Who Should I Start? Patrick Taylor Jr. or Michael Carter

Wednesday, August 20, 9:56 AM

The San Francisco 49ers have placed veteran running back Patrick Taylor Jr. (shoulder) on the season-ending injured reserve list. Taylor suffered a dislocated shoulder in the team's second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and he joins the growing list of 49ers running backs struck by injury. While presumed backup Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) was able to return to practice on Tuesday after missing several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own, the team has already lost Ameer Abdullah (ribs) for the season. Rookie Jordan James has already missed a few weeks due to a broken finger. After trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings, the 49ers' running back depth has been seriously tested already, which is the last thing the team needs in their efforts to keep All-Pro Christian McCaffrey healthy. Jeff Wilson Jr. and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will likely see the majority of work in the team's final preseason game. If he can remain healthy, McCaffrey once more enters the year as perhaps the biggest difference maker in fantasy football. Still, given his checkered injury history, Guerendo is one of the league's most important backups to roster.

Monday, November 3, 6:09 PM

The Arizona Cardinals announced on Monday that they elevated running back Michael Cater to the active 53-man roster from their practice squad for the Week 9 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cardinals cut Carter from the active roster early last week as a procedural move before quickly adding him back to their practice squad. The Cardinals are expected to "start" Bam Knight on Monday against Dallas, but head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team is going to ride the hot hand in the backfield after that. Emari Demercado is back from an ankle injury that knocked him out before the team's Week 8 bye, but the majority of backfield looks on Monday night should go to Knight and Carter. The 26-year-old will have a good matchup against the Cowboys, but he's averaging only 2.8 yards per carry in four games in 2025 and won't be a recommended DFS option.