Despite head coach Sean Payton's insistence through the past couple of weeks that running back Pierre Thomas didn't suffer a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Falcons in week three, it sure sounds like Thomas did suffer a high ankle sprain against the Atlanta Falcons in week three. Thomas, who was declared out for this Sunday's game on Friday, told The New Orleans Times-Picayune his original timetable for recovery was four-to-six weeks. Sunday will be Thomas' third missed game. Thomas thought he would make an earlier return because he was able to walk around sooner than expected. But that return hasn't happened yet. "I'm a little frustrated, but hey, it's coming along," Thomas said. Thomas said the swelling in the ankle is down and that it's "starting to look like a normal ankle again." When he plays again will be determined by how quickly he can regain the strength in the ankle and how comfortable he feels cutting on it. He has been running in a pool and hopes to start running on solid ground next week. "It's just taking too long," Thomas said.

Fantasy Analysis:

Four-to-six-week absences are the calling card of high ankle sprains for running backs. Thomas didn't practice all week, so it's no surprise that he won't be active Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But if you own him, you should make backup plans for Thomas in week seven. As for this week, it'll be Julius Jones, Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory all pitching in for the Saints. Payton has said Jones will be his third-string back. If you believe what he says -- which shouldn't always be the case, obviously -- and you have to choose between Betts and Ivory, I would go with Ivory. I think he's the smarter choice for more carries after Betts' disastrous week five, in which a couple of dropped balls on his part led to 14 points for the Cardinals. Still, even against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, this backfield should be kept at a distance in fantasy. There's too much uncertainty and 10 carries is probably the ceiling for any runner here.