Saints expected to sign Kareem Hunt

The Saints are expected to sign RB Kareem Hunt, pending a physical, ESPN's Dianna Russini reports. That will further crowd a New Orleans backfield that also includes Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and rookie Kendre Miller. Kamara, of course, is suspended for the first three games, giving the other guys a shot at useable fantasy value at the start of the season. But we'll see what happens when Kamara returns. It seems unlikely that all four RBs would even be active on game days. Hunt is coming off a disappointing 2022 season that saw him finish with career lows in yards per carry (3.8), yards per catch (6.0), and Pro Football Focus rushing grade.

RB Kareem Hunt recently underwent sports hernia surgery to repair a ruptured adductor, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hunt was on the injury report with a groin for much of the season, which might have played a part in his career-low 3.0 yards per carry. Hunt is set to hit free agency in March. He's unlikely to capture a significant backfield role or be a major fantasy factor in 2024.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (groin) is not listed on the final Week 13 injury report. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice and will be ready for his usual 1B role behind Jerome Ford in Sunday’s game vs. the Rams.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (groin) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Rams, but we'll see how he's listed on the final injury report tomorrow.

Browns RB Kareem Hunt (groin) did not practice on Wednesday. Hunt has been held out of a few Wednesday practices this season before ultimately playing, so we're tentatively expecting him to be out there for this weekend's game vs. the Rams. We'll see if he gets back on the field tomorrow.

The Browns’ backfield is a bit of a cluster, though, at this point, it’s evident that RB Kareem Hunt is the leader. The veteran tallied 14 carries for 55 rushing yards in Week 8 vs. the Seahawks and punched in his fourth rushing TD over the past three games. Teammate Pierre Strong Jr. had a nice game spelling Hunt with 41 rushing yards on 10 carries and a long, 41-yard reception as a receiver in the contest. Though coming into Sunday with a sprained ankle, a fact that holds some weight, it’ll be curious to see if Jerome’s Ford diminished involvement (39 total yards, 10 touches) is a sign of things to come moving forward. Hunt will be our favorite fantasy start in Week 9 vs. the Cardinals.