When Alvin Kamara ripped off an 18-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, it wasn’t just a score. It was history. That touchdown marked the 1,000th touchdown in Superdome history, cementing another milestone for a player who has been the heartbeat of the New Orleans Saints offense since 2017. But beyond the number, it served as a reminder: Kamara is still the key to unlocking everything the Saints want to be offensively in 2025.
Kamara finished the game with 4.8 yards per carry on 12 rushing attempts, adding two receptions for 12 yards. Respectable, but hardly the workload you’d expect for the Saints’ most dynamic playmaker. For a player who logged 1,493 all-purpose yards and 68 receptions in 2024, two targets in the passing game felt like a missed opportunity. As Drew Brees pointed out on X after the loss, Kamara wasn’t utilized enough in the passing attack — and that omission loomed large in a 20-13 defeat.
With the Saints releasing Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Marcus Yarns during final cuts, the backfield is thinner than it was a month ago. That reality means Kamara will be the centerpiece of Kellen Moore’s tempo-based offense and a workhorse asked to do more than ever before. The question is: can the Saints maximize his value, especially with the San Francisco 49ers’ stout run defense up next?
Kamara’s presence provides balance for an offense still searching for its identity under first-year head coach Kellen Moore. Quarterback Spencer Rattler looked steady but limited in his debut, completing 27 of 46 passes for 214 yards with no touchdowns. Without explosive plays through the air, the offense leaned heavily on short throws to Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. The problem? Defenses know that, and without Kamara featured in the passing game, the Saints become predictable.
Kamara’s versatility has always been his defining trait. Few running backs can hit the edge with burst, break tackles between the tackles, and line up wide as a true receiving threat. It’s why he’s averaged over 70 receptions per season throughout his career. Yet against Arizona, Rattler rarely looked Kamara’s way, opting instead for safer throws to his tight end. That’s where Moore has to make adjustments.
In Moore’s tempo offense — which squeezed 26 plays into 65 minutes of live camp reps this summer — the backfield is supposed to be central to keeping defenses off balance. That’s not just about running between the tackles; it’s about using Kamara’s pass-catching ability to extend the run game. Against the Cardinals, that element was missing.
The Saints finished Week 1 with just 13 points and a single touchdown. They settled for field goals on promising drives, including one where Rattler overthrew Olave in the red zone. Those wasted chances highlight why Kamara’s role is vital near the goal line.
Historically, Kamara has been one of the NFL’s most effective red-zone weapons. His vision allows him to slip through collapsing fronts, and his receiving ability forces linebackers to cover in space — a mismatch the Saints should be exploiting. Yet New Orleans scored just 10 red-zone points in the opener despite multiple trips inside Arizona territory. That inefficiency reflects an offense still finding its rhythm, but also one that left its most reliable option underutilized.
Against San Francisco, red-zone execution will be even more critical. The 49ers allowed just 3.9 yards per carry in 2024 and consistently collapse rushing lanes with Fred Warner anchoring the front. If the Saints want touchdowns instead of field goals, Kamara must be the focal point — not just as a runner, but as the safety valve Rattler can trust when everything else breaks down.
There’s a fair question to ask: can Kamara handle the heavier workload in Year 9? Running backs traditionally decline after age 28, and Kamara is now on the wrong side of 30. But his style — relying more on agility and vision than pure bruising power — has aged well so far. Last year’s 1,493 all-purpose yards suggest he still has plenty left in the tank.
With the roster cuts leaving only Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, and Velus Jones Jr. behind him, Kamara’s share of touches will likely climb. Miller has shown flashes but can’t stay healthy, Neal is a rookie still adjusting to the NFL, and Jones is more of a gadget option than a true running back. That leaves Kamara as the steady hand, the guy Moore has to lean on in critical situations.
It’s worth remembering that Kamara’s efficiency has always been elite when he’s involved. His career 4.6 yards per carry is proof that volume doesn’t necessarily hurt his effectiveness. The key will be using him creatively, spreading his touches between carries and screens, and designing slot routes so defenses can’t focus on him.
Why Kamara Matters for Spencer Rattler
Perhaps the most important reason for maximizing Kamara’s role is its impact on Rattler. The young quarterback showed composure in his 2025 debut, but he’s still developing pocket awareness and timing in Moore’s offense. Without McCoy anchoring the line last year, we saw how quickly things fell apart when protection broke down. The best way to ease that pressure is simple: give Rattler a reliable outlet in Kamara.
On third downs, Kamara has been money throughout his career. He keeps drives alive, whether picking up a blitz or leaking out for a quick catch. Against Arizona, his two receptions weren’t enough to make a difference. But imagine those same plays becoming five or six catches for 40 or 50 yards. That’s not just stat padding — drive extension, rhythm for the quarterback, and sustained pressure on the defense.
If Rattler is going to grow into a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, he needs that kind of help. Moore has to scheme it, and Rattler has to trust it.
Related: Breaking Down Spencer Rattler’s 2025 Season Debut
Looking Ahead to San Francisco
The Saints face one of the NFL’s toughest defenses in Week 2. San Francisco thrives on making offenses one-dimensional, and if they sniff out that the Saints won’t feature Kamara, it could be a long afternoon in the Superdome. The 49ers’ front seven won’t be fooled by predictable short throws or a conservative run plan.
The blueprint has to be built around Kamara. Get him involved early in the passing game — swing passes, angle routes, even lining him up in the slot against linebackers. Use him on third downs to keep drives alive. Let him set the tone in the red zone where every yard is magnified.
Because here’s the truth: if the Saints don’t put the ball in Kamara’s hands, their margin for error shrinks to zero.
Alvin Kamara may not be the flashiest player anymore, but his enduring value is undeniable. His 18-yard touchdown run against Arizona wasn’t just the Superdome’s 1,000th score — it was a statement that he remains the centerpiece of the Saints’ offense.
The Saints can’t afford to underutilize him, especially with a rookie quarterback still learning the ropes and a roster that lacks depth behind its stars. If Kellen Moore wants to maximize his tempo offense, it starts with Kamara. Run it through, throw it to him, lean on him in the red zone.
Because if the Saints are going to surprise anyone this season, it won’t be because Spencer Rattler suddenly becomes a Tier 2 quarterback. It’ll be because Alvin Kamara continues to do what he’s always done — carry the Saints’ offense, one first down and one touchdown at a time.
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