Making his 2023 debut, Saints RB Alvin Kamara racked up 13 catches on 14 targets (30 routes run). Wow. Kamara gained only 33 yards, but he was clearly needed with Derek Carr battling a shoulder injury. He led the way on the ground, too, gaining 51 yards on 11 attempts. We’ll check on Carr’s practice participation, but Kamara’s volume should remain favorable next Sunday at New England.
Saints RB Jamaal Williams is expected to miss “some time” with his hamstring injury, HC Dennis Allen said Tuesday. We'll see exactly how long Williams is out, but it sounds like he'll at least miss this Sunday's game vs. the Packers. That's the final game of RB Alvin Kamara's three-game suspension, while rookie RB Kendre Miller is still working back from knee and hamstring injuries. So the Saints could be down to Tony Jones as lead back this weekend. We could also see Taysom Hill play a big role on the ground. He wound up carrying nine times for 75 yards in the Week 2 win over the Panthers.
Saints RB Kendre Miller sprained his right knee in Sunday's preseason game against the Chiefs, according to multiple reports. That's the same knee Miller sprained in his final college game. The rookie will have further testing this week to determine the severity. New Orleans had already been looking at adding RBs, so don't be surprised if we see a move this week.
The Saints are expected to sign RB Kareem Hunt, pending a physical, ESPN's Dianna Russini reports. That will further crowd a New Orleans backfield that also includes Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and rookie Kendre Miller. Kamara, of course, is suspended for the first three games, giving the other guys a shot at useable fantasy value at the start of the season. But we'll see what happens when Kamara returns. It seems unlikely that all four RBs would even be active on game days. Hunt is coming off a disappointing 2022 season that saw him finish with career lows in yards per carry (3.8), yards per catch (6.0), and Pro Football Focus rushing grade.
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football says Saints RB Alvin Kamara is more explosive in camp than he was last year. That seems a little crazy for a 28-year-old RB heading into his seventh NFL season, but it's not a coincidence. Underhill reports that Kamara "fixed a muscle asymmetry in his legs" with a new trainer this offseason and "learned how to control his heart rate to combat fatigue." We'll be very interested to see the results in action. But if the team and player see more explosiveness, then it should keep Kamara's opportunities up. And other improvements to the offense can only help his efficiency. Now that we know he's suspended for just 3 games, Kamara makes for a high-upside RB3 or RB4 in fantasy football drafts. See where he sits in our RB rankings after adjustments for the suspension.
The NFL is suspending Saints RB Alvin Kamara for the first three games of the regular season over the assault case that stemmed from a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas. This is half the length of the six-game suspension that many have assumed heading into this season. We'll see whether Kamara appeals but wouldn't expect it, with the announcement coming two days after what was reported as a "good" meeting between the RB and commissioner Roger Goodell. Expect Jamaal Williams and rookie Kendre Miller to split work in Kamara's absence, with the veteran likely reclaiming the lead role upon his return. This news moves Kamara up our fantasy football rankings. His per-game upside has made him a solid-to-good value all along at a depressed ADP.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Wednesday that he expects Saints RB Alvin Kamara to be suspended for his role in a 2022 fight in Las Vegas. Rapoport throws out 2-, 4-, and 6-game suspensions as possibilities -- depending on how Kamara's meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell goes. It's looking like we'll get a resolution to this situation soon.
Saints RB Kendre Miller has "flashed consistently throughout the early phases of camp in all areas of the game," insider Nick Underhill writes. Miller has been especially impressive in the passing game, which will be a key area if RB Alvin Kamara gets suspended. Highlight Miller's name as a high-upside bench stash in your fantasy drafts.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara plans to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding a potential suspension. "I think Alvin really wants to get out ahead of this and have a chance to visit with Roger and kind of give him his side of the story," HC Dennis Allen said. "And look, at the end of the day, I think part of it is 'let's get some resolution with where we're at and move forward.' I think Alvin is looking forward to putting this behind him and focusing in on what he has to do to be the best he can for our team this season.” Kamara no longer faces felony charges following a recent plea agreement. Still, the veteran RB could earn a short suspension from the league.
Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the meeting will take place Wednesday.
The Saints have placed rookie RB Kendre Miller on the non-football injury list to begin training camp. That doesn't knock Miller out for any specific length of time, and we'd be surprised if he misses much. The third-round pick suffered a knee injury in his final college game in January, but he has worked out with New Orleans since the draft. We'll watch Miller's status in camp. Any significant absence would hinder his chance siphoning touches from RBs Jamaal Williams and Alvin Kamara.
Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football reports that Saints RB Alvin Kamara has agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from his 2022 Las Vegas incident. Underhill adds that "the felony charge is going away." That doesn't necessarily tell us what to expect in terms of league suspension. But the lightening of charges can't be bad news for Kamara's NFL penalty. And the plea deal should help speed up the league's decision. Kamara has been going in low-RB3 range of best ball drafts, which has made him a value -- albeit with the risk of uncertainty. We'll keep updating his projection in our rankings as more becomes clear.
