Neal didn't have a great game in Week 13 at Miami with Alvin Kamara (knee) out with 14 carries for 47 yards and three catches for 22 yards on three targets, but his workload was impressive since he played 82 percent of the snaps. I would use him as a flex option in Week 14 against the Buccaneers, who are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Five running backs have scored at least 11.4 PPR points against Tampa Bay in the past four games, and the Buccaneers have allowed 14 catches for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 15 targets to the backfields in Buffalo, the Rams and Arizona in the past three games. That bodes well for Neal, who has eight catches for 65 yards on 10 targets in his past two outings.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Logs 17 touches Week 13
Rotowire
Neal accrued 14 rushes for 47 yards and reeled in all three targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 21-17 loss against the Dolphins.
Neal handled the bulk of the Saints' carries en route to career highs in rushing attempts and yards. The rookie served in the top role in the absence of RB1 Alvin Kamara, who was inactive after suffering an MCL sprain during last week's loss to Atlanta. Neal didn't end uph having to truly split work out of the backfield, as the only other two running backs on the roster, Evan Hull and Audric Estime, logged five and zero carries, respectively. Meanwhile, Taysom Hill recorded just one rushing attempt as the change-of-pace dual-threat QB. With Kamara expected to miss more time moving forward, Neal seems set for moderate usage as the Saints' No. 1 running back for the time being. The Saints face the Buccaneers on the road in Week 14.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Sleeper RBs
Rotowire
Alvin Kamara (knee) is out in Week 13 at Miami, so Neal should become the starting running back for the Saints. He will share touches with at least Taysom Hill and potentially Audric Estime, but Neal should have the chance to perform like a flex option in the majority of leagues. When Kamara left Week 12 against Atlanta, Neal had seven carries for 18 yards and five catches for 43 yards on seven targets. His role in the passing game should be a constant, no matter what Hill or Estime do, and Tyler Shough has 15 targets to his running backs in his past two games against the Panthers and Falcons. The Dolphins are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 12.7 PPR points in two of the past three games against Miami.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Cleared to play, should start
Rotowire
Neal (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Miami, setting him up as the likely starter in place of Alvin Kamara (knee).
Kamara didn't practice at all this week and could miss time beyond Sunday, although Saints head coach Kellen Moore said the 30-year-old won't be placed on injured reserve, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports. Neal played 86 percent of snaps after Kamara's early departure last week, but that was with no other running backs active for a loss to the Falcons. This week, the Saints likely will have three RBs available, with Neal joined by Audric Estime, Evan Hull and/or Ian Wheeler (all currently on the practice squad). Neal figures to get most of the snaps and touches, but it won't necessarily be an every-down role again, and Taysom Hill also will get some of the carries.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Another limited practice
Rotowire
Neal (ankle) was limited in Thursday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Neal has now logged back-to-back limited practices since playing a season-high 59 offensive snaps Week 12 versus the Falcons, a contest that saw Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) spend the entire second half on the sideline due to an MCL sprain. Kamara's injury paved the way for Neal rush seven times for 18 yards and secure five of seven targets for 43 yards, and he's now missed back-to-back practices and appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. That may also be the case for No. 1 wideout Chris Olave (back), who missed practice Thursday due to an injury he sustained Wednesday.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Rotowire
Alvin Kamara (knee) is expected to be out in Week 13 at Miami, so Neal should become the starting running back for the Saints. He will share touches with at least Taysom Hill and potentially Audric Estime, but Neal should have the chance to perform like a flex option in the majority of leagues. When Kamara left Week 12 against Atlanta, Neal had seven carries for 18 yards and five catches for 43 yards on seven targets. His role in the passing game should be a constant, no matter what Hill or Estime do, and Tyler Shough has 15 targets to his running backs in his past two games against the Panthers and Falcons. The Dolphins are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 12.7 PPR points in two of the past three games against Miami.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Limited due to ankle injury
Rotowire
Neal was a limited practice participant Wednesday due to a knee injury, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Neal played 86 percent of snaps over the final three quarters of Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Falcons, filling in for Alvin Kamara (knee) on a day when the Saints had just two RBs active. Neal's ability to practice Wednesday, even in a limited capacity, suggests he's on track to play this Sunday against the Dolphins, likely filling in for Kamara as the starter. Audric Estime and Evan Hull are the other running backs on the 53-man roster, and Taysom Hill provides another form of competition for carries.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Accrues seven touches Sunday
Rotowire
Neal tallied four rushes for 22 yards and gathered in all three targets for nine yards during Sunday's 17-7 win against the Panthers.
