Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints
Running Back #41
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Alvin Kamara News RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Not Expected to Have a Big Role in Week 1

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) practiced fully on Friday and is cleared for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday in Detroit against the Lions, but NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill is not expecting a huge role for Kamara, even if he does play. Even with Audric Estime (thigh) ruled out for Week 1, Underhill believes that the Saints have enough depth behind starter Travis Etienne Jr. with Kendre Miller for the Saints to take it easy on Kamara, who missed most of training camp with an MCL sprain in his knee. The Saints officially listed Kamara as questionable for the season opener this weekend, but he will likely be active in a limited role, which makes him an easy fade in starting fantasy lineups. The 31-year-old five-time Pro Bowler is no longer the Saints' lead back in 2026 after the addition of Etienne, but once he is fully back, Kamara should handle the primary pass-catching role, which will give him some flex appeal on a weekly basis in PPR leagues. But in Week 1, fantasy managers should leave Kamara on their bench.

Sep 11, 2026 4:44 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Questionable for Week 1

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that veteran running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is questionable to play in Week 1 on Sunday versus the Detroit Lions on the road, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Kamara missed most of training camp this summer due to a sprained MCL in his knee, and he also missed the end of the 2025 season with a knee injury. The 31-year-old veteran saw his fantasy football value plummet this offseason after the Saints brought in Travis Etienne Jr. to be their RB1. Kamara briefly considered retirement, but he chose to return for a 10th NFL season in the Big Easy, where he figures to primarily operate on passing downs in Moore's offense when he is active. The five-time Pro Bowler will merely be a shaky RB3/flex option for fantasy managers if he gets the green light to suit up in the season opener in Motown. If Kamara is held out against Detroit, Kendre Miller is the most likely option to serve in a change-of-pace role behind Etienne, with Audric Estime also banged up.

Sep 11, 2026 10:27 AM EST

Alvin Kamara Expected to Play in Week 1

NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill expects New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, barring a setback in practice late this week. Kamara's return would give the Saints' offense more ways to use two backs and create space on offense. The 31-year-old returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited fashion, and he is apparently trending in the right direction to be ready for the 2026 regular-season opener this weekend after being held out for most of training camp in the summer due to an MCL sprain in his knee. Kamara also missed the end of the 2025 campaign with a knee injury, and his role in New Orleans is going to look a lot different this year with Travis Etienne Jr. in town and expected to see most of the backfield work for the Saints. Kamara will still have a role, too, but mostly in obvious pass-catching situations. Kamara's expected return this weekend is not great news for Etienne's fantasy ceiling in Week 1. Even though Kamara should be rostered in PPR leagues this season, he will make for a risky RB3/flex if he is active in Detroit.

Sep 10, 2026 8:14 AM EST

Alvin Kamara is Back at Practice

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo. Kamara is finally back in the mix after being sidelined most of camp due to a sprained MCL. It sounds like there is a chance that Kamara is cleared to play in Sunday's Week 1 contest against the Detroit Lions. Once healthy, Kamara is expected to be the co-starter alongside Travis Etienne Jr. this season. The veteran back can still make an impact on the field, but the presence of Etienne does hurt his overall value. Etienne would be a borderline RB1 if Kamara is out, so fantasy managers should stay tuned for more information.

Sep 9, 2026 6:41 PM EST

Travis Etienne Jr. Listed as Co-Starter With Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara (knee) are listed as co-starters on the team's unofficial depth chart as they get ready for their Week 1 contest this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Detroit Lions, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Etienne should lead the Saints in overall touches by a wide margin when all is said and done in 2026 after they signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal in free agency in March, but when healthy, Kamara will be involved in head coach Kellen Moore's offense as a pass-catcher. Kamara is looking unlikely to play in Week 1 against the Lions, but when he makes his 2026 debut, he will no doubt take away valuable passing-game targets from the 27-year-old Etienne, lowering his overall fantasy ceiling in his first year in the Big Easy. The former 25th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 from Clemson had his third 1,000-yard rushing campaign and added seven rushing touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in 2025, tacking on 36 catches for 292 yards and another six TDs through the air. With Kamara unlikely to play this weekend, Etienne should have plenty of fantasy upside as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in his debut with the Saints.

