Alvin Kamara continues to show each week that he is one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL. Is that enough to get him a start over rookie Bijan Robinson?
We’ll give you the fantasy football outlook for each player.
Should You Start Alvin Kamara or Bijan Robinson This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Kamara is the player to start. His projected 20.1 points include 70 rushing yards, six receptions, and 51 receiving yards. His projected stat line outperforms the consensus projection of Robinson’s 11.9 points.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. Kamara is simply one of the best running backs for fantasy football managers to have and is someone who will almost always be viewed as the right choice to get the start in fantasy lineups.
Fantasy Outlook for Kamara This Week
When you look at Kamara’s value in fantasy football, rushing numbers alone won’t do it. If choosing between two running backs to start was based strictly on rushing numbers, Kamara might lose out more often than not.
For the season, he is averaging less than four yards a carry (3.7), has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game, and has two rushing touchdowns in seven games.
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But obviously, there is more to Kamara’s game than just his rushing numbers. He and Christian McCaffrey are arguably the two best pass-catching running backs in the league. Kamara has caught at least four passes in six of his seven games this season, and he entered this week leading all running backs in receptions with 50.
In terms of rankings, Kamara is ranked as the No. 4 running back in PFN’s Consensus Rankings. Based on that alone, he should be put into starting lineups each week.
Fantasy Outlook for Robinson This Week
Robinson, who is the No. 12 ranked running back in PFN’s Consensus Rankings, has had a very productive rookie season. We’re talking about a player who has more rush yards (612) than Joe Mixon, averages more yards per carry (4.9) than Christian McCaffrey, and has more rushing touchdowns (two) than Saquon Barkley.
In the game before the Atlanta Falcons’ bye week, Robinson rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, his second touchdown run in his last three games. It was his third game of the season with at least 90 rushing yards, though it was only his first since Week 4 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Robinson’s problem, when compared to Kamara, is receiving out of the backfield. Overall, Robinson has 29 receptions in 10 games, a pace that would approach 50 catches for the season, a respectable total for a running back.
However, not only is Kamara already at 50 catches for the season entering Week 12, but Robinson has three total receptions in his last four games. A revolving door at the quarterback spot between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke probably isn’t helping.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Robinson to finish with 67 rushing yards, with two receptions for 11 yards.
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