Saints RB Pierre Thomas doesn’t appear to be any closer to a return. Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts will continue to share the workload, but neither should be a fantasy option against the Steelers.

Chris Ivory is making a case to be fantasy relevant while Pierre Thomas is out.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas is out for Sunday, not much of a surprise considering that he had complained of soreness along with swelling, and the team signed Julius Jones this week.

Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters today that Pierre Thomas still has soreness and swelling with his ankle injury. When the Saints signed Julius Jones, I figured this was a bad sign that Thomas was not as close to returning as we would all hope. And that might be the case.

When you think of all of the great fantasy players for the Saints, where would you rank Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory? They were likely an afterthought in your drafts, unless you are playing in a ridiculously deep draft.

If Pierre Thomas isn’t back in Week 5, Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory figure to have fantasy value.

Already struggling to run the football this season, the Saints won’t have starting RB Pierre Thomas in Sunday’s game against the Panthers because of an ankle injury. That likely means veteran Ladell Betts will start.

Pierre Thomas was limited in practice on Friday and is considered a game-day decision. Obviously, game-day decisions are terrible for many reasons, which we have discussed before. And Thomas is i no better position than Jahvid Best, Ray Rice or Steven Jackson.

Pierre Thomas might be a game-time decision for Week 4, so Chris Ivory could have sudden fantasy appeal.

Offensively, the Saints are still great without Reggie Bush. Just not as feared.

Lynell Hamilton‘s season-ending injury has put the Saints back in the running back market.

The Redskins have released WR Antwaan Randle El, making him an unrestricted free agent and clearing more salary off their 2010 payroll.

The Redskins have released RB Rock Cartwright, G Randy Thomas and Ladell Betts according to league sources.

The Redskins will sign free-agent RB Marcus Mason, according to a league source.

Here’s a brief look at the notable injuries we’ve been tracking around the NFL throughout Week 11, including Ben Roethlisberger, Matthew Stafford and Marshawn Lynch.