Neal operated as the Saints' RB2 behind Alvin Kamara for the second week in a row. The Saints' offense bounced back after last week's dreadful performance in a loss to the Rams, and Kamara powered the running game with a season-high 22 carries for 83 yards. Neal hasn't seen much usage over the last two games, as Taysom Hill has continued to cycle in as a rushing quarterback in short-yardage and goal-line situations. The 22-year-old Neal's next opportunity will come after the Saints' Week 11 bye, when they face the Falcons on Sunday, Nov. 23.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Gets four touches Week 9
Rotowire
Neal accrued three carries for 11 yards and caught his only target for one yard during Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Rams.
Neal had only three fewer carries than RB1 Alvin Kamara, who was stymied for a season-low 14 rushing yards. Meanwhile, do-it-all tight end Taysom Hill finished with a team-high 30 rushing yards on four carries. New Orleans got dominated in just about every phase, leaving rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to attempt 24 passes compared to just 14 rushing attempts as a team. It's unclear how the rushing attempts would have been split up if there was a more normal game script for the Saints' offense. New Orleans will next play against the Panthers in Week 10 next Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Ready for Week 9 action
Rotowire
Neal (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at the Rams, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Meanwhile, No. 1 RB Alvin Kamara is listed as questionable due to his own ankle injury, but coach Kellen Moore told Jeff Nowak of WWL New Orleans that the ninth-year pro is trending in the right direction entering the weekend. Considering Neal practiced fully Friday while Kamara remained limited, the former could be poised for a bump in snaps Sunday if the Saints opt to take it easy on the veteran back. Neal, a rookie sixth-round pick, has three carries for 10 yards and three catches (on three targets) for 11 yards in four appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Tending to ankle issue
Rotowire
Neal was limited at Wednesday's practice due to an ankle injury.
No. 1 RB Alvin Kamara also is dealing with an ankle issue, but Neal's concern is a new one. In his first game acting as the No. 2 back in place of Kendre Miller (torn ACL) this past Sunday against the Buccaneers, Neal played 46 percent of the snaps, didn't see a carry and tallied three catches (on three targets) for 11 yards, while Kamara logged a 51 percent snap share and notched 45 yards from scrimmage on eight touches. Such a breakdown of work may be the norm between Kamara and Neal moving forward, but with injuries in tow for both players, their statuses will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of their odds to be available Sunday at the Rams.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Kamara's top backup with Miller out
Rotowire
Neal will likely take on a larger role following Kendre Miller's season-ending knee injury, Matthew Paras of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Miller tore his ACL in this past Sunday's loss to the Bears, opening the door for Neal to take over as the primary backup to Alvin Kamara (ankle). Neal was a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has three carries for 10 yards in three NFL appearances. Velus Jones rounds out the running back depth chart.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Healthy scratch Week 3
Rotowire
Neal (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Seattle.
Neal entered the weekend with just two rushes for nine yards on the campaign, and he won't get a chance to add to that Sunday. Instead, Velus Jones -- who also serves as New Orleans' top kick returner -- is slated to work as the team's No. 3 RB behind Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Seven touches in preseason loss
Rotowire
Neal (hamstring) rushed five times for 20 yards and brought in both targets for 10 yards in the Saints' 28-19 preseason loss to the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
Neal had missed the first two preseason games due to a hamstring injury, but the rookie sixth-round pick was able to finally get on the field Saturday. Neal was reasonably effective with his second-half opportunities, and he'll presumably have to beat out at least one of veterans Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Velus Jones to make it through final cutdowns.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Not in line to play Sunday
Rotowire
Based on his absence from pregame warmups, Neal (hamstring) is not in line to play against the Jaguars in Sunday's preseason game, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Neal is working through a hamstring injury that he suffered in the beginning of August, and it appears the rookie sixth-rounder also is unlikely to play in the Saints' preseason finale against the Broncos on Saturday. Kendre Miller, Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire should handle most of the backfield snaps Sunday, especially if Alvin Kamara also doesn't play.
... See More... See Less
Saints' Devin Neal: Saints end draft slide in Round 6
Rotowire
The Saints selected Neal in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 184th overall.
Few would have found it shocking if Neal had gone as early as the third round, so in the sixth round he could prove a bargain for the Saints. The former Kansas star would ideally be a little more heavy (5-foot-11, 213 pounds) and would ideally have a little more speed (4.58-second 40-yard dash), but Neal's collegiate production was convincing on the question of his skill set. Neal really knows how to play, be it on running and passing downs, and if he gets his foot into the door history says he might be tough to put back on the bench. Neal might supplant Kendre Miller on the depth chart if Miller can't improve in his third year, though Neal is likely no threat to Alvin Kamara's usage.
