You'll consider drafting Benson late because he's a second-year backup to an older RB, and that's really about it. As a rookie he played 15 or fewer snaps in 12 of 13 games last season, never really getting the chance to develop rhythm as a runner. Of his 63 carries, 36.5% of them went five-plus yards, which is nice, but that's not enough to really buy into his game and say he'll for-sure unseat James Conner as Arizona's top running back. Only Fantasy drafters who take Conner with a top-60 pick and those who like to stash late-round RBs will seriously consider Benson in the Round 10-11 range.
Benson didn't play in Saturday's 27-7 preseason loss at Denver.
The Cardinals held out their top two running backs in James Conner and Benson in their second exhibition game. That followed a preseason opener in which Conner started and turned his three carries into 11 yards before yielding the backfield to Benson, who had nine rushes for 29 yards and one 20-yard catch. Conner has expressed that he expects to cede work to Benson this season after the veteran dominated RB reps to the tune of 283 touches over 16 regular-season games in 2024. Benson, a third-round pick in 2024, totaled just 69 touches over 13 appearances.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Strong start to preseason
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Benson rushed nine times for 29 yards and brought in his only target for 20 yards during the Cardinals' 20-17 preseason win over the Chiefs on Saturday night.
The second-year pro, who's projected to see an increased role in the coming season, fittingly led the Cardinals in rush attempts on the night. Benson logged his first touch on Arizona's second possession, recording a nine-yard run. The FSU product also had a nice chunk gain on his one catch, and he's likely to fill another robust role by preseason standards during the Cardinals' second exhibition tilt against the Broncos on the road next Saturday night.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Poised to make a jump
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Coach Jonathan Gannon believes Benson "is going to take a step" in his second season as a pro, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
There's no question about James Conner's standing as the top option out of the Cardinals backfield, as the eight-year veteran is coming off a career-best 1,508 yards from scrimmage during the 2024 season. The team invested a third-round pick in Benson two springs ago, but he managed only 69 touches for 350 total yards and one rushing TD in 13 regular-season games as a rookie. He wasn't known for his receiving ability in college, so Benson may need an injury to Conner to make a significant impact in the upcoming campaign.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Packs on seven pounds
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Benson said Thursday that he added seven pounds during the offseason but feels more explosive, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Benson also said he wants the Cardinals to have "two RB1s" this season, suggesting he's ready for a larger role behind James Conner after taking 69 touches for 350 total yards (on 137 snaps) during his rookie campaign. The 2024 third-round pick missed the final three games of last season with an ankle injury but came back healthy for OTAs and minicamp this spring. There aren't many running backs that offer a better combination of speed and size, with Benson having run a 4.39 40 at the 2024 Combine at 6 feet, 216 pounds. It sounds like he may have maintained that speed while pushing his weight to the 220-225 range.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: On field for OTAs
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Benson (ankle) has been participating in the Cardinals' voluntary OTAs, per the team's official site.
Benson missed the last three games of his rookie season due to an ankle injury that required him being placed on IR, but Arizona's offseason photo release now shows him participating in Phase 3 of OTAs. Across 13 regular-season appearances as a rookie, the 2024 third-round pick rushed 63 times for 291 yards (4.6 YPC) and one score. He was active Week 5 but took no snaps behind workhorse James Conner. Benson is slotted for a backup role behind Conner entering Year 2 but remains a high-upside developmental option, in the event that the 30-year-old veteran starter atop the depth chart shows signs of regression coming off a career-high 283 touches. Admittedly, though, Conner is a three-down player and impressed with 1,508 yards from scrimmage while remaining healthy for a career-best 16 regular-season games in 2024, and if he reprises a similar performance in 2025 few opportunities will be left over for Benson.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Won't play in Week 18
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Arizona placed Benson (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Benson will end up missing the final three games of his rookie season due to the ankle injury he sustained in a Dec. 15 win over the Patriots. Before getting hurt, the third-round pick out of Florida State had solidified his spot as the top backup to James Conner. Over 13 appearances, Benson gained 291 yards and a touchdown on 63 carries (4.6 average) while reeling in all six of his targets for 59 yards.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Sitting out again Saturday
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Benson (ankle) is inactive for Saturday's game at the Rams, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Benson thus will miss a second consecutive contest due to an ankle injury, but on a positive note he at least was listed as limited on all three Week 17 injury reports, suggesting that his health is trending in the right direction ahead of a Week 18 matchup with the 49ers. As for Saturday, though, James Conner (knee) will continue to lead Arizona's backfield, while Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas back him up.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Remains limited Wednesday
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Benson (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Benson failed to practice at all last week due to an ankle issue before being ruled out ahead of Sunday's 36-30 overtime loss to Carolina on the final injury report, so his ability to take part in Tuesday's walk-through session in a limited fashion followed by a capped practice one day later has given him a chance to return to action Saturday at the Rams. Starting back James Conner (knee) has followed the same practice regimen this week, so their respective listings on Thursday's report may shed light on who might lead the backfield Week 17. Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas are the healthy options at the position on the active roster.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Week 17 Adds (RB Preview)
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The Cardinals running back room is a mess heading into Week 17, and they play on Saturday night, so the timing of all this is a little tricky as well. If James Conner plays, you start him. If Conner is out, our hope is that Trey Benson is back, and Benson would be a borderline number two running back. If both Conner and Benson are out, then Michael Carter is a high-end flex. Of course, when waivers run on Tuesday night, we aren't going to know who is going to be healthy on Saturday, so I am attempting to add both Benson and Carter.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Misses practice Wednesday
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Benson (ankle) didn't take part in Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Benson was removed from the second half of this past Sunday's win against the Patriots due to an ankle injury, which so far is keeping him off the practice field to begin Week 16 prep. With Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve, DeeJay Dallas is the only other running back on the Cardinals' active roster aside from starter James Conner. Meanwhile, Michael Carter and Tony Jones loom as backfield options on the practice squad.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Done for rest of Sunday
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Benson (ankle) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's matchup with the Patriots.
