CJ Donaldson (shoulder) cleared for backup duties

Donaldson wasn’t able to practice again Friday, and the 22-year-old tailback won’t be available for the Week 9 skirmish against Cleveland. Alvin Kamara will likely be the top option — and would have been even if Donaldson could play — in that contest, assuming his back injury allows him to play, of course. This is not a great situation, folks.

The way the team listed Kamara indicates that the back injury will not keep him from playing, but he is clearly still hurt. Kamara has been entirely ineffective this season and can only be viewed as a touchdown-dependent FLEX. CJ Donaldson (concussion/shoulder) was unable to practice today.

Donaldson aggravated a shoulder injury in Week 7 against the Steelers and did not return. He also entered the league’s concussion protocol after the game. A limited session today means he’s making progress on both fronts. He should be good to go for Week 9. The same is true of Alvin Kamara, who got a rest day today, despite his back injury also being noted on the report. Both backs will mix in behind Kendre Miller on Sunday.

The pass-protecting back looks likely to continue to mix in and limit snaps for the fantasy-valuable members of the backfield in Week 7.

A limited practice to start the week is usually maintenance. Donaldson looked good last week, running for 39 yards on six attempts, though he did commit one fumble. Donaldson is one of three backs seeing work for the Saints, and none of them have made a strong case to get more touches. Donaldson is a weak FLEX option for Week 7.

A messy Saints committee backfield had Donaldson get the second-most snaps among New Orleans running backs against the Giants. He and Alvin Kamara were the passing-down backs while Donaldson also had a 17-yard run, the longest run by a Saints running back on the day. His first-career touchdown was called back in the third quarter after he was ruled down just shy of the goal line. The 22-year-old rookie has had a surprisingly high utilization early in the season and will continue to be involved while Travis Etienne is out. Despite this, his fantasy impact will mainly be to dilute Kamara and Kendre Miller’s fantasy values. Donaldson should only be rostered in the deepest of leagues heading into Week 7.

Alvin Kamara entered this game with a back injury and played just eight snaps in the second half, freeing up some extra work for Donaldson. He led the team in snaps, but Kendre Miller was the top option between the tackles, seeing 10 carries, one of which went for a touchdown. Even if Kamara remains on the injury report for Week 6, Donaldson won’t crack the FLEX rankings versus the Giants.

Kamara briefly left the Saints’ Week 4 game against the Falcons to deal with a knee injury. Today, he is sidelined by a back injury. It’s perhaps unsurprising for a 31-year-old player who has clearly lost a step at this point in his career. He is backed up by Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson. Either player can be stashed in 12-team formats.

This is a tough break. The Saints’ high-priced free agent signee will be sidelined for at least four games. Their Week 8 bye makes him eligible to return in Week 9. Veteran RB Alvin Kamara is the next man up, followed by RB Kendre Miller. Both should be rostered in 12-team leagues. Kamara will likely get the first crack at the starting job, but he has struggled to play efficiently this season, and coach Kellen Moore gave RB CJ Donaldson the backfield’s first green zone touch last week.

Etienne entered the game with a hamstring injury and appears to have aggravated it on an explosive run. The Saints’ starting running back broke off a 16-yard gain in the third quarter, setting up a Saints passing touchdown on the following play. Etienne could be seen grabbing at his left hamstring at the end of the run. He had mostly been limited to modest single-digit gains before that, rushing 13 times for 57 yards and catching 2-of-2 targets for 13 yards on the day. He seems highly unlikely to return. Etienne and the other veteran running backs notably ceded the first backfield touch inside the green zone to RB CJ Donaldson.