Goldman reports that the team is “very high” on Demercado, who ran as the No. 2 back throughout OTAs. The Chiefs signed Demercado to a one-year “prove it” contract worth $1,250,000 to back up Kenneth Walker and then added Emmet Johnson in Round 5 of the NFL Draft.
While Emari Demarcado‘s veteran status grants him the inside track to backup duties, Emmett Johnson was a Heisman contender at Nebraska and was compared to LeSean McCoy by Andy Reid. Demercado will likely operate as the team’s RB2 and primary back on passing downs in September before ceding the role to Johnson as the season rolls along.
The Arizona Cardinals will not tender a contract to ...
Across 13 games in 2025, Arizona Cardinals running back ...
Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado hasn't ...
Kenneth Walker clearly fronts this backfield, but his ceiling remains heavily tied to passing game involvement after posting a meager 7.9-percent Target Share last season. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is challenging the talented rusher to improve his pass protection and route running, areas that have historically limited his utility on third downs.
Walker is an elite creator on the ground with a 31.7-percent Juke Rate, but a purely run-centric workload will keep his baseline projection locked into the RB2 tier for fantasy managers. He is worth drafting for the massive TD equity, but with the presence of Emmett Johnson as a passing down option, Walker’s ceiling appears capped at low-end fantasy RB1 in Kansas City.
The Cardinals can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emari Demercado will miss Week 12 versus the Jaguars.
While this isn’t the best news, the 21-day practice window has opened up for running back Trey Benson. Fire up Michael Wilson in fantasy football while Trey McBride will challenge for TE1 overall on the week. Should Benson return, it will be tough to keep him out of lineups due to injuries across the NFL.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Arizona Cardinals have had a rough time with injury lately having lost running back James Conner for the season. Now Trey Benson will miss at least the next 4 games with a knee injury.
Benson will head to IR while Michael Carter and Emari Demercado are set to fill in for at least the next month. The news comes as a blow to fantasy gamers who were excited for Benson to be a league winner. Having been drafted in the double digit rounds, he was set to be a Zero RB hero.
In such a short time to start the NFL season, fantasy gamers are having to turn to 3rd and sometimes 4th options at the running back position. For fantasy, expect a decent split between Carter and Demercardo with some favor towards Carter who recently let it slip in an interview that he may be the starter.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The Arizona Cardinals suffered a tremendous blow in losing running back James Conner after suffering a serious ankle injury in Sunday’s 16-15 loss to the division rival San Francisco 49ers. Surgery is expected in what will amount to a lost season for the 30 year-old back.
James Conner has fought many battles on and off the field, most notably overcoming cancer in 2015. Conner’s absence will open up a 60.8% opportunity share to be taken by backfield mate Trey Benson. While Benson will split duties with satellite back Emari Demercado, expect Benson to get the bulk of opportunity as the RB1 in the Cardinals offense.
While the Cardinals may trade for a running back or sign one off of the practice squad, expect Benson to fill Conner’s role on a 1:1 basis. Benson is shaping up to be a league winner for those who have him rostered.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
The brief period of Emari Demercado’s fantasy football relevance is fading away in front of our very eyes. With Demercado set to miss week 9, and James Conner eligible to return from IR in week 10, Fantasy managers shouldn’t feel the need to hang onto Demercado if there is a player on waivers that can improve their roster this weekend and beyond.
With Demercado and Conner both out in week 9, the Cardinals backfield is expected to make up an ugly combination of Keaontay Ingram, Damien Williams, and Tony Jones Jr. Ingram is expected to take the lead duties, but all Cardinals Running Backs should be avoided this week in a matchup against the Browns who are top 5 in limiting fantasy points to the position.
