The scariest position group for the New Orleans Saints

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Oct 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints running back C.J. Spiller (28) carries the ball past Dallas Cowboys strong safety Barry Church (42) to score the game-winning 80-yard touchdown in overtime at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 26-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

C.J. Spiller: The Satellite Back

With the 2015 salary cap stretched so thin, people were wondering if the New Orleans Saints could sign any free agents. Within a few days of the start of free agency, the Saints signed running back C.J. Spiller from the Buffalo Bills. It seemed like a match made in heaven. Then tragedy struck.

Before Spiller’s 2015 season could start, he would need arthroscopic knee surgery. During the season it was clear that Spiller was not the same running back he was in Buffalo and his season ended on injured reserve after being inactive in week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He never really developed into the running back that Sean Payton envisioned he would be when they signed him.

The 2015 season was injured C.J. Spiller and not his full potential. Spiller’s talent has been evident since he was selected ninth overall in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Even though Spiller was obviously hampered by the summer knee injury, his talent was on display in an overtime win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. That level of production never manifested itself during the rest of the season, but it proved that Spiller is a game changer when healthy and given an opportunity.

A healthy C.J. Spiller in 2016 is what rounds out the New Orleans Saints pass catching group. Without him, the group is dangerous, but with him they become the single most lethal form of point scorers in the entire NFL. It’s clear that when defenses take the field against the 2016 New Orleans Saints they are in for a barrage of passes caught and points scored.

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