Sep 8, 2026 12:44 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Absent From Thursday's Practice

New Orleans Saints veteran running back Alvin Kamara (knee) was not seen on the practice field on Thursday in the portion open to the media, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Kamara still has another week to work himself back into practice and be cleared for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Detroit Lions after suffering a sprained MCL in his knee over two weeks ago. Kendre Miller has also been sidelined this week with a minor undisclosed injury, which leaves only Audric Estime and Travis Etienne Jr. as the team's healthy RBs. At this point, it seems more likely that Kamara is unavailable to play in the 2026 season opener, but he was not placed on Injured Reserve to begin the year, which means the Saints believe he will be ready to make his season debut within the first four weeks. Once one of the best dual-threat backs in the league, the 31-year-old five-time Pro Bowler has ended each of the last two years with injuries and played in a career-low 11 contests in 2025, rushing for only 471 yards and one touchdown on 131 carries while catching a career-low 33 passes for 186 yards. Now that Etienne is in town as the primary RB1 in the Big Easy, Kamara is merely a handcuff option with some pass-catching upside in PPR formats late in fantasy drafts.

Sep 3, 2026 10:47 AM EST

Alvin Kamara Does Not Participate in Saints Practice on Wednesday

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) was among the players who did not participate in practice on Wednesday, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Kamara is currently battling a sprained MCL, and his availability for the Saints' Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions is in question. The veteran running back missed the final six games of the 2025 season due to a separate MCL sprain, making his current injury all the more concerning. Kamara averaged a career-low 4.0 yards per touch across 11 games last season and is expected to play a minimized role in the Saints' offense in 2026 following the team's offseason acquisition of running back Travis Etienne Jr. If Kamara misses the start of the year, Etienne Jr.'s early-season workload outlook could be significantly improved.

Sep 2, 2026 12:19 PM EST

Kendre Miller Says He'll Take on Bigger Role with Alvin Kamara Injured

New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller expects a larger role following veteran Alvin Kamara's injury. Kamara sprained his MCL during a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams and is expected to miss time, possibly into the regular season. Miller told the media on Monday, "It's always a next-man-up mentality. I have a bigger role now that AK is down, so I'm going to just take that and try to run with it." In three seasons, Miller has totaled 677 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in 21 career games, though he has missed 30 games, including several hamstring injuries and a torn ACL he suffered in Week 7 last season. With former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne expected to handle most of the work in the backfield, Miller profiles as an early-season handcuff until Kamara returns. Fantasy managers should look to other options instead of Miller in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.

Aug 24, 2026 5:27 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Expected to Be Sidelined at Least a Month

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) left Tuesday's joint practice with the Cowboys, and he is now expected to be sidelined for at least a month after being diagnosed with a sprained MCL, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The five-time Pro Bowler dealt with a similar injury last season that kept him out of the final six games, and despite the fact that the Saints signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $48 million contract in free agency, Kamara was expected to have a significant role in Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense. New Orleans opens the regular season against the Detroit Lions on September 13, and Kamara's status is now in doubt not only for that game but, at 31 years old, concerns about any lingering health issues are amplified. Amid what had been reported as a strong training camp, Kamara had risen to RotoBaller's RB53, but Wednesday's injury update will likely see him fall off draft boards entirely.

Aug 19, 2026 5:50 AM EST

Alvin Kamara Avoids Major Injury, Expected to Miss a Few Weeks

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to miss a few weeks, according to Nick Underhill. Kamara left Tuesday's joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys but didn't suffer any tears or major injuries. Kamara suffered an MCL sprain toward the end of the 2025 season, causing him to miss the final six weeks. If it is another MCL sprain, it would be the fourth of his career, and at 31, recovery may take longer and returning to full speed could be slower. With the Saints' first matchup against the Detroit Lions less than four weeks away, Kamara could be a coin toss to play in Week 1. If the veteran misses time during the season, Travis Etienne would likely be asked to take on a bigger role, with both Kendre Miller (back) and Devin Neal (hamstring) banged up as well.

Aug 18, 2026 7:21 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Dealing With a Knee Injury

New Orleans Saints veteran running back Alvin Kamara (knee) is dealing with a knee issue in training camp, according to Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak. Kamara was pulled before finishing the joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, but the severity of the injury is unknown at this time. It is a bit worrisome, though, after Kamara ended last year on the sidelines due to a knee injury, on top of the fact that he is 31 years old and heading into his 10th year in the NFL. There were rumors that the former third-rounder might retire in the offseason, but he has returned to the Big Easy for another season in 2026 and is set to have a drastically reduced backfield role after the Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency. The five-time Pro Bowler should be considered day-to-day for now. He has fallen all the way to the No. 52 ranking among fantasy RBs at RotoBaller this year, although he could be a sneaky late-round depth addition in PPR leagues. Kamara played in a career-low 11 games last year, finishing with just 471 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground with 33 catches for 186 yards and no touchdowns through the air.

