Who Should I Start? Michael Carter or Hunter Luepke

Monday, December 15, 9:27 AM

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.

Wednesday, September 3, 9:47 AM

The Dallas Cowboys and fullback Hunter Luepke have agreed to a two-year contract extension worth up to $7.5 million, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo. The deal makes Luepke the second-highest paid fullback in the NFL, joining San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk, behind Miami Dolphins' Alec Ingold. The third-year pro out of North Dakota State is coming off the best season of his career in 2024, when he tallied 149 yards and a touchdown on 24 touches. Beyond his production, Luepke proved his value as a versatile contributor, excelling as a runner, receiver, and blocker in the Cowboys' offense. With the extension secured, Luepke is expected to remain Dallas's starting fullback as the team prepares for a critical Week 1 divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.