Saints' Jamaal Williams: Scores late in season finale
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Williams compiled 14 rushes for 26 yards and one touchdown and gathered in all three targets for eight yards during Sunday's 48-17 victory versus the Falcons.
Williams ended up having a quiet night while stepping up in the absence of starting running back Alvin Kamara (ankle). Williams was expected to handle the majority of the Saints' rushing workload, but he ultimately logged just one more carry than rookie Kendre Miller, who led the team with 73 yards and tallied a rushing score in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Williams struggled to find much success, logging just one rushing attempt longer than five yards. He salvaged his underwhelming outing with a one-yard rushing touchdown on the Saints' final offensive series. Williams finishes his first season in New Orleans with 106 carries for 306 yards and one touchdown across 13 games. The 28-year-old has two remaining seasons on his current contract with the Saints.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Set to fill in for Kamara
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Williams is in line to lead the Saints backfield Sunday versus the Falcons with Alvin Kamara (ankle) inactive.
Kamara is sitting out for the first time since Week 3, which typically would afford his replacement plenty of work. That may be the case for Williams on Sunday, but he's averaged a career-low 3.0 yards on 92 carries, hauled in 15 of 17 passes for 54 yards and scored no touchdowns in 12 appearances this season. Considering his experience, he's the favorite to be the team's top rusher, but rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller (ankle) and practice-squad call-up Jordan Mims also are on hand for RB reps.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Sleeper RBs
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If Alvin Kamara (ankle) is out this week, then Williams could be looking at a big workload, which would make him a flex option in most leagues. Kamara left Week 17 at Tampa Bay, and Williams had 19 carries for 58 yards and four catches for 13 yards on four targets for 11.1 PPR points. You can expect similar production if Williams is the featured option against the Falcons, who have allowed four running backs to score at least 12.3 PPR points in their past four games. It's rather remarkable that Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022 with Detroit but has yet to score any touchdowns with the Saints in 2023. Maybe he'll find the end zone for the first time in Week 18.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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If Alvin Kamara (ankle) is out this week, then Williams could be looking at a big workload, which would make him a flex option in most leagues. Kamara left Week 17 at Tampa Bay, and Williams had 19 carries for 58 yards and four catches for 13 yards on four targets for 11.1 PPR points. You can expect similar production if Williams is the featured option against the Falcons, who have allowed four running backs to score at least 12.3 PPR points in their past four games. It's rather remarkable that Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022 with Detroit but has yet to score any touchdowns with the Saints in 2023. Maybe he'll find the end zone for the first time in Week 18.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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Alvin Kamara (ankle) could be out this week, and if that happens then the Saints would lean on Williams in a big game against Atlanta. Kamara left Week 17 at Tampa Bay, and Williams had 19 carries for 58 yards and four catches for 13 yards on four targets for 11.1 PPR points. You can expect similar production if Williams is the featured option against the Falcons, who have allowed four running backs to score at least 12.3 PPR points in their past four games.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Steps up in Week 17 win
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Williams tallied 19 carries for 58 yards and gathered in all four targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 23-13 win over the Buccaneers.
Williams logged six carries for just nine yards during the first half and appeared on pace to record another underwhelming statistical outing. However, his workload saw a sharp increase after top running back Alvin Kamara was ruled out with an ankle injury early in the second half. Williams went on to record season highs in both rushing attempts and yards. While he never logged a carry longer than seven yards, the 224-pound running back proved much more effective during the second half, averaging 3.8 yards across 13 carries. Williams also played a much larger role than Taysom Hill, who has often been used as a rushing threat while lined up at quarterback in the shotgun alongside Kamara but totaled just two carries Week 17. With Hill's role in the rushing game diminishing over the back half of the season and Kamara's availability unclear for New Orleans' regular-season finale, it will be worth considering Williams as a potential fill-in option for fantasy owners in need of a RB2 in Week 18.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Doesn't do much with nine touches
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Williams (groin) rushed eight times for 24 yards and caught his only target for two yards in Sunday's 24-6 win over the Giants.
