November 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter is trending up ahead of Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 26-year-old was factored out of the Cardinals' plans in the two games following their bye week, but he returned to a larger role last Sunday, catching five of seven targets for 22 receiving yards. While the sample size is too small to make any guarantees, it certainly appears that Carter could be in line to operate as the Cardinals' top receiving back going forward. He'll earn some carries, too, and managers have to be intrigued after he edged out
Bam Knight for the highest snap share in Arizona's backfield last week. Knight and Carter will split most of the opportunities on Sunday after
Emari Demercado (ankle) was already ruled out for Week 12. Both backs will rank as RB3/flex options, with Carter gaining a slight advantage over his backfield-mate in full-PPR leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
November 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) was limited for the second day this week on Thursday as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has kept him out since Week 4, according to Zach Gershman of AZCardinals.com. Benson's 21-day practice window was opened on Wednesday, which means he's eligible to come off Injured Reserve and play this Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. The 23-year-old had surgery for a meniscus injury that he suffered in Week 4. Benson will most likely need a full practice on Friday for Arizona to even consider activating him from IR. The team's backfield is beat up going into the weekend, with
Emari Demercado (ankle) already ruled out and
Bam Knight (ankle) being limited so far in practice. All signs are pointing to Benson missing this week, with Knight and
Michael Carter sharing backfield duties versus the Jags.
--Keith HernandezSource: AZCardinals.com - Zach Gershman
November 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett has been facilitating as the Cardinals' starting quarterback. In five starts, Brissett has averaged over 300 passing yards per game with multiple touchdowns in all five starts. The veteran quarterback set the completions record in Week 11, with 47 completions in the 41-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Not only has Brissett been an elite producer lately, but players like
Trey McBride,
Marvin Harrison Jr., and
Michael Wilson have also been reaping the benefits of his stellar play. Brissett and the Cardinals host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, who have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game and the fourth-most passing touchdowns in 2025. Even with Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis) ruled out for Sunday, Brissett still carries QB2 value and will continue to supply big performances for McBride and Wilson.
--Nathan HarveySource: Pro Football Reference
November 20, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Greg Dortch stepped up in Week 11 against the San Francisco 49ers with
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) out, catching all six targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the loss. It marked the second touchdown of the season for Dortch and his second game playing close to a full-time role with a 66.2% snap share. His next highest came back in Week 4, playing 65.6% of the snaps and hauling in four of his five targets for 35 yards against the Seahawks. The 27-year-old's playing time has been inconsistent otherwise, ranging from 7.8% one week to as high as 42.9% in another. However, with Harrison already ruled out for Week 12 against the Jaguars, Dortch should be expected to see more reps again. He could be worth plugging in as a potential flex in deeper leagues with the pass volume Arizona has had over the past few weeks.
--Kyle McCarthySource: RotoBaller
November 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight (ankle) was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday's practice session. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too concerned about the ankle issue right now. However, Knight could be losing playing time soon with
Trey Benson (knee) having his practice window opened this week. The eventual return of Benson is going to cloud up this backfield situation even more. Right now,
Emari Demercado (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 12. That means, Knight and
Michael Carter should split up the reps unless Benson returns this week. Barring any setbacks, Knight figures to be out there this weekend, but his fantasy value is unclear at the moment.
--Andy WebbSource: azcardinals.com
November 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) has been ruled out for the Week 12 contest this Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Jonathan Gannon said. Demercado suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 11 and will sit out this weekend. Given the nature of the 26-year-old's injury, there's a good chance he'll miss another game in Week 13 versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too. Meanwhile,
Trey Benson (knee) is having his 21-day practice window opened this week, so he's nearing a return for the first time since injuring his knee in Week 4. When Demercado gets over his ankle injury, he just might be the No. 4 RB on Arizona's depth chart, so he's certainly not worth stashing in 12-team fantasy leagues. With Demercado out this week and Benson probably not ready to return yet,
Bam Knight could get one more week as the RB1, with
Michael Carter working on passing downs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
November 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has ruled out wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) for the Week 12 game on Sunday against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Harrison had an appendectomy last week and will miss his second straight game this weekend. It remains to be seen if the 23-year-old second-year wideout will be able to return in Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's been another disappointing season for the fourth overall pick, although he has improved since quarterback
Jacoby Brissett took over for the injured
Kyler Murray (foot). Through nine games in 2025, Harrison has a 34-525-4 line on 62 targets.
Michael Wilson, who had an incredible 15 catches for 185 yards last week with Harrison out, should once again be primed for a heavy target load in Week 12.
Greg Dortch should serve as the WR2 again for Arizona, too.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
November 19, 2025
The Arizona Cardinals are opening the practice window for running back
Trey Benson (knee) to return from Injured Reserve, according to Tyler Drake of AZ Sports. Benson has been on IR since Week 4 due to a knee injury. While this move does not guarantee that he will be active for Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it's clearly a positive sign that Benson's return will come in the next few weeks. Across four games this season, the 23-year-old has recorded 224 scrimmage yards on 42 touches. With running back
James Conner (ankle) out for the season, Benson profiles as the clear RB1 in Arizona once fully healthy. If Benson remains sidelined for Week 12, the Cardinals will likely turn to a combination of
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter to handle backfield snaps against Jacksonville.
