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Factoid

Kamara is taking names

Saints rookie is league's most explosive running back

The Alvin Kamara kid is explosive, isn’t he? He’s shifty and quick, and he’s tough to get on the ground – pretty remarkable on Sunday when he was able to run through a really hard hit at the goal line to score a touchdown on a fourth-down play. That was probably my favorite play of the weekend.

And Kamara keeps doing it week after week. That’s a quite a one-two punch they have going in New Orleans.

There’s still plenty of football to be played, but Kamara is putting together some all-time numbers.

He’s averaging over 7 yards per carry. In this century, only three running backs have carried the ball at least 100 times and averaged 6 yards per carry.

Kamara isn’t up to 100 attempts yet, but here’s how he compares against other running backs with at least 80 attempts who’ve averaged at least 5.4 yards per attempt since 2000.

RUNNING BACKS (yards per carry)
RkPlayerAttYdsAvg
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.866067.05
2011Darren Sproles, N.O.876036.93
2006Jerious Norwood, Atl.996336.39
2010Jamaal Charles, K.C.2301,4676.38
2006Michael Turner, S.D.805026.28
2008Kevin Faulk, N.E.835076.11
2012Adrian Peterson, Minn.3482,0976.03
2012C.J. Spiller, Buff.2071,2446.01
2007Jerious Norwood, Atl.1036135.95
2016Jalen Richard, Oak.834915.92
2009Felix Jones, Dall.1166855.91
2009Jamaal Charles, K.C.1901,1205.89
2016Mike Gillislee, Buff.1015775.71
2006Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.1669415.67
2015Thomas Rawls, Sea.1478305.65
2010Danny Woodhead, N.E.975475.64
2007Adrian Peterson, Minn.2381,3415.63
2008Derrick Ward, NYG1821,0255.63
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.3582,0065.60
2010Brandon Jacobs, NYG1478235.60
2015Karlos Williams, Buff.935175.56
2008DeAngelo Williams, Car.2731,5155.55
2013James Starks, G.B.894935.54
2013Andre Ellington, Ariz.1186525.53
2002Clinton Portis, Den.2731,5085.52
2016Bilal Powell, NYJ1317225.51
2011Fred Jackson, Buff.1709345.49
2003Clinton Portis, Den.2901,5915.49
2011DeMarco Murray, Dall.1648975.47
2010Rashad Jennings, Jac.844595.46
2011Darren McFadden, Oak.1136145.43
2006Frank Gore, S.F.3121,6955.43
2009Justin Forsett, Sea.1146195.43
2016LeSean McCoy, Buff.2341,2675.41
2003Onterrio Smith, Min.1075795.41

And Kamara isn’t just a runner. He’s also doing it through the air – catching lots of passes, and doing lots of damage with those balls as well.

He’s averaging 10.4 yards per catch on pass plays. Since 2000, only seven running backs with at least 50 catches have averaged more yards per catch.

RUNNING BACKS (yards per catch)
YearPlayerRecYardsAvg
2011Arian Foster, Hou.5361711.64
2004Tiki Barber, NYG5257811.12
2013Charles Clay, Mia.6975911.00
2015Charles Sims, T.B.5156111.00
2016David Johnson, Ariz.8087910.99
2010Matt Forte, Chi.5154710.73
2002Duce Staley, Phil.5154110.61
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.5961410.41
2013LeSean McCoy, Phil.5253910.37
2002Charlie Garner, Oak.9194110.34
2013Joique Bell, Det.5354710.32
2014LeVeon Bell, Pitt.8385410.29
2000Tiki Barber, NYG7071910.27
2000Marshall Faulk, St.L.8183010.25
2005Brian Westbrook, Phil.6161610.10
2009Chris Johnson, Tenn.5050310.06
2001Duce Staley, Phil.636269.94
2003Moe Williams, Minn.656449.91
2001Priest Holmes, K.C.626149.90
2013Jamaal Charles, K.C.706939.90
2005Tiki Barber, NYG545309.81
2000Ricky Watters, Sea.636139.73
2016Duke Johnson, Clev.535149.70
2000Richie Anderson, NYJ888539.69
2004Brian Westbrook, Phil.737039.63
2002Priest Holmes, K.C.706729.60
2001Ahman Green, G.B.625949.58
2012Marcel Reece, Oak.524969.54
2000Charlie Garner, S.F.686479.51
2004Edgerrin James, Ind.514839.47
2015Danny Woodhead, S.D.807559.44
2000Edgerrin James, Ind.635949.43
2011Matt Forte, Chi.524909.42
2013Reggie Bush, Det.545069.37
2012Joique Bell, Det.524859.33
2003Priest Holmes, K.C.746909.32
2011Ray Rice, Balt.767049.26
2001Marshall Faulk, St.L.837659.22
2016James White, N.E.605519.18
2013Giovani Bernard, Cin.565149.18
2010Arian Foster, Hou.666049.15
2013Knowshon Moreno, Den.605489.13
2000Kevin Faulk, N.E.514659.12
2008Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.625659.11
2011Ryan Mathews, S.D.504559.10
2006Brian Westbrook, Phil.776999.08
2006LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.565089.07
2000Eddie George, Tenn.504539.06
2009Ray Rice, Balt.787029.00

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index