The Arizona Cardinals promoted running back Michael Carter to the active roster from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Carter was cut by the Cardinals the week leading into their Week 9 matchup against the Cowboys, but was quickly signed back to the practice squad soon thereafter. The 26-year-old has fallen out of favor after operating as Arizona's lead back in Week 5 against the Titans, when he handled 18 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown to go with five catches (five targets) for 22 yards. Carter has since fallen behind Bam Knight and Emari Demercado in the pecking order for touches and didn't play a single snap in Week 9 versus Dallas. It appears to be trending toward a two-man backfield in Week 10 against Seattle, but things could change. Carter can likely be left on the waiver wire.
Nov 8, 2025 7:14 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that they elevated running back Michael Cater to the active 53-man roster from their practice squad for the Week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cardinals cut Carter from the active roster early last week as a procedural move before quickly adding him back to their practice squad. The Cardinals are expected to "start" Bam Knight on Monday against Dallas, but head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team is going to ride the hot hand in the backfield after that. Emari Demercado is back from an ankle injury that knocked him out before the team's Week 8 bye, but the majority of backfield looks on Monday night should go to Knight and Carter. The 26-year-old will have a good matchup against the Cowboys, but he's averaging only 2.8 yards per carry in four games in 2025 and won't be a recommended DFS option.
Nov 3, 2025 6:09 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is heading into a plus matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. A defensive unit that has struggled to stop anyone all season long. That being said, it should be a good night on the ground for the Cardinals running backs. However, this is a frustrating situation for fantasy managers given the three-back committee. Bam Knight was announced as the starter, which means Carter and Emari Demercado will see work behind him. Last week, Carter struggled as he rushed for 11 yards on seven carries in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. Despite that, the Cardinals figure to continue giving Carter the ball as the change-of-pace back. For desperate fantasy managers, Carter could offer flex value for Week 9, but is probably better off on the bench in most formats.
Nov 2, 2025 8:49 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has rejoined the team and looks to split most of the carries with Bam Knight again. In their last two games before the bye, Carter saw 20 touches compared to Knight's 29, so he should still see some action even though Emari Demercado has been cleared from the injury report. Especially after it was reported that he was getting first-team reps in the last two days of practice. Despite the three-headed committee in the backfield, Carter gives some low-end flex value since the Dallas Cowboys allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing backfields. Plus, he usually tends to see more work on passing plays than Knight.
Nov 1, 2025 8:29 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has "been the first RB working with the starters both days this week," according to Theo Mackie of azcentral.com. Arizona re-signed Carter to a practice squad contract earlier this week after releasing him on Monday in a procedural move. With presumed RB1 Trey Benson (knee) sidelined for at least one more week due to a knee injury, Carter and Bam Knight should see the team's carries in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys. Emari Demercado (ankle) could factor into the backfield mix as well. In Arizona's final two games before its Week 8 bye, Knight earned 29 touches compared to 20 for Carter. Still, it appears Carter will remain a part of Arizona's offensive game plan. He profiles as a low-end flex option for fantasy managers in a favorable Week 9 matchup against Dallas.
Oct 31, 2025 3:44 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they re-signed running back Michael Carter to their practice squad and released running back D'Ernest Johnson in a corresponding move. The move to add Carter back to the team was made after they released him on Monday. Coming out of their Week 8 bye, the Cardinals currently only have Bam Knight and Emari Demercado (ankle) on the active 53-man roster at the RB position, so if Demercado cannot play in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, Carter will most likely rejoin the active roster this weekend. The 26-year-old was Arizona's lead back for the first game after Trey Benson (knee) landed in Injured Reserve, but Knight took over lead-back duties the following week and hasn't looked back. Carter is only averaging 2.8 yards on the ground on 35 rushing attempts in his four games in 2025 with the Cardinals and is only a bench stash for RB depth in deeper fantasy leagues.
Oct 28, 2025 3:07 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals plan to re-sign running back Michael Carter after releasing him on Monday, a source told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. Carter initially took over as the team's lead running back for one game after Trey Benson (knee) landed on Injured Reserve, but it didn't take long for Bam Knight to take over lead-back duties. The Cardinals are coming off their bye in Week 8 to face the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, and the 26-year-old Carter is expected to return to his duties as the RB2 behind Knight. In the Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Carter had just seven carries for 11 yards. It's hard to even recommend Carter as an RB3/flex in deeper leagues as long as he's playing second fiddle to Knight in what has been a very inconsistent Cardinals offense, even in a plus upcoming matchup against Dallas.