Williams has yet to score a touchdown as a member of the Saints after leading the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns for the Lions last season. He remains a distant second on the running back depth chart behind Alvin Kamara, who had 110 scrimmage yards on 21 touches. Williams failed to build any momentum after eclipsing 40 scrimmage yards for only the second time all season in the previous game against the Panthers. Up next for Williams and the Saints is a road game against the Rams on Thursday Night Football.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Suiting up in Week 15
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Williams (groin) is listed as active Sunday versus the Giants.
Despite operating with a cap on his reps during Week 15 prep due to a groin injury, Williams will play through it Sunday. Having said that, he'll again play second fiddle to Alvin Kamara out of the Saints backfield, and Williams also may yield carries to Taysom Hill (foot/left hand), who is back from a one-game absence. Overall, Williams is averaging eight touches for 24.9 yards from scrimmage per game while scoring no TDs in nine appearances this season.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Expected to face Giants
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Williams (groin), who is officially listed as questionable, is expected to play Sunday against the Giants, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Williams practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week, which is a positive sign for his status. Nevertheless, his status won't become official until just before the Saints kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET. Even if Williams does suit up, it's worth noting he's failed to top 45 rushing yards in a game this season.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Status in question for Week 15
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Williams (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Giants, Brooke Kirchhofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.
A groin injury contained Williams to capped sessions during the entirety of Week 15 prep, leaving his status up in the air heading into the weekend. With gadget player Taysom Hill (foot/left hand) sidelined this past Sunday against the Panthers, Williams earned his second-highest carry count (11) of the season, but he yielded only 43 yards on the ground. Hill will be back in action this Sunday, though, so even if Williams is able to suit up, he may be relegated to his role from Weeks 7-13 (5.3 touches per game).
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Reps capped again
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Williams (groin) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Williams had his reps capped in practice for the second day in a row, but if he's able to maintain that level of activity Friday or upgrade to full participation, he should be in good position to play this weekend versus the Giants. After scoring 17 touchdowns in 17 games with the Lions in 2022, Williams has yet to find the end zone through his nine appearances with the Saints and is averaging a career-low 3.0 yards per carry.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Tending to groin issue
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Head coach Dennis Allen said Williams was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice due to a groin injury, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
Both Williams and Kendre Miller (ankle) operated with caps on their reps to begin Week 15 prep, leaving Alvin Kamara as the only healthy running back on New Orleans' active roster. As a result, the situation has spurred the expected signing of free-agent running back James Robinson, which has yet to be confirmed. Williams himself will have to more opportunities this week to get back to full activity before the Saints potentially hand him a designation for Sunday's game against the Giants.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Sees additional run Week 14
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Williams recorded 11 rushes for 43 yards and failed to haul in his lone target during Sunday's 28-6 win against the Panthers.
Williams topped 10 carries for the first time since Week 1 against Tennessee, when he recorded 18 carries for a season-high 45 yards. Just like in the season-opener, the veteran running back received additional opportunities due to injuries to one of the Saints' top rushing options. Alvin Kamara was available Week 14, but he was without his top running mate, as do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill was inactive due to foot and hand injuries. This led the Saints to ask more out of Williams, whose aggressive and physical rushing style somewhat mimics Hill's unique abilities. The 224-pound back went on to record one of his most efficient rushing performances of the season, as he had averaged just 2.8 yards per carry on 52 attempts through his first eight games of the season. Kamara still paced the ground game with 12 carries for 56 yards, and he got the team's lone rushing touchdown with a nine-yard score to open the second quarter. Williams will likely again work as a complementary back if Hill remains sidelined Week 14 against the Giants.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Nonfactor again Week 13
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Williams recorded five rushes for 10 yards and hauled in his only target for six yards during Sunday's 33-28 defeat versus the Lions.
