New Orleans Saints have placed wide receiver Bub Means and running back Kendre Miller on the IR.
Ahead of Week 9 the New Orleans Saints placed two players onto the injured reserve making them both missing a minimum of four games. Wide receiver Bub Means went to the IR due to his ankle injury he suffered against the Chargers during Week 8 matchup. Also, during Saints’ Week 8 matchup running back Kendre Miller hurt his hamstring.
For fantasy purposes Means looked to increase his role while Chris Olave was recovering from his concussion he suffered but unfortunately, Means will have to do a wait and see approach while he is resting his ankle injury. Some wide receivers to look to help out in the meanwhile is newly acquired Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mason Tipton, or even Cedrick Wilson.
For Miller though this is a familiar situation for him being on the injured reserve. He spent much of his rookie season on it and this is his second time this season being on it. Alvin Kamara will get the heavy workload going forward and they have just activated Jordan Mims to the active roster. Both Kamara’s backups Jamaal Williams and Miller are both hurt.
They will look to get back onto the field as soon as both are healthy enough to play.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bub Means (ankle) and ...
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) ...
New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) ...
New Orleans Saints have extended Alvin Kamara to a two-year $24.5 million extension.
In the first year behind new Offense Coordinator Klint Kubiak the Saints running back Alvin Kamara is currently the RB2 on the season. With that production he is rewarded we a two-year extension worth $24.5 million and is signed through the 2026 season. With this extension it ends any rumors out there of a possible trade involving Kamara.
For fantasy Kamara continues to be a must start each week! He is leading the league in reception and targets for running backs. He continues to shine in this offense. This extension does hurt Kendre Miller value for dynasty, as well as for redrafts the rest of this year and the furture.
Saints veteran running back Alvin Kamara left Saints practice with a back injury today.
Saints star running back Alvin Kamara left Saints practice today with tightness in his back. The severity remains unclear, but does not sound too serious at the moment.
The Saints will be wise to ease the wily veteran into the season as health and stability behind Kamara has been an issue each of the last 2 seasons. Teammate Kendre Miller has been living in the training room both last year and leading into the current season.
Alvin Kamara at age 29 is a back who will provide extra value in PPR leagues. The ‘PPR scam’ that has been a popularized phrase in fantasy football nomenclature is an apt description for what fantasy gamers can expect in 2024. Kamara had 75 receptions which was second at the running back position in 2023. Going at the 6-7 turn on UnderDog, Alvin Kamara is an easy click even in half PPR leagues.
With Kendre Miller out, Jordan Mims is making good impressions in training camp.
Saints ESPN reporter Katherine Terrell reports that there is a significant change in how the Saints backfield is playing out when Alvin Kamara is not in the practice rotation. On UnderDog, Jordan Mims currently has a round 18 ADP.
While Jordan Mims may not light the fantasy football world on fire, it is noteworthy that Mims is making a name for himself by increasing his chances of making the team with quality play. Saints head coach Dennis Allen is sharply critical of his players publicly, but within the bearish sentiments Allen has there lies openings via the merit of playing well during training camp.
Dennis Allen recently came down on Mims’ backfield mate Kendre Miller due to a lack of availability and living in the training room from injuries and ailments. While Jordan Mims is not threat to Alvin Kamara, keep an eye on further training camp reports throughout August as Jordan Mims competes with Kendre Miller and veteran Jamaal Williams. A lengthier absence from Kendre Miller and a lack of the Saints bringing in a new running back to compete will be a signal boost for Jordan Mims. Be on the lookout for both scenarios as the pre-season unfolds.
Dennis Allen comments on Kendre Millers’ latest injury.
Kendre Miller has been a popular offseason sleeper for many in the fantasy community due to his measurables and draft capital, along with Alvin Kamara’s lack of a new contract. The talent has shown itself when he is on the field, but the oft injured second year back has not been able to stay on the field. Saints HC Dennis Allen offered this quote about Miller: “That’s a player who needs to figure out how to stay healthy because you can’t make the team in the training room.”
This seems to be a very clear message to Kendre Miller about his toughness and offseason regimen. The best ability is availability, and Miller has not had much of it in his young NFL career. Kendre Miller is currently RB-46 in best ball going around pick 150. If Miller is going to pay off on his offseason darling status, he may have to work his way out of Allen’s doghouse and stay on the field.
The influence of Mike Shanahan continues as the New Orleans Saints will utilize the highly successful wide-zone rushing attack.
The New Orleans Saints are changing their rushing attack in 2024. Matthew Paras from Saints Now wrote an article on the changing dynamics for the rushing attack of the New Orleans Saints. With Klint Kubiak in town as the new Offensive Coordinator, there has been plenty of talk about more pre-snap motion.
In addition to pre-snap motion, the Saints are going to deploy a wide-zone run scheme that utilizes athletic lineman getting out in space to allow for more rushes to the edge and outside boundaries of the field. Last year, Saints running backs were set up in positions where they had to utilize more cutbacks and grind for their yardage.
Offensive line coach John Benton was quoted as saying, “This system requires linemen to beat defenders to spots on the field rather than engaging them to just “grind it out.” While these changes are being installed at minicamp, Alvin Kamara has been absent from voluntary workouts.
Currently, Alvin Kamara is going in round 6 on UnderDog with Kendre Miller going in round 13. Jamaal Williams is free in round 18. With Klint Kubiak using this successful run scheme, expect the Saints backfield to churn out plenty of fantasy goodness in 2024.