Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has operated as the starter for the last two weeks, but has delivered disappointing results, scoring just 6.5 and 6.3 PPR points. With Bam Knight (ankle) going down for the season in Week 15, Carter was expected to handle the lion's share of the work in Arizona's backfield. However, he's played just 49.1% of the snaps and handled 20 touches, with Emari Demercado mixing in with a 40.9% snap share and 12 touches. Arizona's offense hasn't been as exciting in recent weeks with Jacoby Brissett under center, and now they head on the road to face a Rams team that they scored just 17 points against back in Week 14. Carter projects as a decent RB3 option for the regular season finale.
Jan 3, 2026 1:41 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter disappointed fantasy managers in Week 17 with only seven carries for 29 yards (4.1 YPC) in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Carter also added two catches for 14 yards on four targets. In a smash match-up, Carter and the Cardinals' offense came out flat. The Cardinals couldn't get anything going on the ground, as Emari Demercado also only had five rushes for 11 yards (2.2 YPC). Since seeing 80 percent of the snaps in Week 15 against Houston, Carter has only played 48 percent of the snaps over the past two games, which is not what Carter's fantasy managers were hoping for when they picked him up off the waivers after Bam Knight (ankle) got hurt. At this point, the Cardinals' running game is too hard to trust; they find themselves in pass-happy game scripts, and Carter is splitting work with Demercado. With a much tougher matchup in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, Carter will be no better than a touchdown-dependent RB3.
Jan 2, 2026 10:10 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had seven carries for 29 yards in Sunday's 37-14 blowout loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. Carter also had two catches for 14 yards on four targets. The 26-year-old has been the lead running back in the Cardinals' backfield after the team has seen season-ending injuries to James Conner (foot), Trey Benson (knee), and Bam Knight (ankle). However, Carter had under 50 total scrimmage yards in the perfect fantasy matchup. Heading into Sunday, the Bengals' defense had allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season. Carter and the Cardinals' offense will look to bounce back in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams to close the regular season.
Dec 29, 2025 9:55 PM EST
Although Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter doesn't have a high fantasy ceiling, he's still the team's lead back for the final week of the regular season for a divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. In the Week 17 loss on the road to the Cincinnati Bengals, Carter was held in check, picking up only 29 yards on the ground on seven rushing attempts. The 26-year-old added two receptions on four targets for 14 yards. He was outsnapped by backfield mate Emari Demercado, but Carter had two more touches. It was a disappointing performance for Carter in a plus matchup against a bad Bengals defense, but with the Cardinals falling behind by multiple scores early, they weren't really able to keep using Carter as a runner. On the bright side, Carter has 208 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per carry in the last six games, and he's had double-digit carries in two of the last three games. He'll be in play as an RB3/flex in deeper fantasy leagues this weekend against L.A.
Dec 29, 2025 6:09 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is worth starting as an RB2, RB3, or flex in most fantasy leagues ahead of his extremely favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. Although Carter did see his snap share (55%) and carries (11) get reduced last Sunday, he was still highly efficient with 65 total yards. He has 4.7 yards per carry over his last five contests, and he has also carved out a massive receiving role with 19 targets and 14 catches during that span. Carter should benefit from facing the Bengals, who have surrendered the most rushing yards and fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. They have also allowed the ninth-most rushing touchdowns, seventh-most catches, third-most receiving yards, and second-most receiving touchdowns to the position. While the game script could be better -- the Bengals are seven-point favorites with a -360 moneyline -- this game's implied total of 53.5 points bodes very well for Carter. He ranks as the overall RB25 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings for Week 17.
Dec 28, 2025 10:35 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has seen double-digit carries in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The 26-year-old finds himself as the Cardinals' RB1 after the team has lost fellow backs James Conner (foot), Trey Benson (knee), and Bam Knight (ankle) to season-ending injuries. Carter enters Week 17 as RotoBaller's 23rd-ranked running back in Half-PRR formats with a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals' defense has struggled to stop running backs on the ground and in the air this year. They have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs and have given up 25.9 fantasy points per game this season, according to Pro-Football-Reference. Carter is an RB2 with upside that can be fired up as a flex option in fantasy championships in Week 17.
