We found out in Week 5 against the Titans that Carter is the replacement option for Trey Benson (knee), and Carter should continue in that role in Week 6, especially after Emari Demercado had the unfortunate fumble at the goal line. Carter has a tough matchup in Week 6 at the Colts, but a running back has scored at least 12.4 PPR points against Indianapolis in every game this season. And I like that Carter had five catches on five targets against Tennessee, which is something that will hopefully continue against the Colts. Carter should be considered a high-end flex in all leagues.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Set to maintain lead role
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Carter has consistently been the first running back in Arizona's rotation in practice, suggesting he'll maintain the lead role Sunday against the Colts, Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic reports.
Carter turned 23 touches into 73 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in the Cardinals' Week 5 loss to the Titans. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Emari Demercado won't be punished for his costly Week 5 fumble, so Demercado likely will continue to mix in for passing situations, while Bam Knight is on hand as the third-string backfield option with James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) on injured reserve. Conner's out for the season, while Benson won't be back any earlier than Week 10 against the Seahawks.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Dominates opportunity
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Carter rushed the ball 18 times for 51 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 22-21 loss to the Titans. He added five receptions on five targets for 22 yards.
Carter was expected to step into an expanded role with both James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee) sidelined, though it was unclear exactly how touches would be distributed. Carter resoundingly served as the lead back for Arizona, accounting for 23 total touches, while Emari Demercado and Bam Knight combined for nine. He wasn't particularly efficient with the touches, though he did manage to find the end zone on a one-yard plunge early in the first quarter. Carter's involvement as a receiver was also particularly notable, as Demercado was projected to take over duties as the primary pass catcher out of the backfield. Carter looks to have reliable volume heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Colts, though this situation could remain fluid.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Set for early-down role
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The Cardinals are expected to "lean on" Carter on first and second downs during Sunday's game against the Titans after Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Just over a quarter of the way into the season, Arizona is already down its top two running backs. James Conner suffered a foot injury Week 3 that required season-ending surgery, while Benson is appears set to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery earlier this week. Emari Demercado had opened the season as Arizona's No. 3 running back behind those two players, but rather than elevating Demercado to the lead-back role, Schefter relays that the Cardinals instead plan to keep him in his usual pass-catching/change-of-pace role. Carter, who had previously been elevated from the practice squad for Week 4 before being signed to the 53-man roster Monday, thus looks poised to see the brunt of the early-down work and represents the best bet to lead the Arizona backfield in carries Sunday. Even so, Carter could still struggle to see enough overall touches to make for a comfortable option in fantasy lineups. In addition to losing out on some third-down snaps to Demercado, Carter could also cede some red-zone running opportunities to dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Sleeper RBs
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Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, and the Cardinals will likely use a committee to replace him, including Carter and Emari Demercado. Most likely, Carter will handle rushing duties, and Demercado will remain in his role on passing downs. Carter had two games in 2024 with extended action for the Cardinals, and he did well in those outings. He scored 10.1 PPR points at the Rams in Week 17 with 13 carries for 70 yards and two catches for 11 yards, and he had 15.9 PPR points in Week 18 against San Francisco with 17 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 16 yards. I'd use Carter as a low-end No. 2 running back against the Titans, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to the position. Three running backs this season have scored at least 14.8 PPR points against Tennessee, and Carter might be able to help Fantasy managers in a desperate situation in Week 5. As for Demercado, he is a flex option for this week, but I prefer Carter in this matchup with the Titans.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Positioned for significant role
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Carter is positioned alongside Emari Demercado as one of Arizona's top backfield options with Trey Benson (knee) on IR and recovering from arthroscopic surgery, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Carter, who was signed to the active roster from the practice squad Monday, now has a significant backfield opportunity with Adam Schefter of ESPN reporting that Benson will miss 4-to-6 weeks and James Conner (foot) already out for the year. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said "we'll see how the week goes" when asked whether Carter or Demercado will start Sunday's matchup against the Titans, suggesting that reps remain up for grabs. Carter appeared in three regular-season games with the Cardinals in 2024, in which span he logged 35 carries for 131 yards (3.7 YPC) and one score, while securing all 11 of his targets for 57 yards. In theory, Carter projects more for early-down work while Demercado is more suited to a pass-catching role, but if either tailback demonstrates a hot hand he could secure the No. 1 gig until Benson returns.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Signs to active roster
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The Cardinals signed Carter off their practice squad Monday.
