Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. Benson, a rookie, has consistently operated as the Cardinals' No. 2 running back behind James Conner, totaling 291 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards, and one touchdown this year. With Benson sidelined and Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve, the Cardinals will call upon DeeJay Dallas to back up Conner in Week 16. For fantasy purposes, Conner, who was the overall RB1 last week, is the only Arizona running back worth rostering and starting on Sunday.
Dec 20, 2024 11:26 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running Trey Benson (ankle) was labeled as a non-participant for the team's first practice ahead of Week 16. The rookie picked up the injury in last Sunday's 30-17 win over the New England Patriots late in the fourth quarter and did not return to the contest. It's not the best start to the week for Benson. He'll have another two opportunities to upgrade his practice status before the Cardinals take on the Carolina Panthers in a road tilt this weekend. With teammate Emari Demercado (back) on injured reserve, Arizona would be down to just James Conner and DeeJay Dallas manning the backfield if Benson was not healthy enough to suit against Carolina. Conner would likely absorb more touches than usual if that's the case.
Dec 18, 2024 9:18 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (ankle) exited Sunday's 30-17 win over the New England Patriots with an ankle injury and did not return. The rookie would finish his day with 22 yards on five carries. Benson seemingly sustained the injury midway through the fourth quarter. The severity of the ailment is unknown at this time, though running backs and ankle issues never mesh well. It's unfortunate news for the 22-year-old, who has rushed to the tune of 4.62 yards per carry in his first taste of big-league action. While his workload has been spotty behind trustworthy lead-back James Conner, Benson has done damage with his touches and has been a nice change of pace for the team. Backfield mate Emari Demercado (back) was recently placed on IR with issues of his own, so if the former Florida State Seminole can't suit up in Week 16, DeeJay Dallas would be the backup to Conner. Arizona will square off against the Carolina Panthers on the road next Sunday.
Dec 15, 2024 10:34 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson doesn't provide much fantasy value in the Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots. The former Florida State standout hasn't had many opportunities this season, despite showing flashes of explosive runs. Benson has carried the ball just nine times over his last four games. With Conner fully healthy, there isn't a high projected workload for Benson, making him not a viable fantasy option in Week 15.
Dec 14, 2024 11:58 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson did not contribute much in the Week 14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Although it seemed like Benson was due for more involvement in the Cardinals' offense, that simply has not been the case. Benson totaled two carries for 15 yards and added one reception for four yards. Until Benson puts together multiple games of fantasy-relevant production, he remains a handcuff for lead back James Conner and not much else.
Dec 8, 2024 11:47 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson should not be considered for starting lineups in fantasy in Week 14. The Cardinals will have a home divisional matchup with the Seattle Seahawks in what will be a pivotal game for the NFC West. Benson saw an uptick in usage before the Week 11 bye, but post-bye week, that trend has not continued. Benson has had just seven total carries over the last two weeks. With Benson's usage not at a reliable level, he remains a handcuff for James Conner but is not a fantasy starter.
Dec 6, 2024 1:53 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson hasn't been a starting fantasy option all year long while working behind starter James Conner, and that won't change in a tough Week 13 matchup on the road against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday. The Vikings defense has been stingy against the run, allowing just 14.8 half-PPR points to the position per game, which is the third-fewest in the league. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old third-rounder out of Florida State has seen double-digit carries just twice in his first 10 NFL games. Arizona wasn't able to get anything going on the ground last week in the loss to Seattle, either, with Benson's 18 rushing yards on four carries leading the team. Benson's long-term fantasy value took a hit with the Conner extension announced on Saturday, and he won't be a realistic fantasy starter with minimal volume in a bad matchup this weekend.
Nov 30, 2024 12:49 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie Trey Benson has begun to slowly find a role in the offense and could be in store to see a solid workload in their Week 12 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. During Week 9, the rookie logged eight carries with one target. Then, in Week 10, Benson earned a season-high ten attempts and two targets in their decisive victory over the New York Jets. During this two-game stretch, Benson has averaged an impressive 5.5 average yards per carry. Before this, Benson saw just six rushing attempts during Weeks 6 through 8. While fantasy managers should still expect James Connor to operate as the clear leader of the backfield, Benson could be a viable low-end flex option in 14+ team formats, especially if the Cardinals are playing with a lead. In addition, given how well he is running the ball, he could produce a solid fantasy stat line, albeit in a limited role as he has in the past two games.