Dec 26, 2025 11:46 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had 11 carries for 65 yards in the 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals have been decimated by injuries this season, especially in their RB room. James Conner (ankle), Trey Benson (knee), and Bam Knight (ankle) are all on injured reserve, leaving Carter and Emari Demercado as the two lead backs. Carter played 54% of the snaps and led the team in carries, while Demercado played 30% of the snaps. Their Week 17 matchup brings some upside, as they face the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season. While he entered the season as an afterthought in Arizona, he could determine fantasy championships this week and offers low-end RB2 value against this struggling Bengals defense.
Dec 24, 2025 10:41 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter filled in as the starter in Week 16 for the team's banged-up backfield, and he had a solid game against the Falcons. He took 11 carries for 65 yards but failed to catch either of his two targets or get into the end zone. Carter played well ahead of Emari Demercado and Corey Kiner and will likely lead the backfield committee again in Week 17 with James Conner, Trey Benson, and Bam Knight all on the shelf for the rest of the season. Carter and the Cards get a favorable matchup in Week 17 against the Bengals, so if you need some emergency help in the backfield, he's a solid streaming option with touchdown-dependent upside in Week 17.
Dec 22, 2025 9:19 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is expected to be the lead back heading into the Week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals' backfield has been strung by the injury bug this season. The latest player to fall was Bam Knight (knee), who was placed on the injured reserve after exiting last week's game with a knee injury. Now, Carter figures to take over as the lead back for the final few games of the regular season while Emari Demercado is set to operate as the No. 2 option. Last week, Carter rushed the ball 14 times for 56 yards, while hauling in four receptions for 38 additional yards through the air in the loss to the Houston Texans in relief of Knight. Carter has a decent matchup in Week 16 against an Atlanta Falcons defense that ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to RBs. The assumption is that Carter will see a large enough workload to offer RB2 value in all formats for this Week 16 contest.
Dec 21, 2025 8:50 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter should lead the backfield against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, reinforcing his fantasy value as a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 in fantasy football. Carter will handle a larger workload this week after Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. After Knight exited last weekend, Carter played a season-high 80% snap share with 14 carries, 56 rushing yards, four catches, and 38 receiving yards. The 26-year-old is likely headed for similar volume this Sunday, but we also wouldn't be surprised if Emari Demercado eats into his workload slightly. Nevertheless, Carter should remain the clear No. 1 back heading into a favorable matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed the 13th-most rushing yards and 14th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025. A spread of ATL -3.0 also indicates that this should be a competitive game, which is another reason why we expect Carter to see a healthy dose of carries and targets. He ranks as the overall RB25 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.
Dec 20, 2025 3:34 PM EST
As expected, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Friday that running back Michael Carter will be the starting RB in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons with Bam Knight (ankle) done for the season, according to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic. After Knight was carted off with a season-ending ankle injury in last week's loss to the Houston Texans, Carter had 18 touches for a season-high 94 scrimmage yards. The 26-year-old will be Arizona's lead back for the final three games of the 2025 season, and he'll have immediate RB2 upside this weekend as the primary RB in the desert against the visiting Falcons. However, Emari Demercado should see plenty of work as well as the expected passing-down back in an offense that loves to throw the football. Carter has averaged a mediocre 3.3 yards per carry on 67 rushing attempts for 221 yards and one rushing touchdown in his 10 games played for the Cards this year.
Dec 19, 2025 12:23 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon gave running back Michael Carter a vote of confidence on Wednesday, saying that the team was "very comfortable" with Carter serving as the team's top option out of the backfield as the team prepares for a Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Gannon's comments have merit, as the fifth-year back played a commanding 80% of the team's offensive snaps a week ago. Injuries have absolutely ravaged the Arizona backfield in 2025, as James Conner (ankle), Trey Benson (knee), and now Bam Knight (ankle) are all out for the remainder of the season. While Arizona is out of the playoff picture, Carter will be a hot commodity who could be a valuable lineup option with favorable matchups against Atlanta in Week 16 and Cincinnati in Week 17.
