Saints RB Alvin Kamara named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 16 after stunning the Minnesota Vikings.

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It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Alvin Kamara has been recognized as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 16, but it’s still great to see the New Orleans Saints superstar getting his due credit. Kamara ran 22 times for 155 rushing yards, a new single-game high for him, but what really made headlines were his six rushing touchdowns (the most since the NFL-AFL merger, tying a 91-year old pro football record). He also caught a couple of passes for 17 receiving yards, but Kamara’s efforts on the ground were what made the highlight reel.

And it’s helped cap his first season with the Saints since signing a multiyear contract extension late in training camp. Kamara has rewarded the Saints with a career year. He’s already set new personal-bests in touchdowns scored (21) and yards gained from scrimmage (1,688), while averaging his strongest yards per touch (6.3) since his 2017 rookie year.

On top of that, he’s handled the football 270 times, just behind his previously highest workload (275 combined carries and catches, back in 2018). Kamara’s 932 rushing yards are a new high, and he needs 71 receiving yards to surpass the mark he set as a rookie (826).

He’s answered many of the questions asked of him, silencing the critics that wondered if he can shoulder a heavy workload and remain healthy, or even run effectively as the team’s go-to rusher rather than a complimentary weapon. The only real complaint may be that he’s snapped a unique three-year streak of catching exactly 81 passes each season, totaling 83 with a game left to play. And no one is seriously bemoaning that.

So take a bow, Alvin Kamara. He’s earned it. Let’s see what sort of encore he’s got in store for the playoffs.

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