Saints insider Nick Underhill believes RB Kendre Miller will rush for over 500 yards in 2023. In the words of Underhill: “Even if Alvin [Kamara] doesn’t miss time…I think he’s going to force his way on the field…. I think he’s going to earn snaps.” Miller is coming off a meniscus injury, but RB coach Joel Thomas believes the 21-year-old will be a full participant come training camp. Saints rookies report to training camp in one week.
The biggest question facing Saints RB Alvin Kamara for 2023 is the risk of suspension stemming from his still-lingering assault case. We'll almost certainly be waiting until at least August for any news on that front. But what can we expect whenever he is on the field? The veteran showed declines in both rushing and receiving efficiency over the past two years. Kamara rebounded some from a career-low 3.7 yards per carry in 2021 to 4.0 last year. Though his 14.9 carries per game (down from 18.5 in 2021) might still be more than ideal. Kamara finished each of the past two years 40th or worse in Football Outsiders' rushing DVOA and DYAR. His yards after contact per attempt matched the lowest rate of his career and ranked 46th among 61 RBs with 70+ carries, according to Pro Football Focus. Kamara also set career lows in PFF receiving grade each of the past two years, though even last season found him a decent 23rd among 61 RBs with 20+ targets. Volume has kept Kamara productive. He finished each of the past five years among the top 11 RBs in opportunity share (carries plus targets). The Saints signed RB Jamaal Williams and then drafted RB Kendre Miller in Round 3, so we should expect some dip in Kamara's touch volume. They also spent big, though, on QB Derek Carr. So Kamara could make up for any loss in touches if his efficiency rebounds, in an offense with room to rebound. An RB3-level ADP makes Kamara an intriguing bet for best ball drafts -- and a potential steal if he avoids suspension. Read more about him and the other Saints RBs in our 2023 RB rankings.
Saints rookie RB Kendre Miller caught only 29 passes in 33 college games. Yet he believes he can step into a sizable receiving role in New Orleans. "It was something I never got to show [at TCU],” Miller said. "The coaches here, they've got me on the Jugs and the tennis ball machines. They were like, we knew it was in you, that's why we drafted you, we know you can catch. Just showing everybody else in the world my ability will be a big thing for me, and I'm ready to get out there and compete.” Miller name-dropped Alvin Kamara, who remains a suspension candidate after getting indicted in February. “How they use [Kamara] is kind of unique, and watching film every day, we watch a bunch of clips of him,” the rookie said. “How they use him in the pass game, that's pretty cool. I feel like I can step in and pretty much do the same thing.” If Kamara’s suspended, Miller’s ability in pass protection will be key in getting him on the field for passing downs. Jamaal Williams, of course, arrived on a 3-year deal in March. See our updated RB projections for more on all 32 backfields.
The Saints have agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal with RB Jamaal Williams, according to multiple reports. The first thing you need to do here is ignore that Williams led the NFL in rushing TDs last year. That won't happen again. Williams logged eight more carries inside the 5-yard line than anyone else in the league -- 12 more than any other RB. He scored on half of those carries. Williams also led the league in red-zone carries and TDs, even while ranking just fifth in team share of red-zone attempts (60%). Williams benefited from a stellar Lions O-line, a run-friendly offense and D'Andre Swift injuries. He does, however, find another upside path in New Orleans. Alvin Kamara is widely expected to get some suspension this year for his pending assault case. Whether it will come this year and how long it will be, though, remains unknown. The Saints clearly imported Williams to at least complement Kamara, as we've seen Latavius Murray and Mark Ingram do before. Bet on Kamara ceding a larger share of carries than he did last year, as he hits his seventh NFL season. That's enough to make Williams a fine pick in his current low-RB3 ADP range. And if Kamara misses significant time, Williams could easily reach high-end RB2 production.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara has been indicted on battery charges stemming from his role in the assault that took place last February in Las Vegas. So the case is officially heading to court, with the 1st court date set for March 2, according to Pro Football Talk. "He intends to vigorously fight the allegations at trial as he was defending himself and others at the time of the incident," Kamara's lawyers said in a statement. We'll see how this case unfolds -- and how the NFL responds. Remember that the league does not need a legal conviction to suspend Kamara. And, considering there's video of the incident, it seems more likely than not that Kamara is suspended for part of the upcoming 2023 season. Draft accordingly.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Raiders and Saints have "the framework of a Derek Carr trade in place," which was apparently a condition in Vegas allowing the QB to visit the team. Carr possesses a no-trade clause, which likely means the deal depends on his preference after a "lengthy" visit. New Orleans would be a solid landing spot for the veteran QB, with a clear need at QB. We'd bet that such a trade would mean the end of Jameis Winston's time with the Saints. If you're drafting best-ball teams right now, then you can cheaply stack Carr with WR Chris Olave or RB Alvin Kamara -- who can be had as late as Round 5 or 6 in early fantasy football drafts.
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