Nov 23, 2024 2:18 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson scored his first career touchdown in the 29-9 win over the Chicago Bears. Starting running back James Conner had to check himself out after a hard fall, which opened the door for Benson to enter the game and take the Cardinals' goal-line carries, during which he found his way into the end zone. With the Cardinals taking a commanding lead and Conner getting a little banged up, Benson saw an increase in workload, finishing the game with eight carries for 37 yards, one touchdown, and one reception for 18 yards. It was expected that at some point in the season, the Cardinals would try to get Benson more involved to lower Conner's snap count and keep him healthy, and that happened in Week 9. This was Benson's most impressive game of the season, and the rookie looks like he's starting to find his footing in the NFL. While Benson could be viewed as a handcuff for James Conner, he is not necessarily a viable option when the Cardinals host the New York Jets in Week 10.
Nov 4, 2024 9:00 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson (illness) is officially active for the Cardinals on Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Benson did not practice on Saturday due to an illness and was listed as questionable on the final injury report, but he will be active and continue to serve as James Conner's backup. The 22-year-old's role has been limited so far in his first NFL season while working behind Conner, as he has only received 30 rushing attempts for 107 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and no touchdowns while adding two receptions on his two targets for 12 yards. Benson has seen double-digit rushing attempts just once, and that was back in Week 2. Expect a similar limited workload on Monday night against a tough defense. In most fantasy leagues, Benson is merely a handcuff for Conner.
Oct 21, 2024 8:12 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (illness) has been added to the injury report ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. Benson popped up on the injury report on Saturday due to an illness and is now uncertain to play on Monday. The rookie back has been quiet this season outside of one 50-yard performance. If active, Benson still isn't a viable fantasy option for Week 7. However, his absence would likely mean that Emari Demercado takes over as the primary backup to James Conner. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to the waiver wire to add Demercado considering Conner is likely going to see the bulk of the carries.
Oct 20, 2024 9:23 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson had as quiet of a debut as they come in the team's season opener last week against the Bills. The third-round pick out of Florida State saw just three rushing attempts to James Conner's 16. Benson gained 13 yards on the ground and caught one pass for another five yards. The rookie didn't take the field until the Cardinals' third drive and was outsnapped by fellow backup Emari Demercado, 14 to eight. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing referred to Conner as the team's "bell cow" in comments to the media ahead of Week 1 and there's little reason to believe they will move away from him in Week 2. Benson is still worth stashing in case the injury bug bites or the team starts utilizing their backs differently, but he should be on fantasy benches on Sunday against the Rams.
Sep 14, 2024 4:14 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson finished the preseason with 17 carries for 64 rushing yards. The third-round pick out of Florida State was once believed to be a threat to James Conner's playing time but it appears the rookie will have to wait a while before he makes his mark on the league. In recent comments to the press, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing reaffirmed the team's commitment to using Conner as their primary running back, referring to him as the "bell cow in that room." While Benson's performance during training camp and the preseason solidified his role as Conner's direct backup, not much should be expected of the rookie out of the gate. Given Conner's injury history, Benson is certainly a worthwhile bench stash but the bench is exactly where he should be on fantasy rosters in Week 1.
Sep 7, 2024 5:46 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.
Aug 23, 2024 6:46 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Trey Benson took advantage of a resting James Conner as he rushed nine times for 43 yards in the Cardinals' loss to the Colts in Saturday's preseason matchup. Per PFF's Nathan Jahnke, Benson saw 16-of-22 possible first and second-down snaps outside of two-minute drills, which gives a clue that the Cardinals may have other backs like Emari Demercado and/or Michael Carter ticketed for a third-down role outside of Conner. Benson was drafted in the third round this past April as the eventual successor to Conner, but for now, Benson is only a contingency-based fantasy pick in the event of a Conner injury. He's still a worthy upside RB4/5 bench stash and could carve out a bigger role later this season.
Aug 17, 2024 11:00 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson is signing his four-year rookie deal on Thursday, according to a source. The two-time All-ACC RB from Florida State with 4.3-second speed never fumbled during his collegiate career and is expected to play a prominent role for the Cardinals' offense in 2024 alongside lead back James Conner. The 21-year-old 66th overall pick tore multiple ligaments in his knee while at Oregon in 2020 but scored 24 total touchdowns in 2022 and 2023 with the Seminoles. There are questions about his durability, but Benson's combination of power and speed give him plenty of upside at the next level in the long-term. In single-year fantasy leagues, Benson will be worth a late-round flier as a handcuff for managers that take the plunge on the oft-injured Conner.
Jul 18, 2024 2:07 PM EST