Alvin Kamara Fantasy Overview

The Saints are releasing RB Kendre Miller, according to New Orleans Football's Nick Underhill. Miller has been abysmal this year, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, but he leads New Orleans with 57 attempts. It's a surprising move with RB Travis Etienne still on IR and RB C.J. Donaldson out for Week 9. That leaves the Saints with RB Alvin Kamara and RB Audric Estime, who spent part of last season and this offseason with the team but was just re-signed off the Browns' practice squad earlier this week. We'll see if the Saints elevate RBs Zamir White or Jarquez Hunter from the practice squad. Miller's departure adds upside to Kamara's Week 9 rushing volume, but New Orleans might just give Miller's work to Estime and White or Hunter.

Update: The Saints elevated Zamir White from the practice squad. He joins Alvin Kamara and Audric Estime in the backfield for the Browns game.

Saints RB Travis Etienne (hamstring) remained sidelined in practice all week. He was eligible to come off IR for Sunday’s game vs. the Browns but isn’t ready. RB C.J. Donaldson (shoulder, concussion) is also out for Week 9, leaving the backfield to Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and Audric Estime. Kamara sits highest in the Week 9 RB rankings.

Saints RB Travis Etienne (hamstring) is eligible to return this week but remains on short-term IR and did not practice on Wednesday. That has him looking unlikely to play vs. the Browns this weekend. Etienne's absence would again leave the backfield to Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller. A healthier Kamara re-took the lead last time out, out-snapping Miller 32 to 22. He's the preferred fantasy play in this backfield but isn't more than a RB3.

CJ Donaldson left after the Saints’ first drive with a shoulder injury and was ruled out at halftime, leaving the backfield to Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller. Neither could get going on the ground, combining for 11 yards on 14 carries against Pittsburgh’s run defense. Kamara made up for it as a receiver, catching all 7 of his targets for 57 yards. He earned a 54% route share, a 32% target rate per route run and 58% of third-down snaps. Miller handled half the RB rush attempts but managed just 6 yards on 8 carries, adding 3 catches for 22 yards. He did take every carry inside the 10 and 75% of two-minute RB snaps. Kamara’s receiving work made him RB21 for the week, while Miller finished as RB42.