Who Should I Start? Emari Demercado or Brock Bowers

Sunday, October 5, 12:26 PM

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado "will stay in the same role" on third downs. Meanwhile, Michael Carter will take over on first and second downs with Trey Benson (knee) out four to six weeks after having surgery on his meniscus. James Conner (ankle) has already been lost for the year, so the Cardinals' backfield depth is being tested early on. Arizona could plan more designed runs for slippery quarterback Kyler Murray, too. Demercado had two carries for eight yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. While the 26-year-old will be more involved with Benson out, it's Carter that should see more volume, and thus be a better flex play in fantasy lineups, starting this Sunday against the winless Tennessee Titans. Demercado is a better flex option in PPR formats.

Monday, October 6, 3:11 PM

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll called star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) "week-to-week" on Monday after the second-year player missed his first game of the year in the Week 5 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Bowers injured the PCL in his knee in the season opener and played through it through Week 4, but they finally shut him down last week. The 22-year-old could now be in danger of missing a second straight game in Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans, depending on how his knee responds to treatment this week. Fellow TE Michael Mayer (concussion) missed a second straight game on Sunday as well, which led to the Raiders bringing up Albert Okwuegbunam from their practice squad. Fantasy managers must prepare for another potential absence from Bowers in Week 6. We should know more about his status once the team resumes practicing on Wednesday.