3 New Orleans Saints everyone seems to forget about
Latavius Murray
Latavius Murray was brought in to New Orleans to be a backup running back. You might not think that is a huge role to fill, but he had to replace pretty big cleats from the likes of Mark Ingram, who went on to have a fantastic season in Baltimore.
Though only being on the team for one year, Murray has made his presence known — especially when he came in and became a top NFL rusher multiple weeks when Alvin Kamara went down with an injury.
Current RB leaders in yards after contact per attempt according to @PFF (Min 50 rushes):
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) October 22, 2019
1) Josh Jacobs - 3.90
2) Leonard Fournette - 3.68
3) Chris Carson - 3.63
4) Latavius Murray - 3.53
5) Dalvin Cook - 3.51 #FantasyFootball
The reason Murray replaced Ingram well is that they both did something that Alvin Kamara really doesn’t do — run between tackles.
Kamara is your average “catch it out of the backfield and take off” running back or the back that bounces it to the outside. He’s elite at that. Kamara is one of the most elusive backs in the game, but he certainly isn’t the full three-down back that can do everything.
Last season, Murray ranked fourth in the NFL in yards after contact per attempt with 3.53. That is what Kamara doesn’t do — plow through tackles. It is also what makes Murray such a valued part of the Saints’ offense.