches as he may receive if he was on another team, but still believes he can be impactful when he does get the ball.
“I’m always prepared to carry a load for our team, for our offense,” Ingram said per NewOrleansSaints.com. “I know that we have lots of weapons, there’s only one ball to get around. So I just try to remain patient and I try to stay on point and be ready for when my number is called. And when my play arises, my chance to make a play, I try to capitalize on it. We have lots of play-makers; I’m always prepared to carry the load. Of course I want to touch the ball, I want to be on the field, but I just try to remain patient and just play the game how it comes to me.”
Ingram and the Saints offense get a nice matchup this week against the Falcons. Atlanta ranks towards the bottom half of rushing yards allowed at 121.7 yards per game.
Dion Lewis Has Hit a Dry Spell
Lewis was riding a nice little fantasy streak during the middle of the season, but his production has come to a screeching halt. Lewis is averaging less than three yards per carry over the last two weeks. Lewis rushed for just 24 yards last week against the Colts. Things were not much better against the Patriots in Week 10 when Lewis rushed for 57 yards.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel believes his team still has time to make a run, starting with a primetime matchup against the Texans.
“We are not dead – we’re 5 and 5,” Vrabel said per Titans Online. “We are still in this race, as bad as it was (on Sunday) – and it was bad. Put it all on me. I’ve lost five games, and the players have won five. I have to do a better job of not losing them, and they have to do a better job of losing them.”
Fantasy owners should be less optimistic as the Titans travel to Houston. The Texans have the NFL's No. 7 ranked rushing defense allowing 96 yards per game. Lewis' main hope of fantasy relevance for this week is his involvement in the passing game. With the way Lewis has played the last few weeks, that is not something I want to rely on for my fantasy lineup.