Oct 27, 2025 11:21 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals released veteran running back Michael Carter on Monday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. It comes as a surprise with the Cardinals coming off their Week 8 bye. James Conner (foot) is already out for the year, and Trey Benson (knee) isn't eligible to come off Injured Reserve until Week 10. Bam Knight became the team's RB1 several weeks before the Cardinals went on bye, but Emari Demercado (ankle) was unable to play in Week 7, so Arizona's RB depth was already a bit thin. With Carter now on the street, D'Ernest Johnson and Jermar Jefferson would be the next men up behind Knight in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys if Demercado misses another game. In his four games with the Cardinals, Carter averaged just 2.8 yards per carry for 97 rushing yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.
Oct 27, 2025 6:03 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is set to receive more opportunities after a third member of the backfield went down with an injury in Emari Demercado (ankle). During the Week 6 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, Carter saw 44% of the snap share after getting 58% against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. Against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, Carter and Bam Knight will split the backfield work, but Carter is likely to see some more opportunities in the passing game. He received five targets in each of the last two games and turned them into seven receptions for 52 yards. The Packers are ranked fifth against opposing running backs, however, and have given up just two touchdowns on the ground this season. Carter does hold some low-end flex value in deeper leagues, but he'll be hard to trust since the Cardinals will likely go with the hot hand.
Oct 18, 2025 11:04 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had his snaps scaled back in the team's loss to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, ceding work to teammate Bam Knight (knee). However, Carter could see his role expand again in Week 7, as he's currently the only active RB without an injury designation. The Cardinals' backfield has already taken significant hits with injuries to James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee). Now, Emari Demercado (ankle) and Knight have missed practice time with injury. Carter has been inefficient in his work thus far, but the team may be forced to utilize him more as they try to figure out a backfield rotation that yields dividends. Even if the fifth-year pro gets the lion's share of opportunities this weekend, he'll be a low-end option for his matchup with the league's No. 1 team against the run, the Green Bay Packers.
Oct 16, 2025 11:24 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is not expected to lead the team's backfield during Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Instead, Bam Knight will handle lead-back duties for Arizona. The Cardinals have been experimenting with personnel after losing James Conner (foot) and Trey Benson (knee). Third-string running back Emari Demercado has remained in a third-down role, and it was Carter who led the unit with 18 carries last Sunday. However, he was relatively inefficient with just 2.8 yards per carry, which could be the reason why he's now in the backup role and Knight is getting an opportunity to lead the way. Knight, who had four rushes for 11 yards and a touchdown last week, hasn't started an NFL game since his rookie campaign with the New York Jets in 2022. The Colts represent a tough matchup, so Carter's reduced volume takes him off the fantasy radar in most formats.
Oct 12, 2025 11:52 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight will take over as the team's lead back in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Michael Carter will be relegated to the backup role while Emari Demercado handles the bulk of the third-down snaps. This represents a personnel change after Carter led the backfield with 18 touches last Sunday. Carter scored a touchdown in that game, but he was inefficient with just 2.8 yards per carry, which could be why Arizona is switching to Knight for Week 6. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly. Knight is suddenly a solid RB3/flex option against the Colts, while Carter and Demercado should be benched in most leagues. All three have relatively low floors given the state of the Cardinals' offense, which will be led by Jacoby Brissett and not Kyler Murray (foot) in Week 6.
Oct 12, 2025 10:44 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter leap-frogged the rest of the depth chart when he was elevated from the practice squad last week. After James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) both went down for extended periods of time, Carter saw 23 touches and 57.4% of the offensive snaps. Leaving Emari Demercado and Bam Knight to pick up the scraps. He seems to be in line for a similar workload, especially if Kyler Murray (foot) can't play, but Week 6 presents a tough matchup. The Indianapolis Colts are ranked as the sixth-toughest unit against opposing backfields, allowing just 18.12 fantasy points per game. Carter seems to have a ceiling of a low-end RB2, which could be a decent flex play in deeper leagues.
