Kamara Leads Saints Backfield After Miller Release

Alvin Kamara caught all seven of his targets for 57 yards in Paris two weeks ago. On Saturday, the New Orleans Saints cleared more room for him. The team waived running back Kendre Miller on the last day before its first game since the Week 7 bye, NBC Sports reported via Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football.

The 2-5 Saints host the 5-3 Cleveland Browns on Sunday trying to avoid their first 0-4 home start since 1980, not counting the Paris “home” game. With C.J. Donaldson out and Travis Etienne still on injured reserve, Kamara is the clear top back.

Who Is Left in the Room

Miller was a 2023 third-round pick out of TCU, 71st overall. He leaves with 184 career carries for 656 yards, 3.56 a carry, plus 29 catches for 217 yards. He led New Orleans with eight carries in the 16-10 loss to Pittsburgh, and they went for six yards.

That leaves Kamara and Audric Estímé, who arrived on waivers from Cleveland this week, as the healthy backs. Donaldson is out with shoulder and concussion injuries. Etienne was eligible to come off IR but was not ready, according to Draft Sharks.

Kamara sat Wednesday with a back issue and rest, was limited Thursday, then practiced fully Friday and carries no game designation.

The Ground Game Has Been the Problem

New Orleans ran for just 18 yards against the Steelers. The Saints dismissed run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti, and head coach Kellen Moore handed the week’s run-game work to offensive line coach Brendan Nugent. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is questionable with an ankle injury.

Kamara has not reached 10 carries in a game this season, per Heavy, and he had 16 carries for 51 yards plus 11 catches for 86 yards over the three games before the bye. His value has come through the air, and the Saints keep finding production by throwing to their backs.

Browns at Saints Sunday

Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET at Caesars Superdome. With Miller gone, the early-down handoffs on the opening drives are the thing to track. If Kamara gets them, his role on the ground is growing. If Estímé gets them, Kamara still has the passing-down work nobody else in that room has earned.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Alvin Kamara receptions against Cleveland. He caught 7 of 7 targets in his last game and has 11 catches over his last three, and Miller’s three catches in Paris are now gone from the room. If Estímé takes the early-down carries, keep the receptions lean and skip any Kamara rushing play.