The looming suspension that has been drastically impacting Kamara's Fantasy value became official a week into camp: three games stemming from an altercation in Las Vegas. Beyond missing those games, there are still major question marks in Kamara's formerly elite Fantasy profile. His passing game role without Sean Payton remains the biggest concern. Kamara didn't catch more than two passes in a game from Week 13 on. This is a far cry from the days where he was catching 81 passes a season under Payton. Kamara also loses touches to Taysom Hill in the red zone, the Saints signed the most efficient red-zone RB in 2022 (Jamaal Williams) and they drafted Kamara's likely long-term replacement in Kendre Miller. Kamara will likely be drafted in the middle rounds by a Fantasy manager who still remembers the best version of a runner who just turned 28.
Saints' Alvin Kamara: Five touches to begin preseason
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Kamara (suspension) rushed three times for 14 yards and caught both of his targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 26-24 preseason win over the Chiefs.
Kamara racked up five touches as New Orleans' starting offense went 80 yards in 12 plays and scored a touchdown on new quarterback Derek Carr's first drive. The star tailback then handed over backfield duties to Jamaal Williams, who finished with nine carries for 28 yards. Behind Williams, rookie third-rounder Kendre Miller suffered a sprained knee while Kirk Merritt (hamstring) was unavailable, leaving the team with even less depth as it prepares for Kamara's three-game suspension to begin the regular season.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: In uniform Sunday
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Kamara (suspension) and the rest of the Saints' healthy offensive starters are expected to play in Sunday's preseason opener against the Chiefs, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Kamara was suspended for the first three games of the 2023 regular season due to his role in a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas, but that won't prevent him from getting in some preseason work. While the superstar running back likely will be available, he'll presumably play only a series or two.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Gets three-game suspension
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The NFL is suspending Kamara for three games for his role in a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The punishment was announced two days after Kamara flew to New York to meet with league commissioner Roger Goodell. The 28-year-old will be able to practice with his teammates until the start of the regular season and will then be eligible to rejoin them ahead of Week 4. His upcoming absence, which has long been expected, leaves Jamaal Williams as the Saints' lead back for September, with rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller and Eno Benjamin also candidates to have roles.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Meeting with Goodell
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Kamara is flying to New York on Wednesday to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara anticipates being punished by the league for his role in a February 2022 incident in Las Vegas, even after he saw felony battery charges dropped in July when he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace. The running back is eager to tell Goodell his side of the story before the NFL determines the size of his fine and/or length of his suspension. Back at Saints training camp, any missed practices for Kamara will leave more first-team reps for Jamaal Williams, and possibly some for rookie Kendre Miller as well. The NFL could announce a suspension for Kamara at some point in the coming weeks and months.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Wants to meet with Goodell
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Kamara plans to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his offseason arrest and potential suspension, ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports.
The running back hopes to avoid a lengthy suspension from the league after felony charges were dropped in July, when he plead no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace. A suspension of some sort remains the most likely outcome, but at this point it's hard to know when the decision will be made or exactly how many games Kamara will miss.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Still waiting on possible ban
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Saints coach Dennis Allen said Tuesday that he doesn't know if or when Kamara will be suspended, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reports.
A suspension has long been expected for Kamara's involvement in a Feb. 2022 incident, and it could be coming fairly soon after the running back agreed July 11 to plead no contest to a misdemeanor in exchange for having felony charges dropped. Then again, the NFL isn't always quick to decide these things even after a legal case wraps up, so the Saints will need to be prepared for various scenarios this summer. They signed Jamaal Williams in March and then drafted Kendre Miller in the third round in April, devoting significant resources to backfield depth for the first time since Kamara's first couple years in the league.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Pleads no contest to lesser charge
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Kamara agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge stemming from his alleged participation in a 2022 incident in Las Vegas, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Kamara was arrested in Feb. 2022 on suspicion of felony battery resulting in substantial bodily harm, but by agreeing to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, his felony charge now vanishes. David Charns of Vegas 8 News reports that Kamara will be required to pay $100,000 to the victim for medical bills and take part in community service. The NFL may still fine and/or suspend Kamara, but dropping from a felony charge to a misdemeanor helps his chances of avoiding a longer suspension. Heading into his age-28 season, Kamara is joined in the New Orleans backfield by veteran signing Jamaal Williams and rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller (knee).
