Alvin Kamara or Dalton Schultz: Who Should You Start?
Preliminary board2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.
Schultz’s dependable route role edges Kamara’s uncertain return workload
Start Dalton Schultz: the projections are essentially level, but his TE1, high-volume receiving role offers a sturdier weekly path than Kamara’s complementary backfield assignment. Schultz also draws the softer positional matchup, while Kamara’s receiving talent remains appealing in PPR if New Orleans uses him heavily in space. Kamara is reportedly moving well and ready for his season debut (ESPN 2026-09-17; neworleanssaints.com 2026-09-17), but returning from an MCL sprain while sharing work is the call’s key risk.
What flips it: A confirmed full Kamara workload, especially with a larger receiving role.
Sources: ESPN · Sep 17, 2026 · neworleanssaints.com · Sep 17, 2026
AI editor
Alvin Kamara
7.68.69.6 Projected Points
Dalton Schultz
5.37.49.5 Projected Points
Alvin Kamara’s market
Dalton Schultz’s market
Why Alvin Kamara
SitVeteran RB2 in complementary role. Elite receiving back with elusive short-area footwork, now sharing the backfield.
Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB48: LV is the 11th-toughest matchup vs RBs, 14% target share.
- Kamara’s receiving skill can rescue a modest rushing workload if New Orleans deploys him in space.
- A favorable home-team script could create more second-half touches if the Saints protect a lead.
Latest on Kamara
Saints running back Alvin Kamara has "no limitations," was a full participant in practice and says his knee feels good only one month after spraining his MCL in practice.
The team's all-time leader in rushing yards beat the projected recovery timeline and will play on Sunday
Katherine Terrell discusses the injury statuses of running back Alvin Kamara and defensive lineman Cam Jordan.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Dalton Schultz
StartTE1 in high-volume pass-catching role. Reliable chain-mover over the middle with sure hands.
Start — TE21 consensus, projects TE15 this week: IND is the 10th-softest matchup vs TEs, 25% target share.
- Schultz’s chain-moving profile gives him a steadier target path than a touchdown-dependent tight end.
- His established pass-catching role is less vulnerable to a snap cap than Kamara’s season debut workload.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Alvin Kamara | Dalton Schultz |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 7.68.69.6 | 5.37.49.5 |
| Consensus rank | RB48 | TE21 |
| Opponent vs position | LV · 11 of 322-game sample | IND · 23 of 322-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 12 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 10 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 6 of 32 | 29 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 18 of 32 | 29 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 8 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 15 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 29 of 32 |
| Target share | 14% | 25% |
| Reception share | 16% | 29% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.0-3.5 | 23.5-1.5 |
| Depth chart | RB2 | TE1 |
| Snap share | 29% | 67% |
Recent form
Alvin Kamara — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs BAL | 2.24.77.2 |
| Week 1 | vs DET | 0.00.00.0 |
Dalton Schultz — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs CIN | 14.020.026.0 |
| Week 1 | vs BUF | 3.55.57.5 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.6 vs 9.5 projected PPR pointsAlvin Kamara +
- Rank 48 vs 21Dalton Schultz +
- Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 23 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 23.0 vs 23.5 team pointsDalton Schultz +
- No injury designationseven
- 29% vs 67% snap shareDalton Schultz +
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