Coach Sean Payton said he still sees Darren Sproles as a "valuable runner as well as receiver."

Despite consistent bracket coverage, struggled with a broken hand and the absence of Payton last season, Sproles averaged 5.7 catches for 51.3 yards and scored seven touchdowns through the air. Those numbers were actually slightly better than the ones that he posted in his breakout 2011 campaign. The difference was in the running game, as Sproles' yards fell from 603 to 244. With Payton back in the mix, we can safely project another 1,000 total yards and 80-plus catches. Sproles is a PPR monster.

Darren Sproles caught eight passes for 79 yards with a touchdown and rushed three times for one yard in the Saints' Week 17 loss to the Panthers.

Sproles missed four games in the middle of the season with a broken hand, but it didn't affect his pass-catching role. In the six games after returning, he hauled in 36 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Although Sproles was rendered a non-factor in the running game, he remained an elite weapon in PPR formats. He finished with 75 catches for 667 yards and seven touchdowns. Expect more of the same with Sean Payton getting back in the fold for 2013.

Darren Sproles rushed for 48 yards on nine carries and caught seven passes for 104 yards in New Orleans' Week 16 overtime win over the Cowboys.

Darren Sproles rushed five times for 22 yards and caught five passes for 21 yards and a touchdown in Week 15 versus the Bucs.

Darren Sproles rushed five times for 56 yards and a touchdown in New Orleans' Week 14 loss to the Giants, adding four catches for 28 yards and another score.

The carries were Sproles' first since Week 8, as were the touchdowns. He's averaging 5.3 catches in three games since returning from a broken hand, however. There's no guarantee Sproles will carry the rock in Week 15, leaving him as a pure-PPR back for the fantasy playoffs.

Darren Sproles caught five passes for 47 yards in the Saints' Week 13 loss to the Falcons.

Sproles again didn't see a single carry out of the backfield, and Travaris Cadet handled kickoff return duties. Sproles did have a seven-yard touchdown catch called back right before halftime due to a Jimmy Graham offensive pass interference call. He remains a mere flex option out of the backfield against the Giants next week.

Darren Sproles is active for Sunday's Week 12 game versus San Francisco.

Darren Sproles (hand) practiced without limitations again Friday.

Sproles is expected to return against the Buccaneers in another must-win game for streaking New Orleans, which has gotten its record back to .500. He should be reinserted into PPR lineups. We'd probably give Sproles one week to see how things shake out in standard-scoring formats.

Darren Sproles (hand) got in his second straight full practice on Thursday.

Sproles will be no worse than "probable" on Friday's injury report, and will be reinstalled as the Saints' passing-down back against the 49ers. He's Rotoworld's highest-rated Saints' running back for Week 12, coming in at No. 24. How things will shake out behind Sproles between Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory remains to be seen.

Darren Sproles (hand) is practicing in full this week.

Barring a setback, Sproles will be ready to roll for New Orleans' showdown with the 49ers after being a last-minute scratch in Week 11. The Saints' backfield has grown increasingly muddled in recent weeks, but Sproles should immediately slot back in as Drew Brees' preferred passing-down back. The question is, will Chris Ivory return to being a game-day inactive. Sproles will be a shaky flex play in standard leagues.