With James Conner (foot) expected to miss the remainder of the year, Carter's signing adds much-needed backfield depth. The North Carolina product was elevated for the Week 4 loss to the Seahawks, rushing once for one yard over just four offensive snaps. He's expected to continue playing behind both Trey Benson and Emari Demercado in the Arizona's Week 5 matchup against the Titans.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Jumps to active roster
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The Cardinals elevated Carter from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Thursday's game against the Seahawks.
Carter didn't make Arizona's 53-man roster out of training camp but found himself back on the practice squad, where he spent the first three games of the campaign. With James Conner (foot) on injured reserve and out for the season, Carter will join Emari Demercado and Bam Knight as backfield options behind new No. 1 RB Trey Benson. When both Conner and Benson were banged-up Weeks 17 and 18 of last season, Carter racked up 30 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown and gathered in all six targets for 27 yards.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Efficient on ground in loss
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Carter rushed five times for 47 yards and brought in one of three targets for minus-6 yards in the Cardinals' 20-10 preseason win over the Raiders on Saturday night.
Carter gained 38 of his yards on one carry, but his performance was still a marked improvement over the 10 yards he netted on eight carries last Saturday night in the second preseason game against the Broncos. The veteran back is battling fellow veterans like DeeJay Dallas and Emari Demercado for a spot in the latter portion of the Cardinals' depth chart, and it remains to be seen if he's done enough to get past cutdown day after doing little on the ground over the first two preseason contests.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Earns 21 touches in season finale
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Carter racked up 17 carries for 43 yards and one touchdown and hauled in all four targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 47-24 victory versus the 49ers.
With James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve, Carter was tasked with leading the Cardinals backfield Week 18, as he started and dominated touches among his position mates. With 21 touches overall, he outproduced DeeJay Dallas (two touches for 27 total yards) and Tony Jones (four carries for 55 yards and one TD), and Carter salvaged a poor per-touch performance with a four-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Carter ends the 2024 campaign with 35 rushes for 131 yards (3.7 YPC) and one TD to go with 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 57 yards in three appearances, all of which occurred Weeks 16-18 with Conner and Benson either banged-up or sidelined.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
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We'll see what happens with James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) in Week 18, but if both are out, then Carter should be considered a low-end No. 2 running back in all leagues against San Francisco. The 49ers have allowed three running backs in a row to score at least 13.2 PPR points, and Carter did a nice job in Week 17 at the Rams after Conner left with 13 carries for 70 yards and two catches for 11 yards on two targets. Now, if Benson (41 percent rostered) is able to play against the 49ers, then he would be the preferred Cardinals running back, but Benson has been out for the past two games.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Shifts back to practice squad
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Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction report.
He was the beneficiary of No. 1 RB James Conner lasting just 12 offensive snaps in Week 17 before seemingly aggravating a knee injury. Carter stepped in for Conner and parlayed 57 (of 79) snaps into 15 touches for 81 yards from scrimmage, including 70 yards on the ground (a 5.4 average). Meanwhile, fellow reserve back DeeJay Dallas (11 snaps) had just one catch and no carries for a second straight contest. With the status of both Conner and rookie third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) up in the air for a Week 18 matchup with the 49ers, Carter could be Arizona's lead runner in the regular-season finale.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Steps up in Conner's absence
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Carter rushed 13 times for 70 yards and brought in both targets for 11 yards in the Cardinals' 13-9 loss to the Rams on Saturday night.
The journeyman back unexpectedly was handed the reins of the Cardinals' ground attack after James Conner exited the game in the first half with a knee injury. With Trey Benson (ankle) inactive, Carter took over as the lead back and consistently put together productive runs while compiling his highest rushing yardage total since Week 9 of the 2022 season. If the Cardinals opt to shut Conner down for the regular-season finale against the 49ers, Carter should have a solid complementary role, at minimum, in that game assuming Benson is also active.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Moves back to practice squad
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Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Monday.
