Devin Neal — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Neal put together three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons at Kansas, with a fairly consistent receiving role to match each year (21/183/1, 25/217/1, and 24/254/1). Across his college career, he amassed 5,054 combined yards, 53 touchdowns, and 77 catches on 837 total touches, with his scoring peaking in both 2023 and 2024 at 16 touchdowns apiece. Neal topped the 100-yard rushing mark 15 times over his final two seasons, and twice in his career he broke the 200-yard barrier (32/224/1 and 37/207/3).

The Saints' young running back projects as more of a steady, dependable contributor than a home-run threat at the next level, especially given his modest 4.58 40-yard dash at the Combine. He reads blocking schemes well and has a good sense for finding running lanes as they open. His game leans more on power than elusiveness, which should make him useful in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He'll offer some value as a receiver out of the backfield, but his pass-blocking still needs work.

In his rookie season, New Orleans gave Neal 74 touches, leading to 310 combined yards and two touchdowns. He gained only 3.6 yards per carry and 6.1 yards per catch. His only game of value came in Week 14 (19/70/1 with one catch for 14 yards). Neal missed the final three games with a hamstring issue, while being inactive four times early in the year.