New Orleans Saints: Players who need to step up against the Buccaneers

3. Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara made his return to the New Orleans Saints’ offense against the Atlanta Falcons but appeared to still be knocking off some cobwebs as he was not very good in this game. Kamara carried the ball only four times, albeit for 24 yards, and caught eight passes for 50 yards.

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That is a decent game, but not quite what we have come to expect with Kamara. In fact, Kamara has not seemed that great all year, however, he has near-identical averages as he had last season, so it has not been all that bad.

If the Saints are going to have a successful day they are going to have to get the running game going in some capacity and that is going to have to start with Kamara, even though Latavius Murray was really good in his absence.

The one concern heading into this game is the fact that the Buccaneers allow the fewest rushing yards per game with their elite linebacker group. That, mixed with Kamara’s underperformance, could be a recipe for disaster.

If Kamara and the run game cannot get going then this could be another slow start for the Saints, which we have seen already this season.

And if Eli Apple cannot step up then the Saints could easily find themselves in an early hole and be forced to play catch up the rest of the game.