Carter made his season debut in Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina and ended the contest as Arizona's lead runner after James Conner suffered a knee injury. Overall, Carter played 25 of 70 offensive snaps in the game, recording five carries for 18 yards and a team-high five catches (on five targets) for 30 yards. DeeJay Dallas also got in the act with a one-yard touchdown reception on 16 plays. The Cardinals haven't been a definitive update on Conner's health, but with Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve and Trey Benson (ankle) having sat out the Week 16 game, Carter could be a regular out of the Cardinals backfield this coming Sunday versus the Rams.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Up from practice squad
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The Cardinals elevated Carter from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
With Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve, Trey Benson (ankle) ruled out for Week 16 action and DeeJay Dallas (illness) listed as questionable, there's a chance Carter will serve as the direct backup to James Conner on Sunday at Carolina. Dallas likely will need to be inactive for Carter to get much, if any, run, but he's poised for his first game action of the campaign. In 45 career contests between the Jets and Cardinals, Carter has averaged 4.2 yards on his 291 carries, hauled in 101 of 140 targets for 714 yards and scored eight total touchdowns.
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Michael Carter: Lands opportunity
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Carter signed with the Cardinals' practice squad Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Carter joined Arizona last November after he was waived by the Jets and appeared in the team's last six regular-season games. A fourth-round selection in 2021, the North Carolina product will likely need an injury in the Cardinals' running back corps to see the active roster.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Ends 2023 as Conner's main backup
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Carter compiled 30 carries for 187 yards and 24 catches (on 31 targets) for 101 yards and one touchdown in 15 games between the Jets and Cardinals during the 2023 season.
After racking up 338 touches in 30 contests for the Jets to begin his career, the 2021 sixth-round pick took a back seat to Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook in New York to kick off this past campaign. Carter subsequently was cut loose by the Jets after Week 10 and promptly was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. From that point on, he was the Arizona running back called on most behind starter James Conner, averaging a healthy 6.8 yards on 22 rushes. Carter has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so he and Emari Demercado likely will serve as the team's top reserve RBs in 2024.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Scores first TD of season
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Carter compiled 61 rushing yards on seven carries and caught a six-yard touchdown on his only target during Sunday's 35-31 win in Philadelphia.
Carter accounted for three of the Cardinals' six longest plays of Week 17, all of them runs (21, 18 and 16 yards). He has been alternating with Emari Demercado as Arizona's primary backup to James Conner, who again dominated the backfield with 27 touches for 133 total yards and two TDs on Sunday. Given the lack of consistent work, Carter will be tough to trust in the team's season finale Sunday versus the Seahawks.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Notches four touches in team debut
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Carter recorded four carries for 19 yards and reeled in all four targets for 15 yards during Sunday's 37-14 loss to the Rams.
In his Cardinals debut, Carter took on a surprising snap share (38 percent) behind starting running back James Conner (42 percent) while ranking ahead of the returning Emari Demercado (20 percent). Carter actually outproduced Conner in total yards, 34-32, on two fewer touches, and Demercado was a distant third in the category with three touches (all carries) for 15 yards. Arizona may have been easing Demercado back in after he missed the previous three contests due to a toe injury, but the breakdown of reps between the three bears watching to see if Carter may be the preferred No. 2 RB option ahead of Demercado, starting Sunday in Pittsburgh.
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Cardinals' Michael Carter: Has chance to play Saturday
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Carter may be a part of the Cardinals backfield Sunday at Houston with Emari Demercado (toe) ruled out for the contest, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
James Conner owns Arizona's backfield when healthy, and he proved as much this past Sunday against the Falcons after a stint on IR, handling 63 percent of snaps and turning 16 carries into 73 yards. That left only three rushes combined for Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones, and with the team claiming Carter off waivers Wednesday, his presence may result in Jones not being elevated from the practice squad this week. On the season, Carter averaged 4.8 yards on his eight carries and also hauled in 15 of 20 targets for 68 yards in nine games for the Jets.
