December 12, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) is officially listed as questionable ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans. Demercado is in danger of missing his fourth straight game due to a high-ankle sprain he suffered in Week 11. He has managed to get in limited practice sessions, but we'll see if that's enough to clear him for this game. If he sits out,
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter should continue splitting up the reps in the backfield in a bad matchup against the top defense in the NFL. Between the two, Knight is the better streaming choice for Week 15. Knight has scored a touchdown in three of his last four games, and his dual-threat ability should give him flex value for this weekend, assuming Demercado remains sidelined. If Demercado is active, he'll likely play a limited role as a pass-catcher for Arizona.
--Andy WebbSource: Tyler Drake
December 12, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has ruled out wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) for the Week 15 game on Sunday versus the hosting Houston Texans, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. Harrison will now miss his fourth game in the last five weeks. He also missed Weeks 11 and 12 following an appendectomy. Gannon expects Harrison to return this year, though. "He's doing a lot better," the head coach said. With three games remaining after this week, the 23-year-old former first-rounder could return, so fantasy managers still alive in the playoffs need to hang on. With Harrison out again this weekend,
Michael Wilson should be peppered with targets yet again and should be considered a must-start in all fantasy formats, even against the top defense in the NFL. Through 27 NFL games, Harrison has not lived up to his draft stock of fourth overall. He has a 40-594-4 line in 2025 in 10 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
December 11, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) remained limited for a second consecutive practice on Thursday. Demercado is working his way back from a three-game absence, and it looks like there's at least a chance that he could suit up against the Houston Texans on Sunday in Week 15. The 26-year-old was solid when healthy, amassing 182 scrimmage yards and playing more than 40% of the offensive snaps over his last two healthy games. Friday's practice will provide more clarity on his status for Week 15. Even if he does play, though, he'll have to compete for touches with
Michael Carter and
Bam Knight. For now, Demercado isn't a dependable running back or flex option in the fantasy football playoffs.
--Andersen PickardSource: Bo Brack
December 11, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) is missing another day of practice this week on Thursday, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Harrison will need to return to practice on Friday to avoid missing a second straight game with a heel injury that he suffered in Week 13. Before that, the 23-year-old missed two games following an appendectomy. He's very much in danger of missing a fourth game in the last five weeks. It's been that kind of disappointing year for the former first-rounder. Harrison has a 40-594-4 line on 69 targets in his second year in the NFL. If Harrison misses another contest, receiver
Michael Wilson will be a must-start as a target hog, while tight end
Trey McBride will also continue to have a crazy-high floor in fantasy. In the three games that Harrison has missed, Wilson has a ridiculous 36 receptions on 49 targets for 445 yards and two touchdowns.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 11, 2025
Following another monster performance in Week 14, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson has further cemented his place as a waiver-wire home run. Wilson, who now ranks among the top 30 PPR wide receivers heading into the final month of the season, has gone off for 39 catches, 481 yards, and two touchdowns in the past four weeks alone, by far the best stretch of his career. Unfortunately for managers who have benefited from Wilson's recent outburst, they'll be forced to make a tough decision on Wilson at a high-stakes moment. As the fantasy playoffs begin for many leagues, the Cardinals will take on the stingy defense of the Houston Texans, who have allowed the third-fewest points to fantasy wide receivers. But Wilson has been so productive of late that he still deserves lineup consideration in all formats once again.
--Nick PiotrowiczSource: Pro Football Reference
December 11, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight has operated as the team's primary running back this season after injuries to
James Conner (foot) and
Trey Benson (knee). Benson's season has come to an end after not being activated off Injured Reserve within his 21-day activation window. Knight has taken advantage of his opportunities in Benson's absence, sharing backfield duties with
Michael Carter and
Emari Demercado (ankle). He's handled 81 carries for 271 yards and four touchdowns while adding 22 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown on 31 targets. It has been underwhelming production for fantasy managers, as he ranks as the RB43 with 8.5 PPR points per game, but he's scored at least 13.2 PPR points in three of the last four games. The 24-year-old has been one of the least efficient runners in the league this season. However, he has been active as a receiver and has a firm hold on goal-line duties in what's been a surprisingly fantasy-friendly Arizona offense with quarterback
Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Knight will continue to rank in low-end RB3 territory for the Week 15 game against a tough Houston Texans defense this Sunday.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
December 10, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) was listed as limited in the team's practice on Wednesday, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. Demercado has missed the last three games due to a high-ankle sprain, but if he can upgrade to a full practice on Thursday or Friday, he should have a good chance to return this weekend when the team takes on the Houston Texans. The 26-year-old could be worth a pickup in deep PPR leagues for fantasy managers who still have something left to play for now that it's official that
Trey Benson (knee) will not return in 2025. Demercado has only 31 carries in nine games this year, but he's averaging 7.8 yards per carry and has caught eight passes for 64 yards. If he misses a fourth straight game, it will be
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter once again splitting Arizona's backfield touches in a pass-heavy attack led by veteran quarterback
Jacoby Brissett.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
December 10, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) is not participating in Wednesday's practice session, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Harrison returned in Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after missing Weeks 11 and 12 due to an appendectomy, but then he missed the Week 14 game against the Los Angeles Rams after being listed as a DNP every day of practice last week with a heel injury. The second-year wideout is in danger of missing his fourth game in five weeks. It's been a frustrating season for Harrison, as he's struggled to stay healthy and hasn't taken a big step forward when he's been on the field, totaling 40 receptions for 594 yards and four touchdowns on 69 targets in 10 games. If Harrison is forced to miss the Week 15 game against the Houston Texans,
Michael Wilson would be in line to see another heavy target share.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Darren Urban
December 10, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) will not be activated off Injured Reserve for the team's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Since Benson will not return within his 21-day activation window, he will revert to season-ending IR and will not be eligible to return in 2025. Benson suffered a knee injury in Week 4 that was serious enough to land him on IR, but was not thought at the time to be season-ending. It's unclear whether the 23-year-old suffered a setback once his activation window was opened, or if the 3-10 Cardinals are simply choosing to be cautious with their potential running back of the future. Either way, Benson should now be completely off the radar of redraft fantasy managers for the remainder of 2025. His absence ups the value of Cardinals running backs
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter, who should continue to see the majority of the team's backfield snaps.
