Alvin Kamara vs Travis Etienne: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Travis Etienne (New Orleans Saints) averaged 13.9 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints, 7.7 PPG) by 6.2 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
A 6.2-PPG gap gives Travis Etienne the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Alvin Kamara ran for 471 yards and 1 touchdowns; Travis Etienne posted 1107 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 12 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