Aug 18, 2026 4:05 PM EST

Travis Etienne Jr., Alvin Kamara Listed as Co-Starters

New Orleans Saints running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Alvin Kamara have been listed as co-starters on the team's first unofficial depth chart of the preseason, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Fantasy managers shouldn't invest too much stock in unofficial depth charts with the regular season more than a month away, but it's still noteworthy that the Saints aren't declaring a clear-cut No. 1 running back yet. Etienne figures to be the lead ball-carrier after signing a $48 million contract during the offseason, but Kamara is still hanging around ahead of his age-31 season. Last year in Jacksonville, Etienne had 1,399 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns, ranking as the RB10 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, injuries limited Kamara to just 11 games, and he turned in the worst season of his career with just 657 scrimmage yards, one touchdown, and a pair of fumbles. He was the overall RB46, marking the first time in his career he finished a season lower than RB46. With all that in mind, we would expect Etienne to claim sole possession of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart by the end of the preseason. As it stands, he ranks as the overall RB17 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.

Aug 11, 2026 6:12 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Seeing Third-Down Work in Passing Situations

New Orleans Saints veteran running back Alvin Kamara has been splitting the backfield with newcomer Travis Etienne Jr. in training camp this summer, with Etienne taking the bulk of the first-team reps on early downs and Kamara "getting first call on third down and in passing situations," according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. It's an evolving situation in head coach Kellen Moore's offense, but Duncan said he'd be surprised if it's a 50-50 split with Etienne and Kamara when all is said and done. Behind Etienne and Kamara, the RB room is crowded with contenders for the RB3 role among Devin Neal, Audric Estime, Ty Chandler, and C.J. Donaldson. The 31-year-old Kamara is set to take on a much smaller role in New Orleans' backfield as mostly a third-down pass-catching back, which will make him more of an RB4/flex option in point-per-reception leagues in his 10th year in the league. Etienne, who is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 16 fantasy RB, is the back to roster for the Saints in 2026, but fantasy managers should temper expectations with him as an RB2 because of the presence of Kamara in passing situations.

Aug 4, 2026 10:58 AM EST

Alvin Kamara, Travis Etienne Jr. Splitting First-Team Reps

New Orleans Saints running backs Alvin Kamara and Travis Etienne Jr. are splitting first-team reps early in training camp, according to Sean Fazende of FOX 8 Nola. The expectation coming into camp was that Etienne would be the team's clear lead back after the Saints signed him to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency back in March. But after the Saints reworked Kamara's contract to keep him around for another year in the Big Easy, the two RBs will share the Saints' backfield to start the 2026 season. Etienne, who ran for 1,107 yards on 260 rushing attempts in 17 regular-season games in 2025 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, should still have a significant role in his first year in New Orleans, but Kamara's dual-threat presence could keep the former from being a true RB1 in fantasy football. RotoBaller has Etienne currently ranked as the No. 16 fantasy RB, making him an ideal low-end RB1/high-end RB2 target in head coach Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense. Kamara has the history and hometown presence, but his fantasy value is expected to take a massive hit as the 1B to Etienne in a best-case scenario. RotoBaller has Kamara ranked as the RB52 for 2026.

Jul 29, 2026 8:13 AM EST

Saints to Pay Alvin Kamara a $6 Million Base Salary in 2026

The New Orleans Saints and veteran running back Alvin Kamara agreed to terms on a deal on Thursday that will pay him a base salary of $6 million for the 2026 season, with a chance to make $8.5 million with incentives, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. It's a win-win for both sides that almost certainly means that Kamara will finish his career in the Big Easy. It's not great news for new RB Travis Etienne Jr., but the former Jacksonville Jaguar will almost certainly take over RB1 duties in 2026 in his first year with the Saints after they signed him to a four-year, $52 million deal in free agency in March. Kamara, a five-time Pro Bowler and dual threat out of the backfield, will surely see his volume decrease dramatically, but he could still be a flex play in point-per-reception fantasy football leagues in 2026 now that he's officially locked in to return to New Orleans. Durability has been a concern for the aging Kamara in recent seasons, but he's had at least 47 receptions in eight of his nine seasons, with the only exception coming in 2025 when he played in a career-low 11 games. Kamara should be the unquestioned No. 2 RB behind Etienne, mostly factoring in on passing downs in 2026.

