Top 10 under-the-radar FAs
Chris Ivory, Brad Jones could provide good production on the cheap
Every year when free agency rolls around, it's easy to get seduced by the big names. Last year, Peyton Manning, Mario Williams and Vincent Jackson (to name three) dominated the offseason talk. But it isn't just the big names who can have a big impact.
There are some players whose reputations don't ring out but who can provide a big boost to a roster. The following are 10 under-the-radar guys who could prove exceptionally handy pickups for a very reasonable price.
Note: More detailed explanations of the advanced statistics used below can be found here.
Offense
Chris Ivory, running back
2012 team: New Orleans Saints
With Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram and Travaris Cadet on the roster, Ivory was limited to 68 snaps this year, down from the 156 he managed in 2011 and 195 as a rookie. He's clearly not a big part of what the Saints do, yet that doesn't mean he couldn't (or wouldn't) contribute in a big way for someone else.
For his career, Ivory is averaging an astonishing 5.1 yards per carry (compared to the 3.9 of Ingram) despite the fact that when he's in the game it's a telltale sign the Saints are running (74.9 percent of his snaps were on running plays), letting the offense key in on him. This is because he's incredibly hard to bring down. Ivory has forced 57 missed tackles from a running position since entering the league, or one every 4.9 touches. This season, Adrian Peterson forced one every 5.4 touches.
To see the 10 under-the-radar free agents that NFL teams should target this offseason, plus to gain access to all of Insider's NFL content, become an ESPN Insider today.
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