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You can never take too much from the preseason, but through three exhibitions in 2013, Darren Sproles isn’t looking like the fantasy football stud we’re used to seeing. That’s not to say Sproles has lost a step, but he’s not getting much work while the younger New Orleans Saints running backs look primed to cut into his workload.
Sproles is likely done with his preseason work after carrying the ball seven times for a measly 12 yards through three meaningless contests. That won’t faze fantasy owners in PPR leagues because they’re only concerned with his receiving stats: seven catches for 52 yards. No reason to panic, right?
Undrafted rookie Khiry Robinson has been outstanding in the preseason with 27 carries and 113 yards to go along with 53 receiving yards on five catches. That’s not to mention the fact everyone in New Orleans expects Mark Ingram to have a bigger workload in 2013.
So it’s not so much that Sproles isn’t a great pass-catching running back anymore; he just might not get as many opportunities to put points on the board in 2013.
Again, that’s a big “if” and you can’t take too much from NFL preseason games, but there’s a reason why Sproles is falling further and further in mock fantasy drafts as the start of the season nears. If you’re looking for a consistent option at RB2 for your PPR league, you’d be wise to check out some of the other pass-catching backs near Sproles in the ADP rankings before just snatching him up without thinking twice.
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