Thanks to the commenters for working through this with me.
Sunday 4:00 PM updates
The Saints' starting center is out after all. I'm starting Chase Edmonds and Najee ahead of Kamara.
Saints Center Erik McCoy OUT Saints Tackle Terron Armstead OUT Saints Tackle Ryan Ramczyk OUT
Sunday 11:45 AM updates in this comment
https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/rrq049/comment/hqyck00/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Sunday morning tl;dr. Ingram's exit, the return of key Saints run-blockers, and the absence of some Carolina defenders have me feeling much better about starting Kamara this week.
Original post:
I worship at the altar of "start your studs." It got me this far.
But I just watched Miami Dolphins run directly through New Orleans' backup offensive tackles all Monday night. It prevented NO from moving the ball and sustaining drives, limiting opportunities for any Saint to score fantasy points. It has me seriously considering starting someone like RoJo, Sony Michel, or Chase Edmonds (if Conner sits) over Kamara in his championship week matchup against Carolina.
I know it was Ian Book, but hear me out! The Saints' offensive line is good at the tackles (pff positional ranks):
LT Terron Armstead (captain, pff 23rd) LG Calvin Throckmorton (pff 79th) C Erik McCoy (pff 25th) RG Cesar Ruiz (pff 59, 53rd) RT Ryan Ramczyk (pff 12th)
Just one problem: their knees. Ryan Ramczyk hasn't been available since Week 10 with a knee injury. Terron Armstead also has a knee injury, and missed Weeks 15 and 16.
Our datapoints with Kamara healthy and Ramczyk and Armstead out are Week 15 at TB (Taysom) and Week 16 vs MIA (Book nightmare). Kamara dudded both weeks (5.1 and 7.9 in PPR), and the Saints scored a total of 12 points over two games.
This week Vegas is more optimistic about New Orleans scoring against Carolina, but I am worried. In Week 2, the Saints played Carolina with both Armstead and Ramczyk healthy, but without starting Center Erik McCoy. Kamara rushed 8 times for 5 yards (not a typo), and added 4/6 for 25 yards receiving. His total was 7.0 PPR points. The Saints scored just 7 points with Jameis under center.
If Armstead and Ramczyk are out again for Week 17, I would expect Brian Burns and company to pick up where Miami left off. If they are out, would I be insane to rank Kamara as a middling RB2?
**tl;dr. Alvin Kamara has dudded against good defenses when his OL starters
... keep reading on reddit ➡Everything surrounding Alvin Kamara's injury has been so hush hush and there's been zero news on his practice status today. What is going on??
