Alvin Kamara Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

With the injury to Alvin Kamara, fantasy football managers are left with a potential void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week. And here are all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for NFL Week 13.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

Alvin Kamara (knee) ruled out
Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee) has officially been ruled out for the remainder of Week 12.

Fantasy Impact

Kamara suffered a knee injury when he was awkwardly twisted during a tackle in the first half. He will finish the day with 11 rushing yards on three attempts and two receptions for four yards. Devin Neal will operate as the primary running back with Kamara sidelined.
– Jesse Garcia

Alvin Kamara suffered a knee injury in the Saints’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The injury appeared to occur after he was twisted up following a tackle by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss. He had just 11 rushing yards and four receiving yards.

With Kendre Miller out for the season, Devin Neal would be the go-to back for the Saints if Kamara can’t go in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Running Backs

Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson

Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH): 16% Rostered

• Next Opponents: DEN, @MIN, @NYG
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: The good news is that Chris Rodriguez Jr. has seemingly taken over the Washington backfield. The bad news is that the Commanders face the Broncos and Vikings in the next two weeks. Before their Week 12 bye, Rodriguez had clearly surpassed Jacory Croskey-Merritt to become the Commanders’ lead running back. Over his last three games, Rodriguez recorded 33 carries for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He is a tough player to trust this week against the Broncos, who had allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs through the first 11 weeks. However, Rodriguez could have sneaky playoff appeal. In Weeks 15-17, he faces the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys. Respectively, they are allowing the second-most, 14th-most and eighth-most fantasy points to opposing running back.

Devin Neal (RB – NO): 3% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @MIA, @TB, CAR
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Alvin Kamara left the Saints’ Week 12 game against the Falcons with a knee injury. After leaving the field, Kamara visited the medical tent multiple times before officially being ruled out. The fact that he wasn’t ruled out immediately may indicate that it is not a long-term issue. However, if Kamara misses time, Devin Neal would be the next man up in the New Orleans backfield. The sixth-round rookie was projected to be a steady, well-rounded back entering the NFL. On Sunday, Neal did most of his damage in the receiving game, catching five passes for 43 yards. He had seven carries for 18 yards. With some positive matchups coming up, Neal would become a Flex option if Kamara were to miss time.

Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX): 45% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, IND, NYJ
• True Value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Bhayshul Tuten fans were given a glimpse of what could have been last week. After Travis Etienne was seen in a non-contact jersey on Thursday, the door appeared to be ajar for a Tuten takeover. Instead, Etienne played full snaps and helped lead the Jaguars to an overtime victory over the Cardinals. Etienne finished with 15 carries for 86 rushing yards as well as three receptions for 30 yards and a score. Tuten, on the other hand, had only seven carries for 17 yards. Tuten had looked terrific in Week 11, when he had 15 carries for 74 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ win over the Chargers. Although the excitement may have fizzled out, Tuten is an exciting rookie who is one injury away from becoming a potential league winner. If Tuten sees more work in Week 13, both backs could get home in a great matchup against the Titans.

Nick Chubb (RB – HOU): 46% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @IND, @KC, ARI
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Woody Marks has taken over the Houston backfield. In an important game against the Bills last Thursday, we saw the Texans lean heavily on their rookie back. Marks played 41 snaps to Nick Chubb‘s 13 and had 16 carries to Chubb’s six. It was the second straight week that Marks significantly out-touched the veteran back, with 18 carries to Chubb’s three in Week 11. Marks briefly left last Thursday’s game with a leg injury but was able to return. Chubb has little more than potential handcuff value unless there’s a chance that Marks could miss Week 13.

Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN): 1% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @WSH, @LV, GB
• True Value: $0
• Desperate Need: $1
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: With J.K. Dobbins out for the remainder of the season, rookie RJ Harvey and 2023 undrafted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin are now the top-ranking members of the Denver backfield. In the Broncos’ Week 11 win over the Chiefs, Harvey had 14 touches to McLaughlin’s seven, and Harvey out-snapped McLaughlin 38-8. Coming out of their Week 12 bye, the Broncos might try to work in McLaughlin more, making him a worthwhile speculative addition.