Devin Neal
22-Year-Old
Questionable
Injury Undisclosed
Est. Return 8/1/2026
2025 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
57
YDS
206
TD
2
YDS
104
TD
0
2026 Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
A sixth-round rookie in 2025 out of Kansas, Neal's lack of plus speed or athleticism profiled him as a between-the-tackles grinder who could use his size and vision to pick up yards after contact, and a potentially good complement to Alvin Kamara in the Saints' backfield. Neal didn't get many chances to show what he can do, in part due to injuries, but he took advantage of some late opportunities, finding the end zone in Weeks 14 and 15 on his only two carries of the year from near the goal line. New Orleans signed Travis Etienne to a big four-year contract in free agency to be the team's new No. 1 back, but that may not affect Neal's role or opportunities much. Etienne is a younger replacement for the 30-year-old Kamara, who seems unlikely to still be on the roster by Week 1, and the former Jaguar often ceded short-yardage opportunities to other RBs in Jacksonville. Assuming Neal is fully recovered from the hamstring strain that ended his rookie campaign early, he'll compete with Kendre Miller, Audric Estime and Ty Chandler for backup snaps and touches. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Signed a four-year, $4.45 million contract with the Saints in May of 2025.
Nursing minor injury
Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Tuesday that Neal (undisclosed) will be limited at minicamp due to a minor injury suffered early June, Erin Summers of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Neal's exact injury remains undisclosed, but it doesn't appear severe enough to cause concern about his status for the start of training camp in July. Still, it's notable that the 2025 sixth-round pick will be limited at mandatory minicamp as he works to compete for a backfield role in Year 2. With New Orleans having inked new lead back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract in March and Alvin Kamara still on the roster, Neal appears positioned to compete with Kendre Miller (ACL), Ty Chandler and Audric Estime for reserve opportunities.
Neal's exact injury remains undisclosed, but it doesn't appear severe enough to cause concern about his status for the start of training camp in July. Still, it's notable that the 2025 sixth-round pick will be limited at mandatory minicamp as he works to compete for a backfield role in Year 2. With New Orleans having inked new lead back Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52 million contract in March and Alvin Kamara still on the roster, Neal appears positioned to compete with Kendre Miller (ACL), Ty Chandler and Audric Estime for reserve opportunities.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Devin Neal's 2025 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Broken Tackle %
10.5%Positive Run %
84.2%% Yds After Contact
61.7%Avg Yds After Contact
2.2Rushing TD %
3.5%Touches Per Game
7.4% Snaps w/Touch
27.8%Air Yards Per Game
-4.0Air Yards Per Snap
-0.15% Team Air Yards
-0.9%% Team Targets
3.4%Avg Depth of Target
-2.1 YdsCatch Rate
89.5%Drop Rate
5.3%Avg Yds After Catch
8.1% Targeted On Route
13.3%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Saints 2025 RB Snap DistributionLoading Weekly Snap Counts...
#3 RB
SaintsReceiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Devin Neal lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2025 Devin Neal Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Devin Neal's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"Weight
213 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.58 secVertical Jump
37.5 inBroad Jump
124 inHand Length
8.50 inArm Length
29.62 in
2025 Fantasy Outlook
It's disappointing that Neal fell to the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, especially given how productive he was as a four-year star at Kansas. Neal's skill set seems on par with that of most Day 2 running back picks, and his otherwise mediocre athleticism (4.58-second 40 at 5-foot-11, 213) doesn't grade poorly enough to negate the quality of his production. Not many players produce like Neal did, running for 4,343 yards (5.7 YPC) and 49 touchdowns in 49 career games at Kansas. Neal showed NFL-level pass-catching ability by adding 77 receptions for 711 yards and four touchdowns on 104 targets (74.0 percent catch rate, 6.8 YPT), so if a three-down role were available there's reason to believe he could do well with it. Alvin Kamara is likely locked into a heavy three-down role for the Saints and 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller has the talent to emerge as a starting candidate in his own right, but Kamara might be in his last year with the Saints and Miller's durability troubles have left him unavailable for most of the last two years.
More Fantasy News
Season over with move to IR
The Saints placed Neal (hamstring) on injured reserve Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Won't play Week 16
Saints head coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday that Neal (hamstring) is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
ANALYSIS
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Ruled out Sunday
Neal (hamstring) won't return to Sunday's game against the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
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Hurts hamstring Sunday
Neal sustained a hamstring injury during Sunday's contest versus the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
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Positioned as lead RB again
Neal (abdomen) does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers while Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) has been ruled out, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
In line for second straight start
Neal is likely to make a second consecutive start in Week 14 against the Buccaneers, as Alvin Kamara didn't practice Thursday due to knee and ankle injuries.
ANALYSIS
Neal has ascended to the top of the Saints' running back depth chart in Kamara's absence, and Kamara's on track to miss a second consecutive game considering the veteran running back has yet to resume practicing. In Neal's first NFL start, the rookie sixth-round pick turned 17 touches into 69 scrimmage yards.
Neal has ascended to the top of the Saints' running back depth chart in Kamara's absence, and Kamara's on track to miss a second consecutive game considering the veteran running back has yet to resume practicing. In Neal's first NFL start, the rookie sixth-round pick turned 17 touches into 69 scrimmage yards.