Jul 16, 2026 7:48 AM EST

Alvin Kamara Staying With Saints After Contract Restructure

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara will remain with the team after agreeing to a reworked contract, ending the uncertainty around his 2026 status. The exact terms were not included in the report, so there is no reason to assume his role has changed. New Orleans signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million deal after Kamara managed 471 rushing yards and 186 receiving yards in 11 games last season. That investment points to a real committee, and Etienne has the stronger case for the larger share after producing 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in 2025. Kamara still matters, especially on passing downs, but his 33 catches last year were a career low. Staying in New Orleans removes the risk of an awkward late move or release. It does not restore the old workload. Kamara remains a late PPR flier in redraft, while dynasty managers should use the added roster certainty to see what a contender will pay.

Jul 15, 2026 12:29 PM EST

Will the Saints Part Ways With Alvin Kamara?

The New Orleans Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan writes that "it would not be shocking" if the New Orleans Saints parted ways with veteran running back Alvin Kamara this offseason. Parting ways "might be in the best interests of the star RB and the team that drafted him nine years ago." If the Saints were to trade or release Kamara, they could hand the keys to the offense to newcomer Travis Etienne Jr. and give more snaps to Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime. It would be a big changing of the guard in the Big Easy, as Kamara is the leading rusher in team history and one of the most popular players to ever wear the black and gold. The Saints have treated the 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler with respect and have given him his space; they have yet to approach him about a pay cut, and it's unclear if they will before training camp starts at the end of July. If the Saints elect to keep Kamara on the roster, his $10.5 million salary cap hit will be the sixth-highest among RBs in the NFL. Duncan adds that although both sides have played nice so far, "there's no denying the vibe between the sides has been off throughout the offseason." If Kamara stays in New Orleans, he'll be the clear RB2 behind Etienne, tanking his fantasy football value going into his 10th year in the league.

Jul 3, 2026 6:28 PM EST

Saints Excited to Get Alvin Kamara In The Fold

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been non-committal about his status during this current contract standoff. Despite that, head coach Kellen Moore says he's excited to get Kamara into the fold. Kamara is entering the final year of his contract, and his long-term status with the organization remains unclear. The Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year deal over the offseason. The expectation is that the Saints will move on from Kamara after this upcoming season, with Etienne locked up. It's a frustrating situation for Kamara, but it's never a bad thing to have two viable options in the backfield. Kamara won't be the every-down back, but the Saints will find a way to get both backs involved.

Jun 10, 2026 5:40 PM EST

Alvin Kamara Hasn't Talked Pay Cut, "No Beef" With Saints

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara surprised everyone by showing up to OTAs on Wednesday since he has a history of skipping voluntary workouts in the offseason. Even head coach Kellen Moore was caught off guard. "Obviously a little bit unexpected," Moore said. New Orleans added RB Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, leading to offseason speculation that Kamara could hang up his cleats or be traded. His status for the 2026 season is far from settled. The Saints have indicated they would like to address Kamara's contract, but the team's all-time leading rusher said he hasn't talked with general manager Mickey Loomis about taking a pay cut. The 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler is entering the final year of his contract and holds a salary cap hit of around $10.5 million, which was already reduced earlier this offseason. Kamara said he has no beef with the Saints after they added Etienne, and is "going to be ready" to play in the Big Easy for a 10th season. If Kamara stays with the Saints this year, he's going to be the clear No. 2 behind Etienne, which will cause a drastic drop in his fantasy value after being the Saints' lead back for the last nine years.

Jun 4, 2026 10:41 AM EST

Alvin Kamara Attends OTAs on Wednesday

New Orleans Saints veteran running back Alvin Kamara (knee) was present at the team's OTA workout on Wednesday, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Triplett goes on to write that it's still to be determined if this means that Kamara is all systems go for the team going forward. Despite rumors suggesting that the 30-year-old five-time Pro Bowler was considering retirement this offseason, Kamara said he wants to be with the Saints and continue playing in 2026. However, his contract ($10.4 million salary cap hit in 2026) will still likely need to be addressed in some form before anything becomes final for this year after the Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $48 million deal in free agency back in March. Head coach Kellen Moore said he doesn't know if Kamara has had any talks with the organization regarding his contract, but he has been pleasantly surprised that he's joined the team in Week 2 of OTAs. On top of the fact that Kamara is now clearly the RB2 in the Big Easy if he sticks around, he's recovering from knee and ankle injuries that caused him to miss the final six games in 2025. Kamara has tumbled all the way down to an RB59 ranking at RotoBaller for the upcoming season, and a trade out of town might be his best path back to fantasy relevance.

Jun 3, 2026 1:32 PM EST