RB Alvin Kamara turned 7 carries into 34 yards and caught 2 of 4 targets for 35 yards and a TD. That made him the RB11 with 14.9 PPR points on just 19 snaps. He was limited in practice all week with a back injury and left in the middle of the second quarter with a back injury, but later returns. RB Kendre Miller led the backfield with 32 snaps, running 20 times for 70 yards and catching 2 passes for no yards. He finished as the RB22 with 9.0 points, and C.J. Donaldson stayed in his third-down role with 24 snaps.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
Miller doubled his Week 5 workload, when he ran 10 times for 30 yards and a TD as the RB31. Kamara was RB53 in Week 5 with 2.6 fantasy points. With Travis Etienne on IR, Miller closed the game with 12 snaps over the final seven possessions while Kamara sat the entire fourth quarter.
New Orleans has used a rotational backfield all season. C.J. Donaldson ran 6 times for 39 yards (6.5 yards per carry) on 24 snaps. Miller handled the early-down work but ran just 5 routes and got nothing out of his 2 catches. Kamara ran 9 routes on only 19 snaps and drew 4 targets, so the receiving role is his when healthy. The Saints didn’t elevate a back from the practice squad, a sign they expected Kamara to handle a normal role before the injury.
Pittsburgh allows the 12th-most adjusted PPR points to RBs (22.5) and ranked ninth in our run defense power rankings heading into Week 6. The Saints have a Week 8 bye, which could make it tempting to rest Kamara for two weeks. Cleveland allows the fourth-fewest points to RBs in Week 9. Travis Etienne could also be back soon from IR, and he will likely assume starter duties upon return.
