Should I Start Alvin Kamara?

Saturday, March 28, 2:16 PM

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee), who has been the team's lead back for the last eight seasons, finished the year on Injured Reserve again in 2025 and appears headed for a drastically reduced role in 2026 after the Saints signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $52 million contract in free agency. Kamara, 30, played in a career-low 11 games last season and averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry for 471 rushing yards and just one touchdown. He added a career-low 33 receptions for 186 yards on 39 targets. Not only is durability now a major concern for the nine-year veteran with plenty of tread on his tires (1,674 rushing attempts), but if he's healthy and stays in New Orleans, he's likely headed for a complementary role behind Etienne in head coach Kellen Moore's offense. Etienne is four years younger than Kamara, and the Saints have a financial incentive to make him the new lead back. There have even been reports of Kamara potentially retiring this offseason, so his fantasy football value is dropping in a hurry in both redraft and dynasty/keeper leagues.