3 Players Who Must Step Up For The New Orleans Saints In 2016

The New Orleans Saints missed the playoffs for the second straight season last year, but they're determined to end that streak in 2016 - and they certainly have enough talent to do so. However, they need a few players to step up and reach their full potential this season. Here are the three players they're counting on to have breakout seasons this year:

Andrus Peat

Peat definitely struggled in his rookie season, but he finally started to show signs of improvement late in the season. The talent and size are definitely there for him to become a reliable tackle, and now that he appears to have adjusted to the speed of the NFL, he should be able to make the most of his abilities. Plus, he'll be back at tackle (his normal position) after being used mostly at guard in 2015.

Mark Ingram

Ingram took another step forward in 2015, proving again that he could a productive lead back with 769 rushing yards and six touchdowns in just 12 games. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry but also made a much bigger impact in the passing game, catching 50 passes for 405 yards. The Saints are finally starting to take advantage of the weapon Ingram has become, and they'll look to do so even more this year.

Coby Fleener

New Orleans never found a way to replace Jimmy Graham last year, so they signed Fleener hoping he can be that guy. He does have excellent hands and is more of a receiver than a blocker, but he has also been criticized for being soft, avoiding contact and not having enough speed to get open. The Saints need him to become a big, reliable target for Brees.

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Related Topics: NFL News, Mark Ingram, Saints News, Andrus Peat, Coby Fleener