Alvin Kamara (NIR-rest/back) resumes practicing

On the plus side, Donaldson is no longer listed with a concussion. Audric Estime played well last week and Travis Etienne (hamstring) is practicing now, though. Donaldson could be phased out.

We expect to see Kamara listed with his typical NIR-rest/back designation when the team’s official injury report is released later today. An update will be provided if this is not the case. With Travis Etienne (hamstring) now practicing and Audric Estime playing well, Kamara is barely fantasy-relevant.

The Saints added Audric Estime via waivers on Monday and he went on to lead the team in carries today. He saw 15 rushes plus one target. Estime also found the end zone after Kamara was tackled at the two-yard line. Kamara was the team’s primary back on passing downs, but his role between the tackles remained incredibly limited. With Travis Etienne potentially returning next week, his role could take another hit in Week 10. He remains a low-upside RB4 for his upcoming matchup with the Panthers.

Kamara was limited due to rest and a back injury, but unsurprisingly, he’ll be good to go for Sunday’s contest against the Browns. The Saints’ run game is a disaster, but Kamara should be involved enough in the pass game to make him a decent FLEX play for that contest.

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.

Tyler Shough ended up leading the Saints with seven rushing yards. Yikes. Kamara was effective as a receiver out of the backfield, but to say that New Orleans struggled to run the ball is quite the understatement as they finished with 18 yards on 17 attempts. The good news for fantasy managers that used Kamara is that he was effective out of the backfield as a receiver, but it’s a modest day for the 31-year-old. Kamara and the Saints will try and get something going after a bye against the Browns in Week 9.

Donaldson is the third member of the Saints’ backfield committee. While he will get a few touches this week, he is not getting enough work for fantasy relevance.

Kamara was still listed as limited in Friday’s practice, but the Saints feel confident enough in his health to clear him for Week 7. Kamara found the end zone last week on a 31-yard reception, but has largely been inefficient with his touches this season. He seen 14 opportunities to Kendre Miller’s 30 over the last two weeks and will be hard to trust as anything more than a touchdown-dependent RB3 against the Steelers. The only players on the Saints carrying injury designations into the weekend are guard Cesar Ruiz (knee) and DL Nathan Sheperd (illness). Both are listed as questionable.