By Ross Jackson
Not many running backs remain as effective as New Orleans Saints do-it-all back Alvin Kamara has for nine consecutive years. The 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year continues to get praise as one of the best in the NFL.
Fantasy production and legitimate football production are separated at a position like running back. However, for Kamara’s game, someone that not only hit his career high in rushing yards (950) last year but also contributes as a pass-catcher, it’s a promising sign to see him still ranked just outside the top-10 of his position.
ESPN’s Mike Clay ranked the top-20 fantasy football running backs and had Kamara listed as a respectable No. 13.
Kamara returns to New Orleans for his ninth NFL season following an impressive, albeit injury-shortened 2024 campaign. Appearing in 14 games, Kamara soaked up 228 carries (12 off his career high) and led all backs in targets. Kamara has yet to finish a season lower than fifth among RBs in targets, or lower than ninth in catches and receiving yards. That has translated in fantasy, as he’s finished eighth or better in fantasy PPG in seven of his eight seasons. On the concerning side is durability, as Kamara hasn’t played a full regular season since his rookie year (2017) and is now 30 years old. His clear path to touches and elite receiving work keeps him in the fringe RB1 mix, but there’s obvious risk here.
Last year, Clay had Kamara projected as the No. 9 rusher in the league, which is exactly where he finished in PPR rankings by season’s end despite missing a trio of games to close out the season.
The biggest concerns around Kamara now become his age and durability. As Clay observes in his evaluation, Kamara has not played a full season since his 2017 rookie year. But the other piece to watch here has been his scoring potential. Kamara hasn’t contributed double-digit combined rushing and receiving touchdowns since he found the endzone 21 times in 2020.
Maybe new head coach Kellen Moore could help with that. And the continuing question marks around Taysom Hill’s availability in 2025 could also open the door for more red zone usage for Kamara next year as well. During his 21-touchdown season, 10 came on red zone plays.
