Alvin Kamara Snubbed for NFL Network Top-100

The national disrespect of Alvin Kamara continues, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Saints running back is primed for a big season.

NFL Network's top-100 players of 2022 countdown continued on Wednesday with Numbers 80 through 71. This has been an annual event by the NFL Network for the last 13 years, supposedly voted on by active NFL players.

There were no New Orleans Saints players that made the list from 80-71. Former Saints DE Trey Hendrickson, with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2021, did crack the countdown at Number 75. Two current Saints have made the list so far. Running back Jamaal Williams, who was with the Detroit Lions last year, came in at Number 95, while CB Marshon Lattimore was voted in at Number 89.

There will be at least one New Orleans star notably absent from this year's top-100 list. Dynamic RB Alvin Kamara, who has been on this countdown in previous years, was ridiculously snubbed from the list. Kamara was among the 10 players who ''nearly'' made the countdown, but was voted at Number 103 for the best players of 2022.

Umm, What?

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) makes a move against Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

The NFL Network will announce 10 new players on their top-100 countdown every week day until August 3. So far, just two running backs have made the list among the 30 players announced. Williams was one, with current free-agent RB Dalvin Cook (with the Vikings last season) coming in at Number 91.

There's no doubting that Kamara didn't have his best season. In fact, you could argue that it was his most disappointing campaign of an otherwise stellar six-year career. He reached the end zone in just two games in 2022 and had just four total touchdowns, the lowest of his career. 

Kamara had 897 rushing yards in 15 games played, missing the 1,000-yard barrier for a sixth consecutive year. More concerning was his ineffectiveness as a receiver, a trait that sets him apart from nearly every other back. Kamara had 57 receptions for 490 yards on 77 targets. It wasn’t the lowest receiving output of his career --that came in 2021 -- but his 32.7 receiving yards per game was the worst production we've seen.

At a closer glance, Kamara still means as much to the Saints offense as any player does to their respective teams. Moreover, he's still one of the NFL's most feared offensive players. 

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Kamara was responsible for over 45% of his team's rushing output. Outside of Taysom Hill, the Saints lacked any kind of a threat out of the backfield aside from the 28-year-old Kamara. Hill and Kamara were responsible for 77.8% of the New Orleans rushing yards, nine of the team’s 12 rushing scores, and 72% of their first downs on the ground. 

Once WR Michael Thomas was lost for the year after Week 3, opponents were also better able to game plan for Kamara as a receiver. Yes, rookie WR Chris Olave was outstanding, and TE Juwan Johnson and WR Rashid Shaheed had breakout years. However, that was just as much a product of the opposition paying extra attention to Kamara. 

The New Orleans coaches also didn't do their electric running back any favors. Game plans were often unimaginative, with the lack of effort trying to get the explosive Kamara in space astonishing. His production was also undoubtedly affected by inconsistencies at quarterback and a revolving door of offensive line combinations because of injuries. 

While the coaches deserve a lot of the blame, there were also reasons behind it. The lack of threat in the backfield aside from Kamara meant that opponents were able to adjust accordingly when he'd come out of the backfield as a receiver. That's expected to change drastically after the offseason additions of Jamaal Williams and rookie RB Kendre Miller. 

Thomas is expected to be back healthy after missing 40 of the last 50 regular season contests. His physical presence, along with the additions of TE Foster Moreau and continued development of Olave, Shaheed, and Johnson, will make opponents pay for too much attention to Kamara. 

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) rushes past Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Five running backs will reportedly be on the NFL Network top-100 countdown between numbers 40-21. At least one member of the national media recognizes Kamara's skills and importance to the Saints.

Former NFL QB David Carr, older brother of new Saints QB Derek Carr, revealed his top-10 NFL running backs for NFL.com headed into 2023. Carr had Kamara ranked sixth, behind only Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey. 

We're still waiting for more clarity on Kamara's availability this season in regard to

his off-field issues

, but I'm here to discuss what he can do

on

the field. The explosive, tackle-breaking playmaker is clearly a vital part of New Orleans' offense, with the Saints going 3-7 in games without him since he was drafted in 2017 (including 0-4 in 2021 and 0-2 in '22). I've talked to my brother -- new Saints quarterback

Derek Carr

-- a lot this offseason about this new chapter, and he's told me numerous times that Kamara is uncoverable one-on-one out of the backfield. Kamara's rare agility and athleticism make him so dynamic with the ball in his hands that it's not at all surprising that he's had 1,300-plus scrimmage yards in each of his six seasons, the longest streak of any active player. 

-David Carr, NFL.com

A pending league suspension of Kamara will certainly affect his statistical output in 2023. However, he'll still carry as much importance to this offense as ever. No NFL back can equal his abilities as a receiver, or his balance and vision as a runner. Kamara has proven that he can be effective between the tackles. But, the offseason offensive additions should allow for more more creative game plans.

Alvin Kamara remains one of the most dynamic and versatile offensive playmakers in the NFL. Opponents know it. One look at the way defenses play him reflect that. Makes you wonder how much of the NFL Network's top-100 players is really determined by player voting.