What Will Alvin Kamara's Role Be with the Saints in 2026?

For the last decade, New Orleans Saints fans have come to expect few things with more reliability than Alvin Kamara being the engine that drives their team's offense.

He'll still be in a Saints uniform this fall, but it won't look like it always has in terms of his role.

Kamara is finalizing a deal to remain in New Orleans for the upcoming 2026 season, keeping him in the only NFL uniform he's known since he was picked in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. A dual-threat weapon who has gashed opposing defenses as both a runner and a receiver, Kamara's explosiveness, versatility, and big-play ability has made him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the entire league for much of his career.

But that heavy usage has started to catch up to him, and Kamara's effectiveness and durability have clearly regressed. That's probably why the Saints spent big money to sign Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency this offseason, another versatile back who is still in his prime at 27 years old. Kamara turns 31 later this month.

So, what will this look like for Kamara and the Saints in 2026?

Now that Etienne is in the building, the days of Kamara shouldering the full workload in the backfield are over. The Saints didn't pay top dollar for Etienne to not make him a huge part of the offense, both on the ground and through the air.

But that could end up being a good thing for Kamara, who at this point in his career, clearly can't handle that kind of usage without breaking down. His veteran experience is as valuable as ever, and he should still be a vital part of the gameplan, leaning on his situational effectiveness to deliver in key moments.

Their similar skill sets should make Kamara and Etienne somewhat interchangeable, which should give head coach/offensive play-caller Kellen Moore plenty of flexibility in terms of what he can do with the offense. The depth helps if there's an injury, but the shared touches should guard against either player breaking down late in games, or later in the season. Don't be surprised if he finds a way to get them both on the field at the same time, too.

So no, it won't be like it's pretty much always been for Kamara and the Saints, as well as fantasy football managers who are used to Kamara getting the ball a billion times a week. But he'll still have a critical role in the offense, and it won't be surprising if key makes some huge plays in clutch moments that help them win games this season.