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
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride cooled off in the Week 14 loss against the Los Angeles Rams, recording five catches for 58 yards on nine targets. Despite an off game relative to his high standards, McBride still finished inside the top 15 in Week 14 for tight ends in PPR formats. Sunday marked only the third time McBride had fewer than eight catches since
Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback. The 26-year-old has now hauled in 88 passes for 937 yards and eight touchdowns on 127 targets across 13 games this season. As long as McBride remains healthy, he profiles as the top tight end in fantasy football. Arizona will face one of the best defenses the NFL has to offer in a difficult Week 15 matchup at the Houston Texans, but McBride should remain in all starting fantasy lineups.
--Wyatt McClintockSource: ESPN
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that activating running back
Trey Benson (knee) off Injured Reserve and giving him another week on the shelf "is an option" if he can't check all the appropriate health boxes by Wednesday, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports. Benson has not played since suffering a knee injury in Week 4 that required surgery. It's possible that the 23-year-old second-year RB from Florida State needs another week, and it's also possible that he's held out for the remainder of the season with the Cardinals out of the playoff hunt. Benson was cleared to return to practice two weeks ago. He initially was limited in practice before sitting out all of last week, suggesting he may have suffered a setback.
Emari Demercado (ankle) has also missed the last few games, leaving
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter to share backfield duties. Knight could be in line for lead-back work again in Week 15 versus the Houston Texans.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (knee) has been on Injured Reserve since Week 4 due to a knee injury. The team opened up Benson's 21-day activation window leading into Week 12. However, Benson has yet to be activated, and he will revert to season-ending IR if not activated before Arizona's Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans. Given that the 3-10 Cardinals are in the midst of a lost season, they may choose to be cautious with the 23-year-old running back. Still, if Benson can return, he could immediately take over as the RB1 in Arizona. The Cardinals are currently splitting backfield reps between
Bam Knight and
Michael Carter, but the two backs combined for 29 rushing yards on 10 carries in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams. Benson is worth holding for one more week or adding off the waiver wire in leagues where he is available heading into Week 15.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
December 8, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Bam Knight's lack of volume and efficiency finally caught up to him in Week 14. The 24-year-old running back has been a top-21 running back over the past three weeks, and on Sunday against a stout Los Angeles Rams defense, he was stuffed on the ground, rushing for only 16 yards on seven carries, and somewhat salvaged his fantasy afternoon with three receptions for another 18 yards. Knight has been a solid waiver wire pickup in 2025 and has scored 10 or more fantasy points in three straight contests, but on the season, he is only averaging 3.35 YPC and around nine or 10 rush attempts per game. He has been touchdown and receiving-dependent for fantasy managers, which is not a recipe for long-term success. Knight has stepped into this role because
Trey Benson (knee) has not proven healthy enough to play since his Week 4 injury, so as long as Benson remains sidelined, Knight remains a decent RB3 option and shouldn't be on waivers.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
December 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Jacoby Brissett completed 25 of 44 pass attempts for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in his team's 45-17 Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Arizona's pass-happy attack continues to allow Brissett to post solid numbers. Across 10 games (eight starts) worth of action in 2025, the 32-year-old has thrown for 2,459 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five picks. Brissett has thrown for at least 258 yards in all eight of his starts and topped 300 passing yards in four separate contests. He's also attempted at least 40 pass attempts in five straight weeks and is averaging an incredible 43.3 pass attempts per start so far in 2025. As long as the Cardinals continue to find themselves in pass-heavy game scripts every week, Brissett profiles as a viable starting fantasy quarterback. However, Arizona has a difficult matchup in Week 15 against the Houston Texans.
--Will BradySource: ESPN.com
December 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson caught 11 of his 16 targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 14 loss against the Los Angeles Rams. He has consistently capitalized on every opportunity to produce with
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) sidelined. In three games without Harrison on the field, Wilson is averaging 12 receptions, 148.3 yards, and 0.7 touchdowns. Over the last four weeks, he ranks as the second-highest-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football. As long as Harrison is sidelined, Wilson should be deployed as a strong WR1 option in fantasy football. Even when Harrison returns, Wilson is still a high-end WR3/flex with WR2 upside. Arizona faces off against a strong Houston Texans secondary in Week 14.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
December 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Xavier Weaver (hamstring) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the wrong direction after missing Friday's practice. The Cardinals are extremely short-staffed at wide receiver with Weaver,
Greg Dortch (chest), and
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) all sidelined. Wide receiver
Michael Wilson and tight end
Trey McBride will operate as Arizona's top targets.
Andre Baccellia, Trent Sherfield, and
Jalen Brooks will round out the rest of the wide receiver room.
--Andersen PickardSource: Arizona Cardinals
December 7, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) has possibly already taken his last snap this season. Benson has been working his way back from a knee injury he suffered in Week 4 that landed him on injured reserve. He had his practice window opened two weeks ago, logging a few limited sessions before not practicing last week. Per the rules, Benson must be activated within the 21-day window to play again this season. If not, he will remain on injured reserve. Time is running out for Benson to return, as he will need to be activated by next week to play again this year. Fantasy managers with an IR spot should continue to stash Benson until he's officially ruled out for the year. Bam Knight, Michael Carter,
and Emari Demercado (ankle) will likely continue to split up the carries in the backfield with Benson sidelined. --Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
December 7, 2025
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Xavier Weaver (hamstring) is expected to be inactive for Sunday's home matchup with their division-rival Los Angeles Rams. The second-year pro was a midweek addition to Arizona's practice report, with his status declining from a limited session on Thursday to a DNP on Friday. Now, labeled questionable, Weaver doesn't appear to be in line to suit up against the visiting Rams. With the news, Arizona's WR corps is alarmingly depleted, considering teammates
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and
Greg Dortch (chest) have already been ruled out for the contest. As it stands,
Michael Wilson,
Trent Sherfield Sr.,
Andre Baccellia, and
Jalen Brooks are the only active wideouts without a designation heading into this weekend's bout.
--Alex CiullaSource: Adam Schefter
December 6, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Greg Dortch (chest) was placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday with a chest injury that he suffered in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dortch's season has likely come to an end with this move, but he'll technically be eligible to return for the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old recorded 29 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns on 33 targets, along with seven carries for 15 yards and another score on the ground in 12 games this season. Arizona is dealing with multiple injuries at the wide receiver position, with
Zay Jones (Achilles) already on Injured Reserve, and
Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) ruled out for Week 14's divisional matchup against the Rams.
Michael Wilson and tight end
Trey McBride will be expected to lead the passing attack on Sunday, with
Trent Sherfield Sr. mixing in after being elevated from the practice squad. If active,
Xavier Weaver (hamstring) could operate as the team's WR2 behind Wilson.
--Kyle McCarthySource: Arizona Cardinals
December 6, 2025
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia will be the next man up in the Cardinals' receiving room with Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and Greg Dortch (chest) ruled out for Week 14. The former Washington product could see an expanded role in a pass-heavy offense. So far this season, Baccellia has one catch for five yards on one target. Entering Week 14, Baccellia will face a stout Los Angeles Rams defense that has allowed the ninth-fewest passing touchdowns this season. In a potential WR3 role, Baccellia could see more work in the passing game if the Cardinals' offense goes to a pass-heavy game script in an effort to keep up with a high-powered Rams' offense on the scoreboard. He could move up the Cardinals' WR2 role if Xavier Weaver (hamstring) is unable to suit up. Baccellia is a dicey dart throw in deep league heading into the regular season finale of most fantasy leagues.--Wyatt McClintockSource: Zach Gershman
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