According to Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic, Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon did not make it sound likely that running back Trey Benson (knee) would return from Injured Reserve to play in Week 10 against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. "He's doing well. Take it day by day there. He's not gonna be out there today, but he is doing better. What does close mean? I don't know what close means. Take it day by day," Gannon said. The 23-year-old is not practicing on Wednesday, and the Cardinals have yet to open his 21-day practice window to return from IR. Benson is making progress after having arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus, but it sounds like he won't play this weekend. Benson should be stashed in all fantasy formats, as he will be the team's RB1 when he's healthy. In the meantime, Arizona will continue to mix and match in their backfield with Bam Knight, Emari Demercado, and Michael Carter. It's not an ideal situation for fantasy managers.
Nov 5, 2025 5:13 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals second-year running back out of Florida State, Trey Benson (knee), is eligible to return from the IR this week; however, the team has not yet provided an update on whether or not they will activate him. "He's doing well. He's getting better," head coach Jonathan Gannon said on November 1. Fantasy managers who have been stashing him on their IR will be disappointed by this news, but it will remain crucial for fantasy managers to stay up to date with his news this week to see if he's activated. Benson was fantasy football's top waiver wire pick-up back in Week 4 when James Conner (foot) was ruled out for the year. Since Benson's injury, the Cardinals' running back room has been a carousel of Bam Knight, Emari Demercado, and Michael Carter. After Week 9's win at the Dallas Cowboys, it was Demercado who appeared to be the more effective running back (5.64 YPC) compared to Knight's (3.0 YPC). The Cardinals have also committed to Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback moving forward, so once Benson returns, he should be in the RB2 conversation and see a majority of the team snaps. He remains one of, if not the best, IR stash in fantasy football.
Nov 5, 2025 9:17 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) injured the meniscus in his knee in Week 4 against the San Francisco 49ers and had surgery, forcing him to Injured Reserve. Bensons was initially given a four- to six-week timeline to return after having surgery. He remains on IR and will miss his fourth straight game when the Cardinals take on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in Week 9. Benson will be eligible to return for the Week 10 contest against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks, but it's unclear if that is in play for the second-year back. "He's doing well. He's getting better," head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Saturday. Once the Cardinals designate Benson to return from IR and he rejoins the team at practice, they will have 21 days to officially activate him back to the active roster. He was the team's leading rusher with 160 yards on 29 carries through four games before getting hurt. Until Benson can return, the Cardinals will go with a timeshare between Bam Knight and Michael Carter at RB.
Nov 3, 2025 12:35 PM EST
According to Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, running back Trey Benson (knee) has been attending team meetings to "get his mind back on football." The 23-year-old suffered a torn meniscus in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. As a result, he underwent surgery and was placed on the Injured Reserve list. Benson had moved to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart after James Conner (Achilles) was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. In four appearances, he ran for 160 yards off 29 carries, adding 13 grabs (16 targets) for 64 yards. It appears he's inching closer toward a return. For now, the 2024 No. 66 overall pick will remain on the IR, with Bam Knight expected to handle the majority of the touches out of the backfield. It's unknown if Benson will reclaim his place atop the depth chart immediately upon his return. With that said, Benson is worth stashing on fantasy rosters, although it may not be wise to start him until it's clear he's ready for a full workload. The Cardinals will face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night before turning their attention to the Seahawks in Week 10.
Nov 1, 2025 9:53 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) will miss at least one more game before his potential return, but he could be worth grabbing from the waiver wire this week if you have the roster flexibility to do so. Before his meniscus injury that required surgery, he had stepped in as the early-down workhorse after the season-ending foot injury to James Conner. The Cardinals released Michael Carter, which indicates something is in motion at the position, which could mean a trade or that Benson will be back to take over the job very soon. Bam Knight will likely continue to carry the load this week, with Emari Demercado potentially mixing in as well. The Cardinals have a great running back schedule the rest of the way, so whoever gets the playing time should have good value, and Benson would seem to have the inside track for that spot once he returns.
Oct 28, 2025 9:41 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) remains on injured reserve for at least another two weeks as the Cards attempt to make do with a committee ahead of Week 7 against Green Bay. The Florida State product was a surprising addition to injured reserve after playing more than half of the Cards' Week 4 game against Seattle, though the team expects him to return this season. The team activated running back D'Ernest Johnson this week and has previously featured a rotation that has included Michael Carter, Emari Demercado, and Bam Knight. From a fantasy perspective, it's been tough to rely upon any of them with the team cycling through so many players.