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Gets new running mate in backfield
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Kamara has added competition for carries this coming season after the Saints agreed to a deal Wednesday with free-agent running back Jamaal Williams, ESPN.com reports.
Kamara's overall production stagnated as he dealt with numerous lingering injuries throughout the 2022 campaign, logging 1,387 total yards on 280 touches across 15 regular-season games. However, he still accounted for the vast majority of the Saints' carries at running back, as the team sorely lacked depth in the backfield and across the offense as a whole. The addition of Williams changes the backfield dynamic, with the 224-pound bruiser having come off a productive 2022 campaign in Detroit in which he logged 262 carries for 1,066 yards and a franchise-record and NFL-high 17 touchdowns. The 27-year-old Williams should once again fall into a complementary role in New Orleans while playing behind Kamara. The Saints' No. 1 running back is still set to begin trial July 31 after he was charged with conspiracy to commit battery and substantial bodily harm stemming from a February 2022 incident. Therefore, Kamara's availability for the beginning of the 2023 campaign will likely be up in the air until this case concludes.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Season high rushing yards Week 18
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Kamara posted 23 carries for 107 yards and gathered in one of two targets for three yards during Sunday's 10-7 defeat to Carolina.
Kamara closed out his 2022 campaign with his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. He also matched his season high for rushing attempts, and he finished with three games of 20 or more carries over the final four weeks of the regular season. Over 15 contests, Kamara recorded 223 carries for 897 yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with 57 receptions (on 77 targets) for 490 yards and two receiving touchdowns. While he didn't come close to matching his usual standard as a scorer, the 27-year-old running back still accumulated over 1,300 total yards for the sixth time in as many seasons. Kamara also started the 2022 campaign hampered by a rib injury, though he still handled 280 touches. These are both encouraging signs for his status as one of the top fantasy running backs heading into the 2023 campaign.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Loses work to Hill
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Kamara rushed the ball 16 times for 74 yards in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Eagles. He added one reception for seven yards.
Despite positive game script, Kamara saw a downtick in involvement as Taysom Hill racked up 14 rushing attempts. Kamara's loss of usage was further underscored by his continued lack of involvement as a receiver, and he has now failed to record more than two receptions in four consecutive games. Positively, Kamara was efficient with his opportunity on the ground by averaging 4.6 yards per carry, highlighted by gains of 15 and 12 yards. He now has at least 80 total yards in three consecutive games.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Possible Bust (Lineup Decisions)
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Your only saving grace if you start Kamara is that he finds his way to over 15 touches in a game that may end up being closer than people think. In nine games this season with at least 15 touches, Kamara has delivered 12 or more PPR points seven times. That's a pretty safe floor, but I wouldn't expect too much more than that in this situation. At least his O-line is (relatively) healthy. I'd still start Kamara over Brian Robinson, D'Onta Foreman and JK Dobbins, but they're all pretty close. Rookie Tyler Allgeier has more upside, as do Cam Akers and A.J. Dillon.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Ready for Sunday
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Kamara (personal/quadriceps) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Philadelphia, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
After he didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to a combination of a personal matter and a quad issue, Kamara returned to the field Friday and logged a full session. Afterward, coach Dennis Allen relayed to Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune that Kamara "looked good out there today, and he'll be ready to go this weekend." The preceding has come to pass, setting Kamara up to continue leading the Saints backfield Week 17.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Returns to practice
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Kamara (personal/quadriceps) returned to practice Friday, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Kamara was absent Wednesday and Thursday due to a combination of a personal matter and a quad injury. However, coach Dennis Allen put any concerns about his availability for Week 17 to rest Friday, telling Rod Walker of The Times-Picayune that the running back "looked good out there today, and he'll be ready to go this weekend." It's not yet known if Kamara will have a designation for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, but Friday's practice report will reveal as much.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Remains absent from practice
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Kamara (quadriceps/personal) wasn't spotted at Thursday's practice, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
It's unclear whether the quad issue or the personal matter is what's preventing Kamara from taking the field Thursday, as it was the latter concern that kept him away from the New Orleans facility entirely Wednesday. Whatever the case, he'll be listed as a non-participant for the second practice in a row, making Friday's session an all-important one in deciding his status for Sunday's game in Philadelphia. If Kamara isn't cleared to play this weekend, the Saints would be left with David Johnson and Eno Benjamin as their available running backs, though the jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill is likely to factor into the equation in some capacity regardless of whether Kamara is available or not.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Sits out first Week 17 practice
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Kamara didn't practice Wednesday due to personal reasons and a quadricep injury.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said earlier Wednesday that Kamara was a non-participant due to a "personal issue," according to Erin Summers of the Saints' official site. However, the team also listed Kamara with a health concern, so his status will be one to monitor as the week continues. Fortunately for Kamara, he'll have chances to log some drills Thursday and/or Friday before New Orleans potentially hands him a designation for Sunday's contest at Philadelphia.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Reaches milestone in win
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Kamara tallied 20 carries for 76 yards and one touchdown and hauled in two of four targets for 34 yards during Saturday's 17-10 win over the Browns.