Williams tallied five or fewer rushing attempts for the fifth time in the last six games. His usage in the rushing game remained minimal despite the absence of rookie running back Kendre Miller (ankle) for the second week in a row. Instead, top runing back Alvin Kamara and versatile tight end Taysom Hill continued to form a unique one-two punch, accouting for 27 carries for 110 yards and three rushing scores. Wideout Lynn Bowden also got involved with two rushing attempts while Rashid Shaheed (thigh), who usually serves as a rushing threat on end arounds, was inactive Sunday. Barring any injuries to Kamara and/or Hill moving forward, Williams should continue to play a negligible role in this rushing attack.
Williams rushed twice for six yards and and brought in both targets for four yards in the Saints' 24-15 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
The veteran back didn't see any benefit from the absence of rookie backfield mate Kendre Miller (ankle), as the versatile Lynn Bowden actually recorded the same amount of carries and gained 38 more yards than Williams. Williams has just 47 carries all season, and he hasn't come close to matching the 18 rush attempts he logged back in Week 1 while Alvin Kamara was still on suspension. Williams' minimal role and Miller's possible return in a difficult Week 13 matchup against the Lions' tough run defense makes the former a fantasy non-factor for the time being.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Neglected in paltry rushing effort
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Williams recorded four carries for seven yards and reeled in his only target for three yards during Sunday's 27-19 defeat versus the Vikings.
Williams logged fewer than five rushing attempts for the second week in a row, as he was once again neglected in the Saints' rushing offense. The 224-pound backup has had an extremely limited role since returning from IR in Week 7. This persisted Sunday even though the team's leading rushers this season, Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, logged just nine carries and one rush, respectively. While New Orleans' lack of rushing success combined with falling behind early certainly did not help his production, Williams' lack of usage over the last four weeks (18 rushing attempts, 57 yards) indicates that he's not worth any significant attention from fantasy managers.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Limited impact again Week 9
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Williams compiled three rushes for six yards and hauled in two of three targets for six yards during Sunday's 24-17 victory against Chicago.
Williams played his second-highest percentage of offensive snaps this season (42), but he still found himself in a backseat role to leading rushers Alvin Kamara (26) and Taysom Hill (52). These two accounted for 20 of the team's 27 carries Sunday, as they now lead the team in rushing yards this season with 346 and 255, respectively. Williams showed that he could be an effective stopgap running back while Kamara was suspended to begin the season. But it looks like he'll be relegated to a minimal role now that the team is fully leaning into an effective one-two punch with Kamara and Hill.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Modest output in return
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Williams (hamstring) rushed five times for 14 yards and wasn't targeted in the Saints' 31-24 loss to the Jaguars on Thursday night.
Williams logged 12 fewer carries than backfield mate Alvin Kamara in their first game together, unsurprising given the elevated volume the latter had already seen during his first three games. Williams may see his workload tick up a bit further in coming games, but Kamara appears to be entrenched as the clear lead back while handling a heavier workload than in seasons past, at least for the time being.
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Saints' Jamaal Williams: Back in action Thursday
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Williams (hamstring) is listed as active Thursday against the Jaguars, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.
After missing the minimum four games on injured reserve due to a hamstring strain, Williams is back in action for the first time since getting hurt Week 2. His initial role following his return is in some question, though, as Alvin Kamara completed his three-game suspension during Williams' absence and has averaged 25 touches per week over the last three contests. Kamara figures to get the occasional breather and also yield work to Williams in short-yardage situations, but even in his two appearances this season, the latter received just four red-zone rushes, none of which came inside the five-yard line.
Williams (hamstring) is expected to be activated and suit up for Thursday's game against the Jaguars, potentially resulting in a three-headed backfield split, John Sigler of USA Today reports.
Williams, who hasn't played since Week 2, is expected to officially come off IR prior to Thursday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. He hasn't yet suited up for a game alongside Alvin Kamara this season, so fantasy managers have yet to see how New Orleans' backfield split will be divvied up with all the team's main RBs healthy. If Williams has no workload limitations, he could take notable work from Kamara, while rookie Kendre Miller has shown occasional flashes this season and may still be involved on offense versus Jacksonville as a No. 3 or change-of-pace option. Of course, Williams' nose for the end zone makes him a candidate to find fantasy success even without necessarily logging an even workload split, should he benefit from the right gamescript.
