Fantasy Football Sits of the Week: Kamara, Williams, Engram Among Players to Avoid

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Source: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

With bye weeks clearing out and injuries piling up, fantasy managers are scrambling to fill their lineups with reliable players. Unfortunately, several players who might look appealing on paper have significant red flags that make them poor starts this week.

Alvin Kamara (RB - New Orleans Saints)

Kamara has been dealing with ankle problems for three weeks now and the injury is clearly affecting his play. He's been held to 31 or fewer rushing yards in three straight games and hasn't scored since Week 1. The Saints limited him to just 51% of snaps in Week 8, his lowest of the season, while rookie Devin Neal logged 33 snaps compared to Kamara's 37. With his efficiency cratering to 3.63 yards per carry and zero touchdowns in his last seven games, Kamara can't be trusted as anything more than a desperation flex play. The ankle injury shows no signs of improving and New Orleans has clearly lost confidence in their former star.

Jameson Williams (WR - Detroit Lions)

Williams has been a major disappointment despite the Lions' explosive offense. He's managed just two or fewer targets in two of his last three games and hasn't topped 100 receiving yards since Week 2. Even his own offensive coordinator admitted he "failed" Williams and wouldn't blame him for being angry about his usage. The Lions have too many mouths to feed with Amon-Ra St. Brown dominating targets and the running game controlling games. Williams' boom-or-bust profile makes him too risky to start when you need reliable production. His 30 targets on the season pale in comparison to St. Brown's 61, and Detroit's game script often doesn't require much passing volume.

Evan Engram (TE - Denver Broncos)

Engram started the season slowly with just four catches for 33 yards in the first two weeks, then missed Week 3 with a back injury. While he's found some rhythm recently with back-to-back five-catch performances, his role remains too limited for fantasy relevance. The Broncos offense struggles to support consistent fantasy production from anyone beyond their top receivers, and Engram's 8.27 yards per reception show he's not being used as a downfield threat. Denver's conservative offensive approach and rookie quarterback Bo Nix's development limit the ceiling for all pass catchers. Engram's 54.2 PPR points through eight games put him well outside the reliable starter range at tight end.

Quentin Johnston (WR - Los Angeles Chargers)

Despite having his best professional season, Johnston just returned from a hamstring injury and immediately saw his role diminish. In his Week 7 return, he managed just two catches for 30 yards on six targets while rookie Oronde Gadsden broke out with seven catches for 164 yards. The Chargers have multiple receiving threats competing for targets, and Johnston's 50% deep target rate makes him too dependent on big plays to provide consistent fantasy value. His hamstring injury could linger and affect his ability to run those deep routes that make up half his target share. With Justin Herbert spreading the ball around to multiple receivers and the ground game taking priority, Johnston's ceiling is capped even when healthy.

Zach Charbonnet (RB - Seattle Seahawks)

Charbonnet's role has grown but his efficiency numbers are alarming. His 2.85 yards per carry are well below replacement level, making him completely dependent on touchdown luck near the goal line. While he's scored five rushing touchdowns, that pace isn't sustainable given his poor rushing efficiency and Seattle's inconsistent offense. The Seahawks still split carries between Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III, limiting both players' ceilings when healthy. Seattle's offensive line struggles have hurt both running backs, and Charbonnet's inability to create yards on his own makes him a risky play. His five touchdowns mask what has been largely ineffective rushing between the 20s, and regression is likely coming for his scoring rate.


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