Who Should I Start? Alvin Kamara or Christian Kirk

Tuesday, August 5, 2:32 PM

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara won't play in the team's preseason opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, but the rest of the RBs will, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Kamara has been healthy during training camp, but the Saints will keep their RB1 out as a precaution for the first preseason contest. Rookie Devin Neal (hamstring) is currently injured, so it will likely be Kendre Miller, Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire sharing the backfield this weekend for the Saints. Kamara, now 30 years old, has still yet to record a 1,000-yard rushing season through eight NFL seasons, but he's made up for that in fantasy by catching 60-plus passes in six seasons. He also had a career-high 950 rushing yards and six TDs in 2024. Kamara should remain heavily involved in the Saints' new offense, but there are concerns about how good New Orleans' offense will be, and Kamara is becoming more of an injury risk. Target him as more of a low-end RB2 in PPR formats.

Wednesday, July 9, 3:34 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk was dealt from the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round NFL Draft pick this offseason. The 28-year-old had a fantastic first season with Jacksonville in 2022, but injuries and offensive woes limited his production in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he tallied just 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games while Brian Thomas Jr. took over the WR1 role. Now in Houston, he is seemingly competing with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for the WR2 job behind Nico Collins. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime believes Kirk might be the favorite to win that job. "The best way to step into the No. 2 or No. 3 role is building chemistry with CJ.. Stroud," Bien-Aime wrote. "And Kirk looked like a potential safety blanket for the third-year signal-caller." While this is promising for Kirk's fantasy prospects, the veteran has eclipsed 800 yards in just two of his seven NFL campaigns, and Houston's acquisitions of Higgins and Noel could suggest they were not comfortable with Kirk in the clear WR2 role. That said, his cost in drafts outside the top 50 WRs makes him an interesting dart throw in all formats.