Saints RB Alvin Kamara played a season-low 12 snaps in Sunday's loss to the Vikings, a game he entered questionable after a back issue limited his practice time during the week. Kamara finished with just 3 carries for 12 yards and 2 catches for minus-6 on 2 targets. CJ Donaldson led the New Orleans backfield at 19 snaps, carrying four times for 13 yards and catching his only target for 7. Kendre Miller posted a 10-30-1 rushing line -- scoring the team's lone offensive TD -- while running just one pass route.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Not Much to Like in New Orleans Backfield
This remains a committee of meh with Travis Etienne out.
Miller now trails Etienne's team carry lead by just one for the season, but Kamara sits one carry behind that. And the whole team is averaging just 3.5 yards per rush, with Etienne and QB Tyler Shough the only Saints above 3.8.
Etienne's still got two more weeks before he's eligible to return from IR. That bumps into the Week 8 bye, which should give his hamstring a good shot at being ready for the Week 9 home date with Cleveland.
Consider throwing out a (not high) trade offer for Etienne on the way to that week if he'd potentially help your RB situation.
We'll watch the status of Kamara's back heading into a Week 6 visit to the Giants. They've been a neutral scoring matchup for RBs on the year, though, so don't apply much boost to the Saints RB of your choice for this one.
Week 7 against the Steelers looks similarly neutral for RB production.
