Footballguys on Travis Etienne

ArticleTraining Camp Reset: Backfields in Motion
Read the full article

From the article

Alvin Kamara will return, but he played just 11 games in 2025 and posted a career-low 657 scrimmage yards after eight straight 1,160-yard seasons. And we know the desired outcome. At $13 million a year, New Orleans didn't pay Etienne to split touches. But Kamara's presence clouds the issue. In addition, Etienne, despite a pair of top-10 fantasy finishes in the last three years, is a career 4.2 yards-per-carry back who's never been the dual threat advertised. It's also fair to wonder if the Saints, who ranked 23rd in Run Block Win Rate and 30th in yards before contact last season, have the offensive line to set the newcomer up for success.

STACKED’s take

Negative signalRole

Kamara's return and Saints' weak run blocking complicate Etienne's featured role.

Alvin Kamara will return to the Saints, but he played just 11 games in 2025 and posted a career-low 657 scrimmage yards after eight straight 1,160-yard seasons. While New Orleans didn't pay Etienne $13 million a year to split touches, Kamara's presence clouds the issue. Additionally, Etienne is a career 4.2 yards-per-carry back who's never been the dual threat advertised. The Saints ranked 23rd in Run Block Win Rate and 30th in yards before contact last season, raising questions about whether the offensive line can set Etienne up for success.

Travis Etienne headshotTravis EtienneRB · NOPlayer page — value, ADP, projections, and every insight

More on Travis Etienne and from Footballguys