Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara

28-Year-Old Running BackRB
New Orleans Saints
Questionable
Injury Ankle
Est. Return 4/1/2024
2023 Fantasy Outlook
It's difficult to tell whether Kamara lost something the last two years or if the Saints offense simply got worse in a way that would drag down any running back. If it's the first thing then there's nothing to be done, but if it's the second there could be hope for a Kamara resurgence with the arrival of Derek Carr at quarterback. Mediocre he may be, but Carr should be a notable upgrade all the same relative to Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. Crucially, while Kamara's rushing efficiency (and target volume) fell off with the addition of more carries the last two years, his receiving stats remained efficient. He isn't at his best in the type of run-first offense he played in last year, and the Saints' struggles gave him less space to work with than in the past. Still, it's understandable to have some anxiety about Kamara's abilities heading into his age-28 season. Even if he revives his receiving production and/or rushing explosiveness, there's concern he'll lose a lot of carries to Jamaal Williams (especially at the goal line, where Taysom Hill is also a factor) and/or rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller. The other backs will undoubtedly have their chances to make an impression, as Kamara is suspended for the first three games of the season and won't debut until Week 4 (Oct. 1). Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Saints in September of 2020.
Second in catches among RBs
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 12, 2024
Kamara (ankle) finished the 2023 season with 694 yards and five touchdowns on 180 rushing attempts, as well as 75 catches (on 86 targets) for 466 yards and one touchdown.
ANALYSIS
Despite sitting out the first three games of the season due to a suspension and missing the Saints' finale with an ankle injury, Kamara finished just one catch shy of Breece Hall's league-leading total among running backs. Kamara's 6.2 yards per catch were a career low, though, and he posted the second-lowest YPC mark of his seven-year career at 3.9, suggesting that the 28-year-old running back is starting to slow down. There's a potential out in his contract this offseason, and the Saints will probably try to rework Kamara's deal rather than take on a nearly $19 million cap hit in 2024. Any change in situation would likely negatively impact Kamara's fantasy value, as his volume's more likely to go down than up, even with his ankle injury expected to be healed well before the 2024 campaign.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Alvin Kamara's 2023 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
7.8%
 
Positive Run %
80.6%
 
% Yds After Contact
58.2%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
2.2
 
Rushing TD %
2.8%
 
Touches Per Game
19.6
 
% Snaps w/Touch
47.6%
 
Air Yards Per Game
0.4
 
Air Yards Per Snap
0.01
 
% Team Air Yards
0.1%
 
% Team Targets
14.8%
 
Avg Depth of Target
0.1 Yds
 
Catch Rate
87.2%
 
Drop Rate
2.3%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
6.6
 
% Targeted On Route
31.4%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
1.70
 
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2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
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2017
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2022 NFL Game Log
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2021 NFL Game Log
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2017 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
New Orleans SaintsSaints 2023 RB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

53648%
31628%
11010%
858%
30%
20%
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Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Alvin Kamara lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
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2023 Alvin Kamara Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Alvin Kamara's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* The Cone Drill metric is from his Pro Day. All others are from the NFL Combine.
Height
5' 10"
 