Oct 19, 2025 2:00 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) is expected to miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus, another setback for a backfield already reeling from the season-ending loss of James Conner (foot). Benson had been working into a steady role with 29 carries for 160 yards and 13 receptions for 64 yards through four games, but his absence now opens the door for Emari Demercado to take on feature-back responsibilities. Demercado should be added in all fantasy formats as he projects to see the bulk of opportunities in both the running and passing game, especially with Arizona lacking proven depth behind him. While Benson showed flashes of efficiency early, his return timetable places him on injured reserve and makes him droppable unless you have an IR spot available.
Oct 1, 2025 2:19 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) is being placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday with a knee injury that he suffered in last Thursday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cardinals are expecting Benson to play again this year, but he will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. It's another major blow to Arizona's backfield after they already lost James Conner (Achilles) for the season. The earliest that Benson can return is Week 10 against the Seahawks -- the Cardinals have a bye in Week 8. In the meantime, Emari Demercado will become Arizona's No. 1 backfield option, making him a priority addition off your league's waiver wire if he's available. Michael Carter will also see an expanded role as the team's RB2 and is worth a look in deeper leagues for RB depth. Benson should be stashed in an IR spot if you have him rostered.
Oct 1, 2025 1:08 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (knee) "banged his knee" during the team's Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and Benson's status for Week 5 is "now in question," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Benson recorded 54 yards from scrimmage on 13 total touches in Week 4, which was the team's first full game since veteran running back James Conner (ankle) was lost for the season with an ankle injury. Third-year back Emari Demercado was Arizona's RB2 in Week 4, recording 21 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown on four total touches. If Benson misses the Cardinals' Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, backfield touches would likely be split between Demercado and running back Michael Carter. Carter has just one carry so far in 2025, but he rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries across three games (one start) with Arizona in 2024.
Oct 1, 2025 11:20 AM EST
When asked specifically about running back Trey Benson (undisclosed), Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon called him "day-to-day" on Monday and noted that there will be more when the first injury report of the week comes out on Wednesday, according to Howard Balzer of Cards Wire. Benson apparently picked up an injury in last Thursday night's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but it's unclear whether it will put his status in the air for Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. The good news is that Arizona has extra time off since its last game. The 23-year-old disappointed in Week 4 in his first game as the lead back following James Conner's (ankle) season-ending injury, as he rushed for only 35 yards on eight carries and caught five passes for 19 yards. Benson will be a must-start against the winless Titans if he's active this week. If his injury is serious enough to keep him out, Emari Demercado would become the Cardinals' top backfield option.
Sep 29, 2025 6:53 PM EST
Theo Mackie, beat writer for the Arizona Cardinals, reports that head coach Jonathan Gannon mentioned the following about the run game: "We have to run the ball better. It's just not where it needs to be at the moment. And that's a part that, going into the year, you'd think that you'd be able to run it a little bit better." Cardinals running backs are currently averaging exactly 4.0 YPC on the season. Operating as the team's clear back, Trey Benson rushed eight times for 35 yards and hauled in all five targets for 19 yards in the Cardinals' 23-20 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night. Regardless of Benson's final line, it was encouraging to see Benson involved in the pass game and earning eight out of the 11 running back carries on the evening. The main issue for the Cardinals on Thursday was their inability to sustain drives. The Cardinals experienced multiple three-and-outs in the first half and third quarter. Once they fell behind by a few scores in the second half, the game flow dictated a more pass-happy game script, which led to Emari Demercado receiving more playing time. There should be better days ahead for Benson; he still had a good share of the opportunities out of the backfield. Fantasy managers should view him as a lower-end RB2 moving forward.
Sep 26, 2025 9:20 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson will be thrown into the starting spot after a very unfortunate injury to James Conner (ankle) in Week 3. They already started to split more of the touches through three weeks than they did all last season, so this starting opportunity shouldn't be as much of a "shock to the system." In PPR formats, Benson averaged around 8.3 fantasy points per game through three weeks, which put him at RB34. He was quite efficient with the smaller workload, registering 6.0 yards per attempt. He even received 11 targets compared to six targets all of last year. The tough part is that the Seattle Seahawks are currently ranked as the seventh-toughest defense against the run and have given up the second-fewest points of any defense in the league. Benson's ceiling right now is a mid-level RB2, especially in PPR leagues.