UPDATE: Benson was officially limited in Wednesday's practice.--Will BradySource: AZ Sports - Tyler Drake
November 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson had himself a career day in Week 11, as he set new career-best lines with 15 receptions and 185 receiving yards. The third-year receiver out of Stanford was asked to step up because Marvin Harrison (Appendicitis) and
Zay Jones (Achilles) both missed the game. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on November 12 that Harrison Jr. underwent surgery for appendicitis and will be sidelined for "at least Week 11 and possibly longer," meaning Wilson may be the team's WR1 in Week 12 if Harrison can't go. The key here is to pay attention to Harrison's practice leading up to Sunday, as Wilson slides down the rankings quite a bit if Harrison returns. Additionally,
Trey McBride is the team's clear number one option. Another thing to note, Brissett will not be throwing the football 57 times and for 452 yards every week. The Cardinals got punched in the mouth early and were behind the whole game, leading to a gameflow script that forced them to throw the ball the entire game. If Harrison plays, Wilson profiles as a WR3 with limited upside. If Harrison is ruled out, Wilson profiles as a low-end WR2 against a stiff Jacksonville Jaguars defense, which ranks much better than the San Francisco 49ers defense, against whom the Cardinals played last week.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
November 19, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) has been on Injured Reserve since Week 4 due to a knee injury. However, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon indicated that Benson is a candidate to have his activation window opened in the near future. That could mean Benson has a chance to return for Arizona's Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, that appears to be up in the air at this point, given that most of the updates we have received about Benson haven't been encouraging to fantasy managers who have been holding onto him in their IR spots. Benson was pressed into RB1 duties when veteran running back
James Conner (foot) was injured in Week 3 and ruled out for the season; however, Benson was immediately injured in Week 4, which was his first game with RB1 opportunities. Benson profiles as the team's top running back upon his return, considering the Cardinals spent a third-round (66th overall) draft pick on him. In leagues where he is available, Benson is a must-add and stash on your bench or waiver wire. If he remains out in Week 12, the Cardinals will likely continue splitting backfield work between
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter, with
Emari Demercado (ankle) likely out in Week 12.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Michael Carter recorded a season-high five receptions on seven targets in his team's 41-22 Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. With Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) likely to miss the team's Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Carter could be in line for a sizable role for a second straight week. The 26-year-old is unlikely to factor much on early downs, as Carter has fallen behind Arizona back
Bam Knight in the pecking order for carries. However, Carter has recorded at least five targets in three out of six games played for the Cardinals this season. One wrinkle for Carter is the potential return of
Trey Benson (knee), who could be returning soon from the knee injury that has kept him on Injured Reserve since Week 4. However, if Benson and Demercado are out in Week 12, Carter could have some deep-league fantasy appeal.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
November 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's 41-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and is considered unlikely to play in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Demercado left the game in the second quarter after recording five carries for eight yards and two catches (three targets) for 12 tards. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the 26-year-old as he was beginning to establish himself as the preferred option in Arizona's backfield, but he will now be sidelined for at least one week and possibly longer as ankle injuries tend to linger.
Bam Knight handled most of the backfield duties in his absence and would be expected to take on an even larger role if
Trey Benson (knee) is still unable to return in Week 12.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Adam Schefter
November 18, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett completed an NFL record 47 passes in their 41-22 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11. Brissett's 452 passing yards trail only
Joe Flacco's 470-yard performance in Week 9 for the most passing yards in a game this season. His passing volume has been among the highest in the league since taking over as the starter in Week 11. The 32-year-old signal caller has 212 pass attempts in that span, behind only Flacco, and is the QB4 in points per game (22.5). The Cardinals have often found themselves in negative game scripts, which has led to Brissett slinging it at a high rate. For fantasy managers looking for a viable quarterback with the slew of injuries at the position this year, Brissett is one of the better adds off the waiver wire this week and is only rostered in 23.6% of ESPN leagues.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Pro Football Reference
November 17, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight saw a scaled back role in the rushing game during Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Heading into this game, Knight had seen nine carries or more in each of his last four games. However, Knight carried the ball only five times for 24 yards and scored a touchdown in the loss. He also hauled in all four of his targets through the air for 21 additional yards. The fact the game was a blowout could've contributed to the lack of carries for Knight. He figures to have a bigger role during next week's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fantasy managers should be able to plug in Knight as a low-end flex option
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
November 17, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Greg Dortch has been a non-factor basically all season until making some noise during Sunday's game. Dortch was asked to step up into a larger role with
Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendix) sidelined this weekend. The 27-year-old delivered as he hauled in all six of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Dortch played a season-high 66 percent of the offensive snaps during this contest. He could be worth snagging off the waiver wire for Week 12, assuming Harrison misses another game.
--Andy WebbSource: Pro Football Reference
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