One of the essential truths of fantasy – applicable to all sports – is that we eventually get bored with players who are reliable, predictable and relentlessly excellent. We can’t wait to move on to the next big thing, even when the previous big thing remains dominant.
Invariably, the best value picks in any draft are the bankable veteran stars who are still performing at or near their peak.
With that in mind, I’d like to call attention to an ADP situation that seems like pure robbery.
Alvin Kamara finished as the RB5 overall per game last year and has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers of the current era, but early drafters made him the RB17 in half PPR formats. He is also absolutely buried in our 2024 positions. High rollers banished him to the Dead Zone. It’s wild.
In case you missed it, Kamara finished second among all running backs in receptions (75) and targets (86) last season despite missing four games (three of which were due to suspension). He averaged 89.2 yards from scrimmage per game, made six home calls and connected on a career-high 87.2% of his targets.
At 28, Kamara was definitely still capable of producing weekly highlights:
Whatever your opinion of Derek Carr at this stage (probably not favorable), at least the man recognized the completion percentage cheat code that was suddenly available to him.
New Orleans didn’t make any significant depth chart improvements in the running back room in the offseason, so we can feel confident about Kamara’s role in 2024. With apologies to Kendre Miller and his fanatics, the second-year defensive back didn’t make Kamara ( or the charming Jamaal Williams) still dispensable. The hierarchy in the Saints backfield remains unchanged.
Klint Kubiak took over as New Orleans’ OC after spending last year as the Niners’ passing game coordinator, working with Kyle Shanahan. Kamara was praised his team’s new system, which shouldn’t surprise anyone because the vibes are generally good between Kubiaks and running backs. Klint last served as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator in 2021, a season in which Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison combined for 2,102 yards from scrimmage, 10 TDs and 66 receptions.
Aside from age, it’s honestly hard to find a reason for Kamara to actively disappear. And yet many of you are clearly doing this. He showed no obvious signs of decline last year – once again, he was a top-five scorer in terms of per-game production – and is not at any unusual risk of injury next season. In fact, his medical record is as clean as any you’ll find on a running back. any age or mileage.
Kamara is currently engaged in a moderate stance regarding the contract, but has thus far been one of the most cordial critics in recent memory. We don’t have a Le’Veon Bell situation unfolding. Kamara hasn’t given us any reason to panic about his availability.
If writers are still getting such a huge discount on #41 when we get to August, it will be the result of a catastrophic failure on the part of the fantasy pundit community. He should be a target, not a fade. Kamara may be a household name, but we should never get bored with his level of productivity.