Benson suffered an ankle injury in the second half, bringing his day to a close after he turned five carries into 22 yards against New England. In his absence, James Conner will continue to handle the lion's share of touches at running back in Week 15.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Accounts for 19 yards in loss
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Benson carried twice for 15 yards and recorded a four-yard reception on his lone target in Sunday's 30-18 loss to the Seahawks.
While James Conner remains locked in as Arizona's lead back, Benson has been effective as a change-of-pace option and could be moving ahead of Emari Demercado as the team's preferred backup. The rookie third-round pick is averaging a healthy 4.6 yards per carry over his 58 totes on the season and has also made the most of his opportunities in the passing game, recording a 6-59-0 receiving line on six targets through 12 appearances. Though Benson played just 10 of the Cardinals' 71 snaps on offense in the loss, that was still enough to match or surpass Demercado's snap count (eight) for the third time in the last four games.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
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Benson has cooled off the past two games with seven carries for 38 yards and no catches against Seattle and Minnesota after he combined for 18 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 43 yards on three targets in his two previous outings against Chicago and the Jets. That said, he's still a lottery ticket to stash behind James Conner, and Benson is worth adding in all leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Not much going on ground Sunday
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Benson turned four carries into 18 yards during Sunday's 16-6 loss in Seattle.
Benson ranked second among Cardinals in rush attempts but paced the team in yards on the ground, while James Conner had seven carries for eight yards, and Emari Demercado reeled off a single 14-yard run. Benson and Demercado earned nine offensive snaps apiece, usage that was well behind Conner's 40 (out of 58). Considering Conner continues to handle the bulk of the work afforded Arizona's backfield, Benson may need a better game script to replicate his success from before the team's Week 11 bye, when he racked up 21 touches for 142 yards from scrimmage and one TD between Weeks 9 and 10.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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I'll repeat the same thing I said last week about Benson – he's a running back to stash in all leagues with the Fantasy playoffs approaching. He has lottery-ticket upside as the No. 2 running back for the Cardinals behind James Conner. Arizona had a bye in Week 11, but in Benson's last two games he excelled playing in tandem with Conner, with 18 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 43 yards on three targets. If Conner were to miss any time, then Benson would be a starting Fantasy running back in all leagues, and he's worth adding for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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With the Fantasy playoffs approaching, I'm trying to stash players with league-winning upside. And Benson has that as the No. 2 running back for the Cardinals behind James Conner. In the past two games, Benson has looked the part while playing in tandem with Conner, with 18 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 43 yards on three targets. If Conner were to miss any time, then Benson would be a lottery ticket, and he's worth adding even while on a bye for at least 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Available in Week 7
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Benson (illness) is listed as active Monday against the Chargers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Benson has received at least some offensive snaps in five of the Cardinals' six contests this season, but his touch count has ranged from two to 12 in those outings. Most of that volume has occurred in garbage time, but he's racked up 30 carries for 107 yards, plus two catches on two targets for 12 yards, working primarily behind James Conner and Emari Demercado. A similarly small workload is possible for Benson in Week 7.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Paces team in rushing Sunday
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Benson turned five carries into 26 yards during Sunday's 34-13 loss at Green Bay.
Despite trailing by double-digit points for most of the last three quarters, the Cardinals didn't abandon the run entirely, with all of James Conner (seven), Kyler Murray (seven), Emari Demercado (four) and Benson handling at least four rushes. Benson's yardage tally actually led the team, and for the first time since Week 4, his touches occurred before garbage time. No injuries befell Conner or Demercado, so the sudden usage before the waning moments was a bit of a surprise. Benson is averaging just 3.6 yards on his 30 carries this season, a rate that would require significant usage for the rookie third-round pick to gain wide fantasy relevance.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Active but no snaps in Week 5
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Benson was active but didn't play in Sunday's 24-23 victory in San Francisco.
Meanwhile, James Conner continued to dominate the Cardinals backfield to the tune of a 79 percent snap share and 21 touches, and Emari Demercado earned 22 percent of the snaps and just one touch (a catch for no yards). Benson has had two outings this season with significant touches -- 12 in Week 2, nine in Week 4 -- but in the latter contest, all but one of the nine occurred in garbage time of a blowout loss to the Commanders. Benson appears to be firmly behind Conner and Demercado among Arizona's running backs when the entire group is healthy.
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Cardinals' Trey Benson: Clinging to small role
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Benson had two carries for eight yards during Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Lions.
Benson's only two offensive snaps occurred on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. Otherwise, he ceded the backfield to starter James Conner (44 of 59 snaps, 10 touches) and reserve option Emari Demercado (12 and two, respectively). Benson did earn 12 touches Week 2, but he otherwise has six in his other two appearances, leaving him difficult to trust in the vast majority of formats.
