New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara reminded everyone last week why he is one of the best all-around running backs in the league with his ability to catch, as well as when running the ball. But should he still get the nod over fellow RB Jamaal Williams on your fantasy football teams? Here’s a look at the fantasy outlook for both players in Week 8.
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Fantasy Outlook for Alvin Kamara This Week
Kamara is coming off his best game of the season last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rushing yards were nothing out of the ordinary for Kamara — 62 yards on 17 carries — but his receiving skills were on full display. He finished with 12 receptions for 91 yards, giving him a season-high 153 total yards of offense.
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The running back is still averaging less than four yards a carry for the season (3.8), but if he can keep catching passes like the old Kamara could — last week was the second time in his four games that he’s caught 10 or more passes — then he should not only be the top choice among the Saints’ running backs to start on your fantasy team, but he should be one of your top choices to start among all rushers.
The one situation to follow as the week goes on is Kamara’s health. He did not practice Wednesday due to an illness and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Outlook for Jamaal Williams This Week
The combination of playing in his first game in over a month due to a hamstring issue and the excellence of Kamara definitely contributed to Williams’ low usage last week against Jacksonville.
He was on the field for just 20 offensive snaps and finished with only five rushing attempts, which was his fewest total in a game since Week 6 of the 2021 season when he tallied four carries against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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So, all signs point to Kamara taking over the RB1 spot on the Saints and Williams’ duties relegated to a backup role, right?
Well, don’t give up on Williams just yet. If Kamara’s health is really an issue, Williams could be put back in the position of leading man in the backfield.
Which Saints RB Should You Start?
Kamara is on the rise, and Williams’ role appears to be back to what was expected before the season — a backup role to help provide relief for Kamara.
In any case, starting a Saints running back in this spot would be a good idea. Their Week 8 opponent, Indianapolis, ranks 21st in rushing defense (118.7 YPG allowed) and is tied with the Carolina Panthers for allowing 12 rushing touchdowns. Three times in the last five games, the Colts have allowed at least 150 rushing yards, so it’s fair to expect big things from the Saints’ running game.
PFN’s Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer projects Kamara to finish with 16.6 fantasy points, while Williams is projected to finish with just 5.0 points.
If healthy, Kamara is the easy choice, but if he can’t go, give consideration to Williams — especially against the Colts’ defense.
