NFL : Why New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles Is The Best Free-Agent Pickup That No One Is Talking About.
With due respect to the likes of big-name players such as Kevin Kolb, Nnamdi Asomugha and Plaxico Burress, but the best pick-up in NFL free-agency for 2011, may stand only at a mere 5’6 and weigh 190 pounds in New Orleans Saints running back—Darren Sproles
When the Saints traded former running back—and border-line bust— Reggie Bush to the Miami Dolphins for a late-round pick, they had already lined up an equally productive—cheaper and less injury-prone—replacement in Sproles.
Sproles would sign a four-year $14 million dollar deal to be what Bush could never be during his time in New Orleans—a reliable and steady threat out of the backfield who can actually stay healthy.
And from his play so far in 2011, it is paying off big not only for Sproles but for the Saints as an invaluable and deadly receiver out of the backfield for Brees to use, much to the delight of NFL fantasy football owners everywhere who use him as a steady flex player due to playing in New Orleans potent offense.
In his first regular-season game as a Saint, Sproles would return a punt back 72 yards for a touchdown and finish with 164 all-purpose yards— seven yards rushing and 75 yards receiving— during the Saints 42-34 loss to defending Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay.
Sproles would also have a 12-yard touchdown reception during the Saints 30-13 win over the Chicago Bears and finish with 85 all-purpose yards—17 yards rushing, 43 yards receiving and 25 on kick returns.
And last Sunday in the Saints 40-33 comeback win over the Houston Texans, Sproles would rush for 35 yards on two carries and one touchdown. Sproles would finish with 193 total all-purpose yards—108 kick/punt return yards and 50 yards receiving.
Is Sproles on par with Bush? Maybe.
With Bush is currently struggling in Miami for carries—behind rookie Daniel Thomas—and dealing with another injury, it looks like the move for the diminutive man known as “Lightning Bug” may finally given the Saint’s explosive offense some sting it has long been missing.
In the case of Sproles, the old saying may hold true that good things do come in small packages.
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