Oct 11, 2025 1:12 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter appears poised to shoulder a significant portion of the team's backfield workload for the foreseeable future. The Cardinals are without veteran James Conner (ankle) for the remainder of the season, and second-year back Trey Benson (knee) is on Injured Reserve due to a knee injury. In the team's first full game without both players in Week 5, Carter logged 73 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 23 total touches. In contrast, fellow Arizona running backs Emari Demercado and Bam Knight combined for just eight touches. The Cardinals could be without starting quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, potentially leading to a run-heavy game plan for the team. Carter profiles as a low-end fantasy RB2 in Week 6.
Oct 10, 2025 10:42 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is listed as the RB1 on the team's depth chart going into a Week 6 clash against the Indianapolis Colts on the road on Sunday. Emari Demercado is listed as the No. 2, with Bam Knight following him. James Conner (ankle) is out for the rest of the season, while Trey Benson (knee) is out four to six weeks due to a knee injury. In Arizona's new-look backfield in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, Carter operated as the clear lead back, carrying the ball 18 times for 51 yards and a touchdown and catching all five of his targets for another 22 yards. Demercado and Knight combined for only nine touches, with Demercado botching what would have been a 70-plus-yard touchdown. Even though Carter wasn't very efficient with his 23 touches, it's clear the Cardinals are going to lean heavily on him with Benson out. Carter should be scooped up off waivers this week if he's still available in your league.
Oct 7, 2025 5:48 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter dominated backfield touches in Week 5, the team's first full game without running backs James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee). Carter recorded 73 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 23 total touches in Week 5, while fellow Arizona backs Emari Demercado and Bam Knight combined for just eight total touches. With Conner out for the season and Benson currently on Injured Reserve, Carter could have an extended window as the Cardinals' clear RB1. Carter is a priority waiver-wire addition in any league where he's not already rostered. He profiles as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex option in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Oct 7, 2025 11:48 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter recorded 18 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown as well as five catches for 22 yards in his team's 22-21 Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. In Arizona's first full game without both running backs James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee), Carter recorded 23 touches, compared to eight combined touches for fellow Cardinals backs Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. While Carter did not have his most efficient day as a rusher in Week 5, he looks like the clear number one option in the run game for Arizona. Additionally, Demercado broke a long run that should have been a touchdown but dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line, which could put him in the dog house with Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. With Conner out for the season and Benson on Injured Reserve, Carter should be a priority waiver-wire addition in any league where he is not already rostered.
Oct 6, 2025 10:19 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries during Sunday's Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He also caught all five of his targets for an additional 22 receiving yards. After plenty of speculation about the backfield roles in Arizona, Carter handled early-down work, Emari Demercado played third downs, and Bam Knight rotated in occasionally. Carter easily saw the bulk of the workload, totaling 23 touches while staying involved both on the ground and through the air. His lack of yardage efficiency could leave the backfield in a by-committee state ahead of Week 6, but Carter has the early advantage in the competition. He'll continue to rank as a high-end RB3/flex for next week's clash in Indianapolis.
Oct 6, 2025 1:17 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is expected to see a significant workload in Week 5 after Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve. "He's played a lot of snaps for us over the last couple years and he's going to now," general manager Monti Ossenfort said regarding Carter's expected workload. Indeed, Carter played roughly 75 percent of the offensive snaps between Weeks 17 and 18 last season, rushing for 5.4 yards per carry in one of those games and scoring a touchdown in the other. He should face plenty of competition from Emari Demercado, but the general manager's comments indicate that the Cardinals could be headed for more of a true backfield split than people originally expected, even after Carter logged just one touch through the first four weeks of the season. Demercado is a high-end RB3/flex option, while Carter is best viewed as a mid-to-low RB3/flex.
Oct 4, 2025 1:09 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter could be in line to take over as the team's primary early-down back with running backs James Conner (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee) both currently on Injured Reserve. Carter figures to split touches in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans with Emari Demercado and possibly Bam Knight, but earlier reporting has indicated that Carter could be the team's preferred choice to assume the majority of the rush attempts. Carter has recorded 2,131 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 439 touches across 49 career NFL games (22 starts). He profiles as a high-end RB3/flex option in a favorable Week 5 matchup against Tennessee.
Oct 3, 2025 10:35 AM EST
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