Unfortunately, the injury was not minor as video evidence shows Jeremiyah Love‘s ankle being severely torqued during an open field tackle vs. Las Vegas. Expect the Cardinals to underplay the severity of the injury all season. His elite top-three draft capital and a 97th-percentile Speed Score backed by an 11.4-percent College Target Share positions Love to command high-value touches once cleared, but his timeline for a return to full efficiency is shrouded in doubt.
A rookie running back playing for a bottom-five team facing a potentially serious high ankle sprain and subsequent intense rehabilitation is absolute worse case scenario for Love enthusiasts in both best ball and dynasty league formats. Redrafters would be wise to sidestep this landmine in fantasy leagues this month.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) did not ...
Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett ...
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot/ankle) is...
The Arizona Cardinals added Evan Hull, a back possessing an astonishing 98th-percentile 17.3-percent College Target Share and an 82nd-percentile 4.47 40-yard dash, following brief stints with Indianapolis and New Orleans.
Hull’s arrival coincides with Trey Benson missing practice, and he will slot in as the RB4 on the Cardinals depth chart. With Trey Benson sitting on the 53-man roster bubble, Evan Hull has an immediate window to push James Conner backfield touches. A competent satellite back, Hull is likely destined for the practice squad unless he can win a special teams role in August.
Not good. While the Arizona backfield remains a crowded committee featuring veteran James Conner and newcomer Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson managing a knee flare-up after last season’s meniscus surgery just buries him further. The raw athletic profile highlighted by a 4.39 40-Yard Dash (97th percentile) and a 116.3 Speed Score (96th percentile) remains impressive, but Benson’s career now hangs in the balance.
Benson was a favorite to land with a new team before Week 1, but the Cardinals are now laying the ground to stash him on IR to start the season. Fantasy managers must now monitor his roster status and strongly consider cutting this tantalizing talent loose in fantasy football dynasty leagues.
It High draft capital and financial commitments make Jeremiyah Love, who posted a 6.9 College YPC, and Tyler Allgeier roster locks. James Conner and Trey Benson represent realistic trade candidates following injury-riddled campaigns, though Conner’s has the efficiency edge.
Bottom line: NFL teams rarely roster four running backs who do not contribute to special teams. This report was likely planted as a signal to other NFL teams that Conner and Benson are valuable assets and available.
Trey Benson flashed a 35.7-percent Juke Rate and 5.3 Yards Per Touch before a meniscus tear derailed his opportunity to take over the Arizona backfield. Pushing too hard during his practice window triggered a setback, leaving him to watch the team draft his potential replacement from the sidelines.
Now buried on a crowded depth chart, the former third-round pick is a prime change-of-scenery candidate who needs a trade to salvage his dynasty value. Benson is droppable in all but the deep leagues.
Tyler Allgeier signed a $12.25 million deal with Arizona hoping to become the lead back, but his role was immediately threatened when the Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love third overall. This high-profile selection creates a crowded and confusing backfield for fantasy purposes, especially with veteran James Conner and Trey Benson still in the rotation.
Allgeier will shift into short-yardage and goal-line duties, and the rookie Love is expected to dominate the team’s rushing and pass-catching opportunities in 2026. Allgeier will have moderate standalone value as a key cog in the high octane Cardinals defense and will continue to be the league’s premier upside handcuff back.
