When the New Orleans Saints drafted Alvin Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, many were skeptical about the pick. The Saints already had Mark Ingram as their established featured back, and no one really knew how Kamara would fit in the offensive gameplan.
Maybe the Saints wanted to trade Ingram? Maybe Kamara was there to learn from the former Heisman winner? No one really knew what to expect. But fast forward into December, and Kamara has been one of the best players for New Orleans this season. In fact, the 22-year-old rookie has been the NFL’s best offensive rookie this season. He has emerged as a true difference maker for New Orleans, as the Saints have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2017 season.
Through 12 games, the Saints sit at the top of the NFC South with a 9-3 record. If the season ended today, they would make the playoffs as the third best team in the NFC, which would set them up for a Wild Card game at home. That’s quite a success, and Kamara has been a big reason why New Orleans has been one of the best offensive teams in the NFL.
The Numbers Back Up Kamara’s Play
The rookie out of Tennessee has big numbers already. He registers 606 yards and seven touchdowns in 86 carries while adding 614 yards and four more scores in 59 receptions. Add those up, and Kamara has a grand total of 1,220 yards from scrimmage with four games left in the schedule. That’s impressive and even better for a rookie who wasn’t even a first-round pick.
Kamara is coming off a huge game against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. In what was New Orleans’ biggest game of the year so far, the rookie exploded for 126 yards (60 on the ground and 66 through the air) with two scores. And it’s not like the Panthers have a bad defense. Carolina currently ranks fourth in rushing yards allowed per game with 88.6, and that’s AFTER Kamara’s performance.
For what is worth, Kamara and Ingram combined for 145 rushing yards against Carolina. But the real story here is not how Ingram has looked like a true MVP candidate, or how Drew Brees just doesn’t seem to get old. The story has been Kamara’s impressive play during the month of November. He has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. And without a doubt, he deserves to be named as the NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year.
If the Saints end up making the playoffs, Kamara will be one of the reasons why. His play and ability to impact the offense in so many ways have transformed into a true difference maker for the franchise.