Kamara carried the Saints' option rushing attack with versatile quarterback Taysom Hill for the second week in a row. The running back's production benefited from Saturday's blustery weather conditions along with a depleted New Orleans receiving corps, as the team attempted just 15 passes compared to 39 total rushes. Kamara also posted the final touchdown of the game with a four-yard carry late in the third quarter. This score marked the sixth-year back's 72nd touchdown of his career, tying him with wide receiver Marques Colston for the most career touchdowns in Saints history. Kamara has now posted 20 carries in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season, and his added value in the receiving game should ensure him plenty of touches over the final two regular-season games.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Contrarian DFS Play
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Kamara has not been particularly good lately and this game is threatening to set a record for the lowest over/under in history, but he might also get 30 touches in terrible weather against an awful run defense. If you wanted to face McCaffrey and Henry for a guy below five percent roster rate, Kamara is the choice.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Tops 100 total yards in win
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Kamara posted 21 carries for 91 yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 21-18 win over the Falcons.
Kamara looked like his old self coming off the Saints' Week 14 bye. The 27-year-old accumulated more than 100 total yards for the first time in his last six games, as he posted his third-most touches of the season. With Mark Ingram (knee) set to miss the remainder of the season on IR, Kamara easily paced New Orleans in rushing attempts ahead of swiss-army-knife Taysom Hill (seven) and new No. 2 back David Johnson (four). While Kamara was kept out of the end zone for the sixth straight game, this significant uptick in usage is an encouraging sign for his production moving heading into Week 16's matchup against Cleveland's porous rush defense, which has allowed 5.0 yards per carry this season.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: RBs to Start
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It's been a rough year for Kamara to the point where we can actually talk about him in this column. He's no longer an automatic start since he has scored nine PPR points or less in four of his past five games and hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 8. But coming off his bye in Week 14, he should hopefully close the season on a high note, starting with the Falcons this week. The Falcons have allowed a running back to score at least 18 PPR points in six of their past seven games, and Kamara won't have to compete with Mark Ingram (knee) for touches since he's out. It sets up for Kamara to hopefully reward Fantasy managers, and I like him as a No. 1 running back in all leagues once again.
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Saints' Alvin Kamara: Stifled in Week 13 loss
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Kamara tallied 12 carries for 26 yards and caught two of three targets for 11 yards during Monday's 17-16 defeat versus the Buccaneers.
Kamara continued to underperform expectations, averaging less than four yards per carry for the sixth game in a row. While the five-time Pro Bowler was limited by three of the league's best rushing defenses in his previous three outings, he did not manage to break a run longer than five yards against a Buccaneers defense that allowed 4.6 yards per carry coming into Week 13. Kamara also posted his worst receiving stat line of the season despite quarterback Andy Dalton's solid performance Monday night. The running back has been forced to operate behind a banged-up offensive line recently, and this unit should have some time to recover during New Orleans' upcoming Week 14 bye.
