Who Should I Start? Alvin Kamara or RJ Harvey

Friday, January 2, 3:42 PM

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (knee, ankle) has been ruled out for his team's Week 18 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, per ESPN's Katherine Terrell. Kamara suffered a sprained MCL in Week 12 that will ultimately end up causing him to miss New Orleans' final six games of the season. Across 11 contests in 2025, the 30-year-old recorded 657 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 164 touches. His 3.6 yards per carry and 4.0 yards per touch both represent career lows. With Kamara sidelined and Saints backs Kendre Miller (knee) and Devin Neal (hamstring) on Injured Reserve, New Orleans will likely split backfield work between Audric Estime and Evan Hull in Week 18, with tight end Taysom Hill possibly mixing in as well. Estime functioned as the team's lead back in Week 17, recording 14 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.

Friday, January 9, 2:38 PM

Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey averaged 2.4 yards per carry over his last two games of the regular season, including a 15-carry, 28-yard Week 18 performance against a Chargers defense resting the majority of its starters. His fantasy value has been buoyed by an above-average touchdown rate and extensive work in the passing game, but dating back to Week 9, Harvey has averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry in only two of his last nine games. Five times in that span, he has been held to less than 2.7 yards per carry. The Broncos earned a first-round bye as the top seed in the AFC, but fantasy managers rostering Harvey in any playoff leagues should be rooting for wins by the Patriots and Bills in Wild Card Weekend, ensuring a Divisional Round matchup between the Broncos and Bills. Buffalo is widely regarded as having the softest run defense in the AFC playoff field and represents the clearest path for Harvey to have an impact performance.