Week 17 vs. Carolina Panthers
Alvin Kamara rushed seven times for 23 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Saints’ Week 16 win over the Steelers. He also added four catches for an additional 82 yards and drew a 33-yard defensive pass interference call in the end zone late in the first quarter. With the Saints having clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Kamara might be held on Sunday when New Orleans hosts Carolina. For now, Kamara is our RB11 for Week 17 but check his status leading up to kickoff on Sunday. We would recommend avoiding most of the Saints' top performers.
Week 16 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Alvin Kamara rushed 14 times for 67 yards and one touchdown in the Saints’ Week 15 win over the Panthers. He also caught seven passes for 36 yards on nine targets. Kamara out-touched Mark Ingram 21-14 and sparked the Saints’ comeback in the second half. After playing three straight weeks on the road, the Saints return home on Sunday to face the Steelers. Playing inside the Superdome provides a boost for a struggling Drew Brees and if the Saints can get their passing game back on track, Kamara should see more scoring opportunities than he has over the past three weeks. Ranked as our RB5 for Week 16, keep Kamara in your lineup.
Week 15 at Carolina Panthers
Alvin Kamara rushed 12 times for 51 yards while catching five-of-six passes for 36 yards in the Saints’ Week 14 win over the Bucs. Tampa Bay surprisingly did a nice job bottling up Kamara for most of the night. He had just one fewer rush than Mark Ingram and has not gone over 40 yards receiving since Week 10. Kamara draws a bad matchup on Monday night against a Carolina defense that ranks fifth against fantasy running backs this season. That said, he’s a must-start given his importance to a New Orleans offense that needs to get back on track before the playoffs start in less than a month. Ranked as our RB5, make sure Kamara is in your lineup for Week 15.
Week 14 at Tampa Bay Bucs
Alvin Kamara rushed 11 times for 36 yards in the Saints’ Week 13 loss to the Cowboys, adding eight receptions for 36 additional yards. The eight receptions helped PPR owners a little but it was a disappointing night for Kamara and the entire New Orleans offense. Dallas has the athletic linebackers to contain the Saints’ skill position players and forced New Orleans to earn every yard. Look for a bounce-back from Kamara and the Saints when they travel Sunday to Tampa Bay to take on a Bucs defense that ranks 28th against fantasy running backs this season. Kamara is our RB5 for Week 14.
Week 13 at Dallas Cowboys
Alvin Kamara rushed 14 times for 89 yards and caught his only target for another nine yards as the Saints rolled past the Falcons in Week 12. It was the second consecutive week that Kamara saw only one target and it was the first time he didn’t score since Week 5. His volume has also suffered in recent weeks with the Saints jumping out to big leads but Kamara remains a must-start every week. The Saints travel to Dallas on Thursday night to play a Cowboys team that owns the No. 8 defense versus fantasy running backs this season. Ranked as our RB10 for Week 13, view Kamara as a low-end RB1.
Week 12 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Alvin Kamara rushed 13 times for 71 yards and turned his lone target into a 38-yard touchdown in the Saints’ Week 11 win over the Eagles. Up big in the second half, Sean Payton called a pass play on fourth down instead of punting and Kamara dusted Philadelphia defensive back Malcolm Jenkins for the 38-yard score. (Jenkins then subsequently gave Payton, his former coach in New Orleans, the middle finger.) Kamara has now scored in five consecutive games and gets a plush matchup on Thanksgiving night when the Saints host the Falcons. Ranked as our RB4 for Week 12, Kamara is a must-start on Thursday.
Week 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Alvin Kamara rushed 12 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns while catching four-of-five targets for 46 yards in the Saints’ Week 10 win over the Bengals. It was Kamara’s fifth game this season in which he’s scored multiple touchdowns and while he continues to share the backfield with Mark Ingram, he continues to dominate the snaps. On Sunday the Saints will host an Eagles team that ranks ninth versus fantasy running backs this season. Despite a somewhat tough matchup, Kamara is our RB5 and is a must-start every week.
Week 10 at Cincinnati Bengals
Alvin Kamara rushed 19 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns while also catching four-of-five targets for 34 yards and an additional score in the Saints’ Week 9 win over the Rams. The second-year back was often the best player on the field, totaling 50 yards on New Orleans’ first two drives. The Saints sputtered offensively in the third quarter but Kamara sparked the team again with a 17-yard gain in the fourth quarter that was capped off by a field goal. Ranked as our RB4 for Week 10, Kamara is a must-play when the Saints travel to Cincinnati on Sunday to take on a Bengals defense that ranks 27th against fantasy running backs this season.
Week 9 vs. Los Angeles Rams>
Alvin Kamara rushed 13 times for 45 yards and a touchdown while also catching seven-of-eight targets for 31 yards and an additional receiving touchdown. He once again led the New Orleans backfield in touches and dominated snaps early over backfield mate Mark Ingram. The Saints will host the Rams on Sunday and while L.A. ranks 7th against fantasy running backs this season, Kamara remains a must-start. He ranks as our RB6 for Week 9.
Week 8 at Minnesota Vikings
Alvin Kamara rushed 17 times for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Saints’ Week 7 win over the Ravens. He out-touched Mark Ingram 19-14 and also out-snapped his backfield mate 39-to-35. While Kamara keeps producing, both Ingram and backup quarterback Taysom Hill have curbed his fantasy production. While that’s frustrating for Kamara owners, he remains a weekly RB1, including on Sunday night when the Saints visit the Vikings. Kamara is our RB7 for Week 8.
