New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams saw a team-high 14 carries with Alvin Kamara (ankle) on the shelf, but was largely ineffective as he gained just 26 yards on the ground. The veteran also caught three passes for eight yards. Rather than kneeling and running the clock out after an interception that was returned to the one-yard line with a minute left on the clock, the Saints opted to run Williams into the endzone for his first touchdown of the season. Head coach Dennis Allen apologized to Arthur Smith following the touchdown, which Smith was visibly upset with. Williams and the Saints will now await the result of both the Green Bay and Seattle games to see if their season is extended into Wild Card weekend.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams is likely to be the lead runner on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons with Alvin Kamara (ankle) listed as a game-time decision. While Kamara is going to take his status up to kickoff, he has not practiced all week long. Be sure to be ready to insert Williams into lineups with Kamara's status being taken up to Sunday morning. While the Falcons are one of the more stout defenses against opposing running backs (eighth-least points per game), Williams should see significant enough volume to be in play as an RB3 option. He would likely split running duties with Taysom Hill in the event that Kamara can't go.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams had his most productive day of the 2023 season, filling in for an injured Alvin Kamara (ankle) in the second half of the Week 17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams carried the ball 19 times for 58 yards and caught four passes for 13 yards. The veteran has been seldom used while primarily operating behind Kamara this season and only has 280 rushing yards after a breakout 1,066-yard season with Detroit last year. If Kamara can't go in Week 18, Williams should see another heavy-usage day and can be started in lineups against Atlanta.
Jamaal Williams Could Be In RB3 Territory In Week 17
New Orleans Saints' veteran running back Jamaal Williams could be in line for an increased role in the event that Alvin Kamara (illness) cannot go. Kamara did not practice on Friday, popping up on the injury report with an illness, but has a few days to rest prior to Sunday's must-win game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kamara managers will want to ensure that they have Williams on the bench in the event that the workhorse running back cannot go, but Williams should only be placed in lineups if Kamara is inactive or is reported to have a limited role. Tampa Bay is a pass-funnel defense, making this a tough matchup for whichever running back leads the way on the ground for the Saints on Sunday. If Kamara is ruled out, Williams would likely lead the way on the ground with Taysom Hill and Kendre Miller (ankle) mixing in more than usual.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) is officially active on Sunday for the Week 15 tilt against the visiting New York Giants despite being listed as questionable on the team's final injury report. Williams will continue to serve in his role as an infrequently used backup to bell-cow back Alvin Kamara on Sunday. The 28-year-old will probably also lose touches to Swiss Army Knife weapon Taysom Hill (foot, hand), who is returning to the fold after sitting out last week's win over the Carolina Panthers. Williams racked up a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns with the Detroit Lions in 2022 but has no trips to paydirt in the Big Easy for the Saints in 2023. He will remain off the fantasy radar despite being active in Week 15.
Jamaal Williams Likely Good To Go Versus The Giants
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) is expected to play in Sunday's game versus the New York Giants. The veteran was limited in practice throughout the week and carries a questionable tag heading into Week 15. However, barring a setback, he should be out there. With rookie Kendre Miller (ankle) still out, Williams should serve as the No. 2 option behind Alvin Kamara. Unfortunately, Williams hasn't done much to benefit fantasy managers all year, meaning he should be left out of lineups in all formats.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable to play in Week 15 against the New York Giants. Williams is probably on the right side of questionable after being able to practice all week, but the Saints signed James Robinson earlier this week as extra RB depth just in case. Rookie Kendre Miller (ankle) will miss yet another game. Lead back Alvin Kamara is an absolute must-start in fantasy (as he has been all year) and could see even more touches if top wideout Chris Olave (ankle) is ruled out with an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 14's win over the Carolina Panthers. Even if Williams is active for this one, he won't have any standalone fantasy value behind Kamara.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) was listed as a limited participant in practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Williams might ultimately receive a questionable tag for Week 15 against the New York Giants if he's limited again on Friday, but all signs point to him being available this weekend as he continues in his backup role behind bell-cow back Alvin Kamara. The 28-year-old hasn't had any standalone fantasy value in 2023 since starting the first two games of the year with Kamara suspended. Williams did see 11 carries -- his second-most this season -- in the Week 14 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers, but he has yet to find the end zone in his first year in New Orleans and is averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per carry on 63 rushing attempts in nine games.
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams (groin) is on the Week 15 injury report after he put in a limited practice on Wednesday. Rookie Kendre Miller (ankle) continues to sit out of practice, which is why the Saints added James Robinson for RB depth as the team prepares for a Week 15 tilt against the New York Giants. Williams should be able to suit up this weekend, but if he cannot, New Orleans' backfield will be dangerously thin should anything happen to bell-cow back Alvin Kamara. Aside from a two-game stint as the starter to open the year in Weeks 1 and 2 with Kamara suspended, Williams hasn't been anything besides a handcuff option in fantasy, although he did have 11 carries for 43 yards in the blowout win over the Carolina Panthers last week.
Jamaal Williams Slated To Work In Behind Alvin Kamara
New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams has played a secondary role to Alvin Kamara since returning from the IR in Week 7, as he has averaged just six touches a game. That role should not change in Week 9, and Williams remains a handcuff option for Kamara. In truly desperate situations, he can be fired up as a touchdown-dependent flex option due to the run-funnel nature of the Bears' defense and the potential of this game getting out of hand. Williams is a very risky play, given that he likely won't see significant enough volume to warrant a productive fantasy game.