Emari Demercado (ankle) could play a role in Arizona as well once he returns from the ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 11.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
December 9, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter has seen minimal usage as a rusher in recent weeks, as he has not recorded more than five carries in a game since Week 7. However, the 26-year-old has seen consistent work in the passing game, hauling in 15 receptions for 117 yards on 20 targets over the last four weeks. The Cardinals' backfield has been in a constant state of flux this season due to injuries. With
James Conner (ankle),
Trey Benson (knee), and
Emari Demercado (ankle) sidelined, Carter and journeyman back
Bam Knight have seen the majority of the work over the last month. Arizona could be getting Benson back in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, which may eliminate Carter's role. However, it appears the Cardinals are also considering shutting down Benson for the season due to his lingering knee injury. If Benson remains out, Carter could have some flex appeal for deep-league PPR fantasy managers thanks to his pass-catching ability.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 9, 2025
The Arizona Cardinals offense has been much more productive with quarterback
Jacoby Brissett under center since
Kyler Murray (foot) went down with a sprained foot back in Week 5. In terms of fantasy points per game, Brissett ranks as the QB16 in his 10 games played, with 2,459 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions on 346 attempts. Overall, he ranks as the QB20 in only 10 games played in 2025. In the blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the 32-year-old veteran went 25-for-44 for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while adding 22 rushing yards on four carries. Brissett has had at least 258 passing yards and two touchdowns in all eight of his starts, and he's tossed exactly two TDs in all but one of his starts. Before Week 14, Brissett had a three-game streak of at least 301 passing yards. He has become a strong QB2 streamer for his volume -- he's attempted 40-plus passes in five straight games -- although a Week 15 date with the Texans and their No. 1 defense will certainly be a challenge.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pro Football Reference
December 9, 2025
Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and is "expected to miss some time," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 24-year-old has made 12 starts for Arizona this season and is generally considered one of the better players at his position in the NFL. Pro Football Focus has Johnson Jr. graded as the 19th-best tackle out of 82 qualified players so far in 2025. If he is forced to miss time, second-year tackle Demontrey Jacobs would likely take over as the starter in Arizona. Johnson Jr.'s injury is particularly bad timing for the Cardinals as they prepare to take on the fearsome Houston Texans' pass rush in Week 15. Fantasy managers may be wise to downgrade Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett for Week 15 if Johnson Jr. is ruled out.
--Will BradySource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
December 9, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Andre Baccellia had one catch for three yards on three targets in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. The 28-year-old saw a season high in targets and snap share, but he was unable to sniff any fantasy relevance. Baccellia saw more playing time on Sunday with both receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and
Greg Dortch (chest) inactive due to injury. Dortch has since been placed on Injured Reserve and is unlikely to return this year. Even if Harrison cannot suit up next week, Baccellia should remain off the fantasy radar in most fantasy leagues. In Week 15, Arizona will face the Houston Texans, who boast the best defense in the league.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight had seven carries for 16 yards in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. Knight also had three catches for 18 yards on six targets. The 24-year-old was kept out of the end zone for the first time since Week 10, snapping a three-game touchdown streak. The Cardinals' offense quickly abandoned the run game to try to keep up on the scoreboard and finished the game with 44 passing attempts to only 14 rushing attempts. Knight continues to live off his touchdown production this year and has yet to produce over eight fantasy points in a game without scoring a touchdown in half-PPR formats. Heading into Week 15, Knight's role in the offense will be cloudy with the possible return of
Trey Benson (knee) from Injured Reserve. The team initially opened Benson's 21-day activation window leading into Week 12, but they have yet to activate him. Benson will have to be activated before Arizona's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans to avoid reverting to season-ending IR.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter had three carries for 13 yards in Sunday's 45-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14. Carter also had two catches for 18 yards on four targets. The 26-year-old was unable to get involved in the passing game despite the Cardinals' offense dropping back to pass 44 times on Sunday. Carter also saw fewer targets than fellow running back
Bam Knight, who had six targets on Sunday. Carter's fantasy value will be left up in the air with
Trey Benson (knee) potentially coming off Injured Reserve and
Emari Demercado (ankle) potentially returning in Week 15. If Benson or Demercado returns, Carter will fall to RB3 duties in the Cardinals' offense. Even if both Benson and Demercado miss another week, Carter can't be trusted as a flex play in 12-team fantasy formats.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
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