Who Should I Start? Emari Demercado or Omarion Hampton

Saturday, December 20, 4:26 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado is expected to handle an increased workload against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16, but his fantasy outlook remains murky. He is on track to operate as the backup to Michael Carter this week after Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve. While Demercado was viewed as Arizona's passing-down specialist at points earlier this season, it's unclear whether that remains his role given how well Carter has performed in the passing game lately. Carter has 19 catches over his last five games, whereas Demercado has just 10 catches through parts of 10 games this year. Rather than being a true passing-down specialist, it seems more likely that the 26-year-old will fall into a change-of-pace role, allowing the Cardinals to manage Carter's workload and keep him fresh. Demercado has shown impressive burst in the past, and his 8.3 yards per carry over the last two seasons indicates that he's capable of breaking off big plays. His fantasy value in Week 16 likely hinges on whether he's able to break off any big runs or catches against the Falcons. In other words, he'll need high efficiency to overcome a backup's workload. He currently ranks as the RB51 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 16.

Friday, December 19, 8:56 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton is beginning to assert himself in the backfield, leading the team with 15 carries and 54% of the rushing attempts last week. Even though Kimani Vidal ran the majority of routes and handled 100% of the two-minute offense, Hampton looked more explosive, averaging 4.1 yards per carry compared to Vidal's 2.8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Week 16 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys is promising, as Dallas is tied for second in rushing touchdowns allowed. However, star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (concussion) is off the injury report and is expected to play, adding an extra challenge for the backfield. As Hampton moves further away from his IR stint, his role in this run-heavy scheme could grow. RotoBaller projects him as the RB23 this week. He is a high-upside RB2 who could deliver a big performance if he maintains the lead in carries.