Tag: jamaal williams new orleans saints

What can New Orleans Saints running backs offer fantasy gamers?

Evaluating the fantasy football prospects from the New Orleans backfield.

When the New Orleans Saints were at their best, they featured a one-two punch in their backfield of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. In recent years, the franchise has tried to recreate their dynamic, albeit without much success. Initially, they tried reuniting with Ingram, but his best days were behind him. Last year, they signed running back Jamaal Williams in free agency, and then selected Kendre Miller with the 71st overall pick.

As a blueprint, it was easy to follow. Reduce Kamara’s workload by adding a veteran that just led the NFL in rushing touchdowns while bringing along a talented young back with limited snaps to learn the ropes. It didn’t work out. Kamara received a three-game suspension for an off-field incident, Miller was dogged by injuries, and Williams struggled. The result was a rushing offense that ranked 21st in yards (102.5 YPG), 18th in TDs (13), and tied for 30th in YPC (3.6).

Rather than blow things up, the Saints will run it back with the same top three. Will they get better results in 2024? Let’s look at this backfield and what it can do for fantasy owners.

Saints sign RB Jamaal Williams to three-year, $12 million deal. Grade: A-

The Saints signed former Lions RB Jamaal Williams to a steal of a deal, as long as they can pry gaps open for him. Otherwise, it could be iffy.

Getting a running back who’s coming off a 17-touchdown season, as the New Orleans Saints have done with the signing of former Detroit Lions back Jamaal Williams, would seem to be a total slam-dunk. And it is in a lot of ways, but there are come questions about Williams’ running style that would complicate things were the deal not so team-friendly — three years, $12 million, with just $8 million guaranteed.

It’s not that Williams is a bad running back — he’s obviously not, and that’s not really the point. The point is that if the Saints want him to be their workhorse guy — and they may have no choice if Alvin Kamara serves any kind of suspension based on charges of conspiracy to commit battery and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm — New Orleans’ offensive line will have to be expert in opening gaps for Williams. If that’s the case, he’s great. But Williams, even at 6-foot-0 and 224 pounds, is not a guy who’s going to rule the game after contact. Last season, he forced just 30 missed tackles on 262 attempts — for context, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders led the league with 90 missed tackles forced — and Williams’ average of 2.78 yards after contact per carry is similarly average to below-average.

The Saints ranked 12th in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards metrics, which tie offensive line and running back performance together, while the Lions ranked seventh, so that works in Williams’ favor. What you don’t want is Williams getting cinched up behind a line that can’t create.

Williams does have the vision and acceleration to take advantage of those gaps when they’re open, and as long as that continues to be the case, the Saints got themselves quite the bargain here.