Who Should I Start? Alvin Kamara or Zach Charbonnet


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.8 21.8 0.1 1.6 10.6 0.1

Alvin Kamara News

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

Thursday, July 16, 7:48 AM

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.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
5.7 24.6 0.2 0.9 6.7 0.0

Zach Charbonnet News

Zach Charbonnet a Late-Round Target in 2026 Drafts

Thursday, July 2, 9:13 AM

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet continues to recover from the ACL tear he suffered in the team's divisional round win over the 49ers, and by all accounts, he is progressing well. Charbonnet was spotted doing light work on a side field during the final practice of minicamp, and a scheduled check-up on the knee in late July could provide the green light for a more extensive workload at the start of training camp. The Seahawks spent their 2026 first-round pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, but Charbonnet is no stranger to backfield competition. Sharing work with last season's eventual Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet touched the ball more than 200 times and was given many of the team's most high-value opportunities. His 50 red-zone carries in 2025 were the ninth most in the league, while only four players had more attempts from within the five-yard line, helping him to finish the year with 12 rushing touchdowns. If he can return to anything close to full health, there is no reason to believe he couldn't handle an even larger role in this offense, and with an ADP currently outside the top 45 at the position, Charbonnet is a player to target in the late rounds of 2026 drafts, particularly in leagues with IR spots.


Alvin Kamara vs. Zach Charbonnet

Still trying to decide between Kamara and Charbonnet? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Alvin Kamara is projected to score 5.8 points this week while Zach Charbonnet is projected to score 5.7 points.