New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara suffered an MCL sprain in Week 12’s loss against the Atlanta Falcons, potentially opening the door for rookie Devin Neal to find some fantasy football relevance. We still don’t know the severity of Kamara’s injury, but NewOrleansFootball’s Nick Underhill said that the running back “avoided a major injury” and “could take a little time” to return to the field. A lot can change between now and Sunday’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins, but as of this posting, it seems like Kamara will most likely miss at least one week of action.
Opportunity is king in fantasy football, and Devin Neal should be the first man up to fill Kamara’s role. However, is he ready for the challenge, and what should you expect from him in Week 13?
Devin Neal Fantasy Football Outlook If Alvin Kamara Misses Time
First, let’s start by confirming that Devin Neal will actually be the starting running back. After all, the rookie was an unheralded sixth-round pick and has only recorded 17 carries for 61 yards and no touchdowns on the season. Players like this typically aren’t featured backs, but he’ll likely get the job by default. Former third-round pick Kendre Miller is already on the injured reserve, and the only other running back on the roster is Audric Estime, a Broncos castoff who hasn’t recorded a single carry this year.
An Alvin Kamara injury would seemingly leave Devin Neal as the unquestioned starter and a potential fantasy football weapon, but Taysom Hill still exists. Sean Payton’s swiss-army knife is still in New Orleans, and he actually saw more work than Neal last week. After Kamara went down, Hill finished the night with 10 carries for just 17 yards. Neal, meanwhile, recorded seven attempts for 18 yards while adding five receptions for 43 yards.
Devin Neal will probably have more carries than Hill in Week 13, but the fact that the washed-up veteran saw such a large role is worrisome for fantasy football. Head coach Kellen Moore doesn’t think Neal can handle a full workload, and it’s easy to see why. Neal will have limited opportunities, but can he make the most of his touches in a “1A” timeshare role?
Week 13’s Matchup
Fortunately for Devin Neal fantasy football managers out there, the Saints play the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. While the Dolphins are starting to resemble an actual football team, they’re still one of the worst defenses in the league against running backs. Even on a limited snap count and playing behind a weak offensive line, Neal should have the opportunity to rack up some fantasy points. Additionally, he seems to be the clear passing-down back, as he caught five passes on seven targets last week, while Hill didn’t receive a single target.
The Alvin Kamara injury will give Devin Neal enough snaps to become fantasy relevant, especially since he’s going against the Miami Dolphins. However, Hill’s presence, the Saints poor offensive line, and Neal’s own unremarkable talent keep him from being an exciting option. If you need a flex play, you could do worse than Devin Neal. However, you shouldn’t go out of your way to play him if you have a more proven option on your bench.
Main Photo: Stephen Lew – Imagn Images
The post Fantasy Football: Devin Neal Outlook If Alvin Kamara Misses Time appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.