In their search for a compliment to Alvin Kamara, the New Orleans Saints have reportedly settled on Latavius Murray.
Niner Noise
Over the last few seasons, the New Orleans Saints have had a top backfield duo in Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. But with Ingram hitting free agency, ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported the Saints will sign Latavius Murray.
Murray has spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, starting 17 of 32 games as Dalvin Cook missed time to injury in both campaigns. In 2017, he had 216 carries for 842 yards and eight touchdowns, and last season he had 578 yards on 140 carries (4.1 yards per carry) along with six touchdowns.
Contract Details
Via Schefter, Murray will sign a four-year, $14.4 million deal with the Saints. There was no immediate word on the guaranteed money.
National Reaction
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Saints never entered into contract talks with Ingram.
The #Saints are signing former #Vikings RB Latavius Murray, source said (as @AdamSchefter said). They did negotiate with Mark Ingram, but he's now moving on.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2019
Pat Thorman of Pro Football Focus had an interesting nugget regarding Murray. Only Todd Gurley (46) has found pay dirt on the ground more often than his 32 times over the last four seasons.
Only Todd Gurley has more rushing touchdowns over the last four years than Latavius Murray. https://t.co/brfppseNwt
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) March 12, 2019
Of course, there are fantasy football implications.
With Latavius Murray heading to the Saints, Mark Ingram will have a chance to take on a lead role with a new team. Maybe the Ravens? Eagles? Jets? Bucs? All good fits for fantasy. As for Murray, he's a strong handcuff for Alvin Kamara and could push for FLEX value in 2019.
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) March 12, 2019
Latavius Murray: 29 y/o, 936 carries, 133 rec., 4.1 rush avg.
— #AskFFT (@daverichard) March 12, 2019
Mark Ingram: 29 y/o, 1,386 carries, 237 rec., 4.5 rush avg.
First run at Latavius Murray in New Orleans:
— Heath Cummings (@heathcummingssr) March 12, 2019
187 carries for 803 yards
21 catches for 150 yds
7 TD
RB30 in non-PPR
RB37 in PPR
Also with a fantasy tone, Murray stepping into Ingram’s role stands to have an impact on Kamara.
Expect Latavius Murray to fill some of Mark Ingram's old role with #Saints. Still worth noting Alvin Kamara's splits...
— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) March 12, 2019
• With Ingram: 15.5 opportunities (attempts + targets) per game, 53% snaps, 20.4 routes per game
• Without Ingram: 25.5 O/G, 82% snaps, 33.5 routes per game
Latavius Murray is a notable downgrade from Mark Ingram. More snaps coming for Alvin Kamara?
— Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) March 12, 2019
Murray is easy to see as a downgrade from Ingram, but he is also a set of fresher legs with 422 fewer career carries at almost exactly the same age. Playing behind a better offensive line, and being part of a better offense overall, brings a “high tide raises all ships” element to Murray’s outlook with the Saints.
Kamara should be in line for a bigger role with Ingram gone, but Saints’ head coach Sean Payton has typically avoided having a workhorse back. Murray should be involved on a notable level, with a likely tilt toward short yardage and goal line work.