Entering Week 12, the New Orleans Saints have plenty to improve on, though this is clearly a rebuilding team with low expectations and a long-term focus. At 2-8, it’s all about building for the future, and one of the biggest issues holding this offense back is the inability to run the ball. The Saints rank in the bottom five in the NFL in rushing yards per game and are one of only six teams yet to reach 1,000 rushing yards as a group.
That naturally leads to the bigger question: Does this team have its running back of the future? Alvin Kamara has been one of the greatest players in franchise history, but at age 30, he isn’t that long-term answer. Kendrick Miller has shown flashes, including a 65-yard outing with a touchdown against the Bills in September, but his production hasn’t been consistent enough to lock him into that role.
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Given the roster and who actually suits up each week, it feels unlikely the answer is already in the building. That puts the spotlight on two paths: finding value in the draft on day two or day three, or pursuing a young back in free agency who needs a change of scenery and a true opportunity. The Saints can offer that opportunity next season, because nobody on the current depth chart is positioned to take on a primary workload.
There’s a lot to consider over the next several weeks and beyond as New Orleans evaluates how to return to being competitive again. The running back spot might be under-discussed, but it’s a critical piece of that puzzle.