Dec 18, 2025 9:28 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is set to lead the backfield following Bam Knight (ankle) being placed on Injured Reserve. The Cardinals' backfield has been ravaged by injuries this season, and now Carter is the next man up. The 26-year-old played 53 of 66 snaps in the Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans, recording 14 carries for 56 yards while adding four receptions (four targets) for 38 yards as a receiver. Emari Demercado returned after missing the past three games with an ankle injury, but he wasn't very involved, playing just seven offensive snaps with three touches. Carter is expected to be the every-down back with Knight out of the picture, as he handled 78% of the running back rushing attempts and ran 72% of the routes in his absence. Carter had one game earlier this season with a similar workload back in Week 5, where he was inefficient as a runner with 18 carries for 51 yards, but found the end zone and added five catches (five targets) for 22 yards, finishing with 18.3 PPR points. Carter profiles as a top waiver-wire pickup this week and can be immediately plugged into lineups as an RB3/flex in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Dec 17, 2025 1:18 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had 14 carries for 56 yards in Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 15. Carter also had four catches for 38 yards on four targets. The 26-year-old was the next man up in the Cardinals' backfield after Bam Knight (ankle) was carted off the field early in the game. Carter was able to step into the Cardinals' RB1 role and display his versatile skill set in the run and pass games. With the Cardinals unsure of Knight's status for Week 16, Carter's fantasy stock is rising and should be on fantasy managers' radars. If Knight can't play next week against the Atlanta Falcons, Carter and Emari Demercado would split work in the backfield. Carter could be in for a bigger role in the Cardinals' offense and is worth picking up off the waiver wire going into Week 16.
Dec 15, 2025 11:59 PM EST
The Arizona Cardinals' running back room got a little thinner after their Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans 40-20 on Sunday, as running back Bam Knight (ankle) was carted off the field in Sunday's contest and did not return. Michael Carter stepped up as the team's primary running back, and after Knight's departure, he had 78% of the backfield carry share, a 10% target share, and got the only carry inside the 10-yard line. He finished the contest with 14 carries for 56 yards (4.0 YPC) and hauled in all four of his targets for an additional 38 yards, and will have fantasy value moving forward, as he appears to be their No. 1 running back option if Knight misses any extra time and would become a must-add off the waiver wire. The Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17. It will be important to monitor Knight's status, as that will determine Carter's overall value moving forward. Still, Trey Benson (knee) was not activated from the IR on December 10, and because of that, his season is over, leaving Carter as the only healthy option at this time.
Dec 15, 2025 9:27 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter fell under double-digit touches in the Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Carter was quickly phased out of the offense and was only able to garner five touches for 31 scrimmage yards. The 26-year-old's role in the offense will remain up in the air with Emari Demercado (ankle) listed as questionable in Week 15. Demercado has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, but was able to be a limited participant in each practice this week. In a murky situation, Carter will face a difficult matchup against the Houston Texans. The Texans' defense has allowed the fourth-fewest receptions and the fifth-fewest rushing yards this season. It will be tough sliding for Carter on Sunday, even as a pass-catcher, going against a solid Texans' linebacker core. In a difficult Week 15 matchup, Carter will be a risky desperation flex option in deep PPR leagues.
Dec 13, 2025 9:14 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter has seen minimal usage as a rusher in recent weeks, as he has not recorded more than five carries in a game since Week 7. However, the 26-year-old has seen consistent work in the passing game, hauling in 15 receptions for 117 yards on 20 targets over the last four weeks. The Cardinals' backfield has been in a constant state of flux this season due to injuries. With James Conner (ankle), Trey Benson (knee), and Emari Demercado (ankle) sidelined, Carter and journeyman back Bam Knight have seen the majority of the work over the last month. Arizona could be getting Benson back in Week 15 against the Houston Texans, which may eliminate Carter's role. However, it appears the Cardinals are also considering shutting down Benson for the season due to his lingering knee injury. If Benson remains out, Carter could have some flex appeal for deep-league PPR fantasy managers thanks to his pass-catching ability.
Dec 9, 2025 9:43 PM EST
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.
Dec 8, 2025 11:44 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter had five carries for 17 yards in Sunday's crushing 20-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 13. Carter also had five catches for 47 yards on six targets. The 26-year-old was able to get involved in the passing game in Sunday's matchup to stay fantasy relevant in Half-PPR and Full-PPR leagues. Week 13 marked the first time Carter had gotten double-digit touches in a game since Week 6. 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 14. If Benson or Demercado returns, Carter will fall to RB3 duties in the Cardinals offense.
Nov 30, 2025 9:53 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter figures to remain in the mix for at least one more game. Fellow back Trey Benson (knee) is working his way back in the mix, but has been ruled out for the Week 13 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That being said, Bam Knight figures to operate as the lead back with Carter getting mixed in as well. Last week, Carter rushed the ball five times for 28 yards in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He should once again see a handful of carries this weekend, but should fall to RB3 duties once Benson returns. Fantasy managers are unlikely to get much out of Carter after this weekend.
Nov 28, 2025 9:54 PM EST
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