Because the Saints are playing on "Monday Night Football" in Week 5, most of Alvin Kamara's counterparts at skill positions, like running back and wide receiver, have already logged five games played in 2024.
Yet, even with just four games under his belt, Kamara ranks fourth in the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 536.
Through New Orleans' 2-2 start, Kamara has made an argument as the league's top overall running back. While others, like the Ravens' Derrick Henry and the Eagles' Saquon Barkley, have dominated this season, Kamara has led the league's top scoring offense, as the Saints have averaged 31.8 points per game.
Here's a look at Kamara's numbers entering Monday's matchup between the Saints and Chiefs.
MORE: Live updates from Saints vs. Chiefs on "Monday Night Football"
Alvin Kamara 2024 stats
As a threat both on the ground and in the air, Kamara has logged at least 100 scrimmage yards in all four of New Orleans' games so far.
He began his season with a dominant effort against the Panthers in which he made five receptions while gaining 83 yards on the ground. In Week 2, he broke free for a 57-yard score against the Cowboys.
There goes Alvin Kamara for 57 yards!
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
📺: #NOvsDAL on FOX
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Plus, he scored four total touchdowns in that matchup as New Orleans coasted to a 44-19 win.
THAT’S FOUR FOR ALVIN KAMARA 😤
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
📺: #NOvsDAL on FOX
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Here's a look at Kamara's game-by-game and total stats in the 2024 season so far.
| Week | Opponent | Result | Carries | Rush yards | Rush TDs | Yards per carry | Targets | Receptions | Rec. yards | AVG | Rec. TDs |
| 4 | Falcons | L, 26-24 | 19 | 77 | 1 | 4.1 | 9 | 7 | 42 | 6.0 | 0 |
| 3 | Eagles | L, 15-12 | 26 | 87 | 0 | 3.3 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 13.3 | 0 |
| 2 | Cowboys | W, 44-19 | 20 | 115 | 3 | 5.8 | 3 | 2 | 65 | 32.5 | 1 |
| 1 | Panthers | W, 47-10 | 15 | 83 | 1 | 5.5 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 0 |
| Totals: | 2-2 | 80 | 362 | 5 | 4.5 | 20 | 17 | 174 | 10.2 | 1 |
After Sunday of Week 5 and ahead of his matchup against Kansas City, Kamara ranks eighth in the league in rushing yards and is tied for third in rushing touchdowns.
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Alvin Kamara career stats
Now 29 and in his eighth season in the NFL, Kamara has been a game-changer at running back for the Saints for a long time.
His combination of strength, speed, balance, and pass-catching skills are comparable only to a select amount of running backs in NFL history. Kamara has made a career out of highlight plays and finding the end zone.
Yet, despite his outstanding play on an annual basis, Kamara has never been a 1,000-yard rusher. Granted, he's broken 1,000 scrimmage yards in every season of his career, as New Orleans has consistently valued his receiving skills in its offense since his rookie year in 2017.
With 362 rushing yards in his first four games, Kamara is on pace for 1,538 rushing yards in 2024. However, we've seen before how much the Saints like to use him as a receiver, so his rushing yards could wind up being capped below 1,000 again this season.
Here's a look at Kamara's season-by-season and career numbers, with all eight years coming with the Saints.
| Year | Games | Carries | Rush yards | Yards per carry | Rush TDs | Targets | Receptions | Rec. yards | AVG | Rec. TDs |
| 2017 | 16 | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 | 100 | 81 | 826 | 10.2 | 5 |
| 2018 | 15 | 194 | 883 | 4.6 | 14 | 105 | 81 | 709 | 8.8 | 4 |
| 2019 | 14 | 171 | 797 | 4.7 | 5 | 97 | 81 | 533 | 6.6 | 1 |
| 2020 | 15 | 187 | 932 | 5.0 | 16 | 107 | 83 | 756 | 9.1 | 5 |
| 2021 | 13 | 240 | 898 | 3.7 | 4 | 67 | 47 | 439 | 9.3 | 5 |
| 2022 | 15 | 223 | 897 | 4.0 | 2 | 77 | 57 | 490 | 8.6 | 2 |
| 2023 | 13 | 180 | 694 | 3.9 | 5 | 86 | 75 | 466 | 6.2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 | 80 | 362 | 4.5 | 5 | 20 | 17 | 174 | 10.2 | 1 |
| Totals: | 105 | 1,395 | 6,191 | 4.4 | 59 | 659 | 522 | 4,393 | 8.4 | 24 |
