2014 Review

Last season just might have been the early signs of the New Orleans Saints' offense changing. While Drew Brees still attempted a staggering 659 passes, his 33 touchdowns and 7.51 yards per pass attempt was the lowest since 2010, when he finished with 33 touchdowns, 22 interceptions. At 36, it's very possible we are starting to see a decline in Brees' abilities and his ability to move around the pocket. But the Saints' offensive line was pedestrian on it's best days last season, something that should improve with the acquisition of Max Unger.

In 2014, we also saw Mark Ingram be placed into a starting role and the 28th overall pick in 2011 came through in a major way. It was a career year for the former Crimson Tide' star, as he nearly surpassed his combined totals from 2012 and '13 (234 carries for 988 yards and six touchdowns) with 226 carries for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games. He was the bulldozer of the Saints' offense and he will take a major share of the carries this season, with a chance at his first 1,000-yard season of his career,

Veteran Additions

C.J. Spiller, Running Back

This ranks right up there around the NFL as one of the best moves of the offseason. The player-scheme fits don't get much better than this, Spiller has been freed from the fantasy-killing clutches of Doug Marrone and will be free in Sean Payton's offense.

New Orleans is more committed to the running backs this season and using a 1-2 punch of Mark Ingram and Spiller. Ingram will be out there on first and second down, picking up the tough yards and working the goal line. Spiller will be a fixture on third down in the quick-huddle offense. Payton has already spoken publicly about their focus on getting him touches in space and letting his agility and tools shine.

We all remember 2012, when Chan Gailey coached the Bills' offense and Spiller was phenomenal, with over 1,700 total yards and eight touchdowns. It was a memorable time for fantasy owners, something we all clinged to during the rough times of 2013 and 2014. But now with Spiller in New Orleans, that euphoric, enchanted feeling is back.

Potential Breakout Star

Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver

The departure of Jimmy Graham drew the big headlines and for obvious reasons, but the Saints also parted with Kenny Stills. That means 186 targets (62 from Cooks, 124 from Graham) are out the door. New Orleans didn't address wide receiver during the draft, they are going to rely on Cooks, last year's 20th overall pick.

Last season, Cooks hauled in 53 receptions in just 10 games as a third or fourth wheel in the offense. Now he is set to be the Saints' top receiver in an offense that loves to spread the field, use quick passes and let players make things happen. We aren't just talking about Cooks having over 100 targets this season, some have even speculated he could see 100 receptions. 

It certainly seems like a stretch, especially for an offense that will look to run the ball more this season. But Cooks is going to be Brees go-to receiver and production will come simply because of the high-volume targets Cooks will see this season. A breakout season from Cooks would further elevate the 2014 draft class at wide receiver into epic levels and propel it into the talks of being one of the greatest in ages.

Potential Disappointment

Josh Hill, Tight End 

The moment the Saints traded away Graham had to be bittersweet for Hill. On the positive end, he would now have more opportunities to display his abilities and be a productive part of the Saints' offense. But when fans and a section of the fantasy community see a 6'5", athletic specimen in the Saints' offense and assume big production will come.

Completely unreasonable expectations will be placed on Hill this season, with those assuming he will take this massive leap and be out there for a majority of the snaps this season. Yes, Hill will see an increase in snaps this upcoming season, but you also have a Saints' reporter suggesting Benjamin Watson is a more intriguing fantasy option.

It really does make some sense, New Orleans is going to run the ball more this season and make it a staple of their offense. Watson is much more reliable as a blocker than Hill and he played nearly 300 more snaps than him last season. While Hill will be out there in more spread out formations on passing downs, he will still find himself behind Cooks, Colston and Spiller for targets. Let someone else overdraft Hill, now just isn't the time to be getting on this hype train.