Sep 25, 2025 9:27 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he is fully confident in second-year running back Trey Benson's ability to take on a bigger workload with veteran back James Conner (ankle) sidelined for the remainder of 2025. Benson appears to be in line to handle the vast majority of backfield touches in Arizona, at least in the immediate future. The 23-year-old has recorded 170 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches through his first three games of 2025. In any fantasy league where Benson is not already rostered, he should be the number one priority add on the waiver wire heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Sep 23, 2025 11:17 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson should be in line for a significant workload increase after the unfortunate news that veteran Cardinals back James Conner (ankle) will miss the remainder of 2025 due to an ankle injury. Benson has logged 21 carries for 125 yards and eight receptions for 45 yards through the first three games of the season. He may not play a true three-down role, as Arizona mixed in running back Emari Demercado on passing downs after Conner went down in Week 3. Still, Benson should dominate touches in the Arizona backfield and is the priority waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he remains available.
Sep 22, 2025 10:32 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson continues to see more opportunities so far this season, but his fantasy relevance hasn't hit a startable point just yet. In Week 1, he saw 33% of the offensive snaps and then received 44% in Week 2. He finished right around the middle of RB3 territory in PPR formats for both weeks, so his production hasn't warranted being in fantasy lineups yet. Despite getting only three carries against the Carolina Panthers, he also saw six targets for a 24% target share. His playing trend is one to watch as the season goes on, but he's better left on the bench going up against the San Francisco 49ers' defense while on the road.
Sep 19, 2025 10:01 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson had eight carries for 69 yards in the Week 1 win over the Saints. He added one catch for six yards. While the 23-year-old didn't find the end zone, he still played well, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Of course, James Conner was involved, logging 43 snaps, 21 more than Benson. Still, it was apparent that Benson had a place in the offense, even more than some had anticipated. With the Cards coming off a win, the team will look to keep it going in Week 2 versus the Panthers. Without question, Carolina had issues stopping the Jags on the ground, with Travis Etienne ending the day with 143 yards off 16 attempts. Conner should remain the No. 1 option out of the backfield in Sunday's showdown with the Panthers. However, Benson will likely get plenty of work, especially if the game gets out of hand. With a favorable matchup on the horizon, the 2024 No. 66 overall pick can be viewed as a flex option in deeper fantasy formats.
Sep 12, 2025 11:13 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner unsurprisingly led the team's backfield in their Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints with 12 carries, but he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry for 39 total rushing yards. Meanwhile, backup Trey Benson handled eight carries for 69 yards -- 75 percent of his production came on one run -- and also caught his only target for a six-yard pickup. If Week 1 was any indication, the backfield split in Arizona could be more even than most fantasy managers expected going into the year, which is reason enough to pick Benson up off the waiver wire. The 23-year-old back is currently only rostered in 39 percent of Yahoo leagues, making him a prime waiver-wire priority for those that are already looking at a thin RB situation. Benson and the Cardinals also have a juicy Week 2 matchup against a bad Carolina Panthers defense.
Sep 9, 2025 12:34 PM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson produced a very forgettable rookie season in 2024. He registered a total of 69 touches (63 carries, six receptions), 350 yards from scrimmage, one rushing touchdown, and one fumble. The Cardinals hope he eventually becomes the successor to James Conner, but the veteran set career highs in yards and carries last year while Benson gave up touches to Emari Demercado and Michael Carter. During training camp and preseason, the team did talk about getting Benson more involved, but his upside currently revolves around whether or not Conner can stay healthy. In 12-team leagues, it's better to avoid Benson in Week 1 until we see how their game plan shakes out.
Sep 6, 2025 10:19 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson received the most carries out of the backfield in the team's 20-17 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-year back out of Florida State finished with nine carries for 29 yards and one catch for 20 yards on his lone target. The efficiency on the ground wasn't particularly shining through this game, but he did show some explosive moments and took a short pass from Kyler Murray for 20 yards near the end of the first quarter, which set them up for a field goal. Benson is likely to remain the backup to James Conner, but the Cardinals have a lot of backs getting touches so far this preseason.
Aug 10, 2025 10:32 AM EST
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner considers Trey Benson a starter. "We're both RB1," said Conner. "He's gonna play a lot this year." Benson was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 games last season. However, he finished with only 291 yards and one touchdown off 63 touches. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has already indicated that Benson would be more involved during the 2025 campaign. Yet, Conner's latest comment adds more validity to Gannon's statement even more. It appears Benson could be more than an insurance policy this season, although his increased involvement won't be good for Conner's fantasy outlook. If anything, Conner could be the preferred pass-catching option out of the backfield, with Benson in line to handle the bulk of the carries.
Aug 2, 2025 7:13 PM EST
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