Why did Alvin Kamara get more runs than Latavius Murray?

Kamara ended the game with 54 rushing yards on 11 carries, a healthy rate of 4.9 yards per attempt. But take out his longest run (a 30-yard scamper) and that average drops to just 2.4 yards per rush. That’s mediocre by every measure, though obviously that big play and his resume show why the Saints kept giving him opportunities.

Compare that to Murray, who was give only seven attempts. He turned those into 64 yards, a rate of 9.1 yards per carry. Subtract his longest rush (a 26-yard touchdown on the opening drive) and he’s still picking up ground at 6.3 yards per attempt. He was clearly the hot hand to ride with on Sunday, but Saints coach Sean Payton put him on ice after that initial success. Maybe Payton was focused on getting Kamara up to speed, even to the detriment of other players?

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