It’s been a tough stretch for the New Orleans Saints’ backfield, and the uncertainty continues as we head into Week 17. The biggest question? Whether Alvin Kamara will be back on the field when the Saints face the Tennessee Titans.
Kamara’s been out since Week 12, when he suffered knee and ankle injuries in a loss to the Falcons. He hasn’t practiced or suited up since, and his absence has left the Saints scrambling to find answers at running back.
The situation’s been compounded by the loss of rookie Devin Neal, who was recently placed on injured reserve, officially ending his season. That leaves the Saints with a thin and unpredictable rotation heading into a pivotal late-season matchup.
So, will Kamara return this week?
Right now, it’s still very much up in the air. The Saints haven’t placed Kamara on IR - a sign that they believe he could return before the season wraps up - but he also hasn’t shown much visible progress.
He missed all of last week’s practices, which doesn’t exactly scream “ready to go.” That said, after four straight games on the shelf, there’s at least a chance he could be trending toward a return.
All eyes will be on the team’s first injury report of the week, which drops Wednesday. Even limited participation would be a step in the right direction. Until then, it’s a waiting game.
What it means for the Saints’ offense
Without Kamara, the Saints’ backfield has been a bit of a revolving door - and not in a good way. Heading into Week 16, the expectation was that rookie Audric Estime would take the lead role.
Instead, it was Taysom Hill who ended up as the primary ball carrier, logging 12 carries to Estime’s five. Hill also edged him out in the passing game with four receptions to Estime’s three.
That kind of unpredictability makes it hard to get a read on what the Saints’ game plan might look like if Kamara misses another week. Hill’s versatility makes him a valuable weapon, but relying on him as your lead rusher is more of a short-term patch than a long-term solution.
For fantasy managers
If you’re still alive in your fantasy playoffs and looking at the Saints’ backfield for help, tread carefully. The workload split is inconsistent, and there’s no clear lead back in Kamara’s absence. Estime didn’t get the volume many expected, and Hill’s usage can vary wildly from week to week.
And even if Kamara does return, he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up this season. Between the injuries and inconsistent production, he’s been a tough player to trust - both in real life and fantasy.
Bottom line: keep an eye on that Wednesday injury report. It’ll give us the first real clue about whether Kamara is trending toward a return. Until then, the Saints' backfield remains one of the murkiest in the league - and not a place fantasy managers should be banking on for reliable production.