Weight
215 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.56 sec
 
Cone Drill*
7.06 sec
 
Vertical Jump
39.5 in
 
Broad Jump
131 in
 
Bench Press
15 reps
 
Hand Length
9.25 in
 
Arm Length
32.75 in
 
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81 days ago
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Gameday Injuries: Week 18
82 days ago
Juan Carlos Blanco breaks down the details of an expansive Week 18 injury report as both the fantasy and regular seasons come to a close.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Game-time call in Week 18
RBNew Orleans Saints
January 5, 2024
Kamara, who's dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 17 against the Buccaneers, is considered a game-time decision for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kamara missed practice all week, but head coach Dennis Allen said Friday that wouldn't preclude the veteran from playing if he can demonstrate his health in pregame warmups. If Kamara were to ultimately sit, Jamaal Williams would be in line to serve as New Orleans' top back in a game the Saints must win to have any chance at the postseason.
See All NFL Rumors
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Kamara's first season without Drew Brees under center was a radical departure. The running back set a career high with 240 carries despite missing four games, but he also had career lows in targets, catches, receiving yards, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. The change around him, particularly once new quarterback Jameis Winston was lost for the season, did Kamara's fantasy value no favors. We can't place all the blame on his environment, however. Kamara's 1.5 yards per carry after contact was by far the worst performance of his career in that metric, as he'd consistently been in the 2.2-2.3 range the three years prior. A knee injury in the middle of the season may have been a factor in that decline, though his YPC was actually worse (3.6) before he missed any games. Between the relative down year in 2021 and a February 2022 arrest for battery allegations, Kamara comes with quite a bit of downside risk to balance out the still-high ceiling. It doesn't help that Sean Payton left the Saints, nor is it promising that the team remains without a franchise QB after missing out on Deshaun Watson this offseason. On the other hand, Kamara did account for 20.9 percent of Winston's targets in a run-heavy offense the first half of last season, and another year together could allow the duo to improve their chemistry. The days of Kamara seeing triple-digit targets may be gone, however.
Kamara did everything he could to make sure Drew Brees' swan song would be memorable. The running back finished last year with career highs in rushing yards, rushing TDs, receiving yards and catches as he took on an even larger role in the Saints offense while WR Michael Thomas battled through injuries. Putting one of the most elusive open-field runners behind one of the best offensive lines in the league made for a very dangerous combination, and Kamara finished eighth among RBs in average yards before contact (2.8), his highest ranking in the last three years. However, Brees retired, and that creates a level of uncertainty for the whole offense in 2021, especially with star wideout Michael Thomas out for the early part of the season while rehabbing from ankle surgery. Kamara was already the centerpiece of the offense, and while it may not be as efficient on past years, he could take on extra volume if the Saints' young wide receivers and tight ends struggle to replace Thomas or the team's free-agent losses (WR Emmanuel Sanders, TE Jared Cook).
Last season was a disappointment for Kamara, as lower-leg injuries hampered him down the stretch and limited him to "only" 1,330 total yards and six TDs, the lowest totals of his three-year career. When he's in top form, the Tennessee product remains one of the most electric open-field runners in the league and one of the top receiving threats out of the backfield, and he's remarkably hauled in exactly 81 passes in each of his three seasons. Before the injuries began to slow him, Kamara was right on pace for another brilliant campaign, averaging 7.1 yards per target through his first six games but only 4.3 YPT over his last nine, including the playoffs. Kamara's secret weapon has always been his surprising power and sturdiness as a rusher at 5-10, 215. Even in a season when he was often performing at less than 100 percent as he gutted out his injuries, he led the league in broken tackle rate with one for every 5.9 carries. Latavius Murray is still in town as a solid, veteran backup, but the Saints don't have much else behind him and are all-in on the 2020 season, i.e., Kamara has some leverage in his ongoing contract negotiations.
As great as Kamara has been through his first two NFL seasons, it's possible he's only scratching the surface of his potential. His carries jumped by more than 60 percent last year without taking anything away from his role in the passing game, resulting in 18 total TDs. The Saints weren't afraid to use him in short-yardage situations (his 16 carries inside the 5 tied for fifth in the league) and the decision to let Mark Ingram walk this offseason and replace him with Latavius Murray suggests Kamara's role on the ground could expand further in 2019. The extra volume did result in lower efficiency, but the third-year back possesses top-shelf elusiveness and speed in the open field, and he consistently runs with toughness. Drew Brees' knack for finding Kamara in space doesn't hurt, either. Some time soon, New Orleans might have to reckon with a decline from its legendary QB, but Kamara will help cushion that blow when it eventually falls. If he joins the 300-touch club, he could take a run at 2,000 scrimmage yards.
A third-round pick out of Tennessee last year, Kamara joined the Saints with some uncertainty as to his eventual role. Unable to earn a full workload in college despite flashes of brilliance, he seemed stuck behind Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson on the depth chart, and there were concerns that the rookie wouldn't be able to stand up to an NFL pounding. One year later, those concerns have all been washed away in the flood of highlight-reel plays Kamara produced. He led running backs in receiving yards and also led the league in percentage of carries that went for at least 15 yards, with 11 such runs on 120 totes (9.2 percent). His presence prevented defenses from keying on Ingram, and the duo became the first RB teammates in history to both top 1,500 scrimmage yards in a season. Kamara displays excellent speed and elusiveness, but it's his change-of-direction skills and world-class acceleration that really set him apart. He can explode into and through even the smallest hole before it closes, and his ability to shift gears, change direction and rev back up in the open field routinely makes defenders look foolish. Ingram is suspended the first four games of the season, and while the Saints say they don't want to increase Kamara's workload too much, it's hard not to get excited for the possibility of what he could do with an additional 5-8 touches per game.
The Saints have a history of utilizing speedy pass-catching backs in their offense, so when Kamara fell into the third round of this year's draft, the New Orleans front office pounced, trading a second-round pick in 2018 to grab him. At 5-10, 215, Kamara has decent size, but it's his top-end speed and explosiveness that set him apart, making him a threat to take the ball to the end zone any time he gets it in open space. He's also a very good receiver and route runner. His vision is suspect, and he never got a chance to prove he can handle a full workload in college, but with Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson also in the Saints' backfield, he won't be asked to do anything outside of his comfort zone. Kamara's touches as a rookie may be limited, but his per-play efficiency could be off the charts.
More Fantasy News
Inactive in Week 18
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 7, 2024
Kamara (ankle) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the Falcons.
ANALYSIS
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Looks unlikely to play Sunday
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 7, 2024
Kamara (ankle) isn't expected to play Sunday against the Falcons, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
ANALYSIS
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Trending toward game-time call
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 7, 2024
Kamara (ankle) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup with the Falcons and is viewed as a game-time decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Listed as questionable
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 5, 2024
Kamara (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, with head coach Dennis Allen suggesting Friday that the running back will be a game-time decision, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "Alvin is one of the guys so valuable to our team, we'll take it all the way up to game time," Allen said.
ANALYSIS
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Still not practicing Thursday
RBNew Orleans Saints
Ankle
January 4, 2024
Kamara (ankle) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
ANALYSIS
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