The Facts: In Cadet, the Saints have a player on their roster who — while not nearly as proven as Darren Sproles — shares some qualities with the man who led New Orleans in all-purpose yards each of the three seasons he was there. “He’s a guy that can run the routes (Sproles) did,” HC Sean Payton said of Cadet. “He is a utility player that has gotten better at the core skill set of just being a runner but is very comfortable when it comes to being a receiver out the backfield.”

Diehards Line: While Payton admitted it will be difficult to replace Sproles, who was traded to the Eagles, the coach knows there are three reasons not to fret about not having Sproles on the roster. First, the Saints still have Khiry Robinson and Mark Ingram, who especially showed how dangerous they can be on the ground in a wild-card win last season at Philadelphia in which the Saints racked up 185 yards, the second-most in franchise history for a postseason contest. Then there is the eight-year veteran, Pierre Thomas, who was the Saints’ leading rusher and led the NFL in catches among running backs with 77. And Cadet did well enough in games and practices to convince Payton he’s a possibility to ease the effects of Sproles’ absence, the coach said. That's not to say fantasy football owners should blindly buy into Cadet; but it wouldn't hurt Dynasty owners to look into his availability.