The New Orleans Saints have CJ Spiller out with a knee injury, but he is expected to be back for Week 1 after having surgery and for fantasy owners, Spiller, Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson are all solid options in PPR leagues from NO, as Sean Payton is expected to push the running game this year and also will use Spiller like Darren Sproles.
Spiller signed as a free agent this offseason from the Bills and he is expected to be the second back on the depth chart behind Ingram. According to NFL.com, Spiller is expected to be healthy for Week 1 after having arthroscopic knee surgery for the Saints. Spiller is a strong receiver out of the backfield and he comes in after signing a four year deal worth $16 million with the Saints. Spiller will be hurt by not having more experience while coming into a new system, but the Saints are likely happy that the injury will not keep him out for long.
Spiller reportedly could miss the rest of the preseason for the Saints and while that is a blow for the team, fantasy owners should be happy. Not playing means that Spiller will not get injured again and while knee issues are always a concern, as long as Spiller returns by Week 1 he is a worthy fantasy draft option. Spiller is going to rake in PPR leagues this season, as he is going to be used like Sproles was for the Saints in past years.
Spiller was injured for most of the last season and played in just nine games and he is primed for a bounce back season. Spiller has never quite been able to recreate what he did back in 2012 with the Bills and this season he is hoping to do that. Spiller had a career best 1244 yards and six touchdowns rushing that season and he also set career highs in receiving with 43 catches for 459 yards. The next two seasons Spiller had 33 catches and 19 catches and that could be his main focus for the Saints this year.
Ingram is coming back after having a career season and he signed a new contract to stay with the Saints. Ingram comes in after rushing for a career best 964 yards and nine touchdowns and he also had highs in receiving and receiving yards this season. Ingram has been unable to stay fully healthy for a season since back in 2012, but he played in his second highest amount of games last year with 13. Robinson comes in as the other main back and he had a career best 362 yards last season.