If you’ve been hanging onto that 2017 Panini Prizm Silver, you know exactly how the rollercoaster feels. One week Alvin Kamara is putting up six touchdowns in a single game—a Christmas Day miracle for Saints fans and card flippers alike—and the next, the market goes quiet as the New Orleans offense struggles to find its rhythm. Honestly, collecting Alvin Kamara football cards has always been about timing.
It's 2026. Kamara is now a seasoned veteran with over 11,500 yards from scrimmage under his belt. He’s already passed franchise legends like Marques Colston and Mark Ingram II in almost every major category. But for collectors, the question isn’t just about his stats; it’s about his legacy. Are we looking at a future Hall of Famer or a "Ring of Honor" guy whose card prices have already peaked?
The Rookie Cards That Actually Matter
Let’s get real about the "true" rookies. If you're browsing eBay or COMC, you'll see thousands of listings. Most of them are base cards from Score or Donruss that'll never be worth more than a few bucks. But the high-end stuff? That’s where the sharks play.
The 2017 National Treasures RPA (Rookie Patch Auto) is the undisputed king. Specifically, the ones numbered to /99 or lower. I’ve seen these go for over $1,200 even in a "down" market because they represent the absolute ceiling of his collectibles. If you find one with a multi-color patch, you're looking at a center-piece for any serious collection.
Then there's the 2017 Panini Prizm Silver #291.
This is the card most "middle-class" collectors chase. It's clean, it's iconic, and it's the gold standard for modern football card grading. A PSA 10 usually commands a significant premium, but keep an eye on the Prizm Gold /10 variations—those are the ones that actually see five-figure potential if he makes a deep playoff run late in his career.
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What about the Optic Rated Rookie?
Personally, I think the 2017 Donruss Optic Holo is the most underrated "big" card he has. It has that classic "Rated Rookie" logo that everyone loves, and the chromium finish is just better than standard Prizm in my opinion. A PSA 10 Optic Holo is a lot harder to find than you’d think, mostly because of centering issues that plagued that specific 2017 run.
Market Sentiment and the "Veteran Slump"
Kamara is 30 now. In running back years, that’s basically 100.
Most people get wrong the idea that a player’s cards only go up when they’re young. That’s "prospecting," and it’s how people lose money on the next big thing that never happens. With Kamara, you’re buying a proven commodity. His 2024 bounce-back season, where he put up nearly 1,500 total yards, proved he wasn't done.
But here is the reality: his card prices are currently in a "lull."
This happens to every elite back once they hit their late 20s. Collectors get distracted by the shiny new rookies. They start buying up Jayden Daniels or whoever the hot new quarterback is. This "veteran slump" is actually the best time to buy Alvin Kamara football cards if you believe in the Hall of Fame trajectory.
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Spotting the Rare Inserts (Beyond the Rookies)
If you aren't looking for rookie cards, you should be looking for the short prints (SPs). These are the cards that "pop" in Google Discover feeds and get people talking in Discord groups.
- Kaboom! (Panini Absolute): These are essentially pieces of art. The 2025 Horizontal Gold Kaboom! recently hit the market with an asking price near $3,000. It’s flashy, it’s rare, and it’s one of the few non-rookie cards that holds value regardless of the season's outcome.
- Downtown (Donruss Optic): Similar to Kaboom, the Downtown inserts feature city-specific imagery. The New Orleans-themed cards with jazz influences and the Superdome in the background are hits with local Saints fans.
- Color Blast (Panini Prizm/Spectra): These are ridiculously hard to pull. If you see one at a card show, don’t expect a discount.
Why 2026 Is a Deciding Year for Kamara's Value
We have to talk about the contract. Kamara is currently playing under a two-year extension signed in late 2024. His cap hit for 2026 is a massive $18.6 million.
There’s a lot of chatter about whether the Saints will keep him as a "Saint for life" or if a mid-season trade might happen. If he gets traded to a Super Bowl contender—imagine him in an offense like the 49ers or Chiefs—his card prices would likely double overnight. It’s the "Contender Bump."
On the flip side, if he stays in New Orleans and the team continues to struggle, his base cards will likely continue to soften. However, his Saints-all-time-leader status is locked in. He owns the records for rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and yards from scrimmage. That gives his cards a "floor" that most running backs don't have.
Grading: Is it still worth it?
Honestly, don't grade everything. If you have a base 2017 Donruss, it's not worth the $20 shipping and grading fee. You’re better off keeping it raw in a binder. Only send in the "big three": Prizm Silvers, Optic Holos, and any low-numbered parallels (/99 or less).
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Actionable Strategy for Collectors
If you're looking to jump into the Alvin Kamara football cards market right now, stop looking at the cheap stuff. The "junk wax" era of the 90s has a modern equivalent in overproduced base cards.
Focus on scarcity.
Look for the 2017 Select Premier Level or Field Level parallels. Select is a tiered set, and the Field Level cards are much rarer than the Concourse level. A Silver Prizm Field Level Kamara rookie is a "whale" card that many people overlook because they're too busy staring at the Prizm flagship.
Also, watch the "Sneak Peak" brand logo cards or "Logoman" patches if you have a massive budget. Those are the 1-of-1 grails that define a collection.
Check your local card shops (LCS) for raw copies of his 2017 cards. Many dealers might have priced them back in 2022 and haven't updated the stickers. You can sometimes find a steal if you know how to spot a clean surface and sharp corners.
Keep an eye on the Hall of Fame debates. If the talking heads on Sunday morning start mentioning Kamara in the same breath as Marshall Faulk or LaDanian Tomlinson—which his "rushing plus receiving" stats actually support—that's your cue that the market is about to heat back up.
Stick to the numbered stuff. Avoid the base. And for heaven's sake, use a top-loader.