Alvin Kamara vs Saquon Barkley: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.7 fantasy points per game in 11 games. Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) came in at 13.4 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Saquon Barkley carries a 5.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Alvin Kamara ran for 471 yards and 1 touchdowns; Saquon Barkley posted 1140 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Alvin Kamara sits Week 12 while Saquon Barkley is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
