:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67204381/1198156396.jpg.0.jpg)
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara took a step backwards last year in his third season in the NFL, finishing with career lows in both rushing (797) and receiving (533) yards. He missed two games with a knee injury, and earlier this week he offered some insight into the problem.
Kamara spoke to Saints media on Monday and he said, “I tore my knee basically” in Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bleacher Report’s Master Tesfatsion confirmed it was a torn MCL, and Kamara said he did not get surgery on it, but rather has been rehabbing it this offseason. This all came while he was also reportedly dealing with a high ankle sprain at the time.
Latavius Murray filled in somewhat regularly for Kamara, and had a solid season in his own right. He rushed for 637 yards (4.4 YPC) and caught 34 passes for 235 yards. Murray and Kamara each rushed for five touchdowns and had one receiving touchdown.
The Saints added Ty Montgomery in veteran free agency and Tony Jones, Jr. in undrafted free agency this offseason to add some depth. Neither will make much of a fantasy impact if Kamara and Murray remain healthy.
Kamara is currently going sixth overall in ADP while Murray has an ADP in the 11th round. If Murray is back to 100 percent, there’s no reason to worry about his durability. He played 15 games in 2018 and 16 in 2017. In 2018, Kamara ranked fourth among running backs in both standard and PPR leagues, trailing Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey.
In ADP, Kamara is currently trailing McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, Barkley, Michael Thomas, and Dalvin Cook. He’s just ahead of Derrick Henry, Davante Adams, and Joe Mixon.