Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve, which should allow Carter to be the lead running back for the Cardinals in Week 16. He has two games this season with double digits in carries in Week 5 against Tennessee and Week 15 at Houston, and Carter scored at least 12 PPR points in both outings. He hasn't run well this season at 3.3 yards per carry, but he does have at least four catches in three of his past five games. The Falcons have allowed nine running backs to score at least 11.1 PPR points in their past nine games, and Carter is worth using as a low-end No. 2 running back in the majority of leagues in Week 16.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Sleeper RBs
Rotowire
Zonovan Knight (ankle) was placed on injured reserve, which should allow Carter to be the lead running back for the Cardinals in Week 16. He has two games this season with double digits in carries in Week 5 against Tennessee and Week 15 at Houston, and Carter scored at least 12 PPR points in both outings. He hasn't run well this season at 3.3 yards per carry, but he does have at least four catches in three of his past five games. The Falcons have allowed nine running backs to score at least 11.1 PPR points in their past nine games, and Carter is worth using as a low-end No. 2 running back in the majority of leagues in Week 16.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Coach confirms Week 16 start
Rotowire
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed Friday that Carter will start Sunday's game against the Falcons, Theo Mackie of AZCentral reports.
Carter handled 18 touches and churned out a season-high 94 scrimmage yards after Bam Knight injured his ankle in the Week 15 loss to Houston. Knight was subsequently placed on IR, clearing the path for Carter to take on the starting role Sunday and likely for the remainder of the season, with Emari Demercado and Corey Kiner on hand for depth.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Likely to lead backfield in Week 16
Rotowire
Carter is expected to serve as the Cardinals' lead back in Sunday's game against the Falcons after Arizona placed Bam Knight (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, Zach Gershman of Arizona's official site reports.
Emari Demercado and third-stringer Corey Kiner also provide depth in the Arizona backfield, but Demercado has been used mostly as a change-of-pace option this season, while Kiner is an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati with one game of NFL experience. When Knight departed with an ankle sprain after playing just one snap Sunday, Carter dominated the snaps (53, 80 percent share) and touches (18, for 94 yards from scrimmage) at running back. With Knight now out for the season, Carter should continue leading the Arizona ground attack, and his soundness as a pass blocker and receiver should also afford him plenty of work on passing downs. While he's been woefully inefficient as a runner (3.3 yards per carry on 67 totes), he could see enough volume in an up-tempo Cardinals offense to make him a useful lineup option during the fantasy playoffs.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Week 16 Adds (RB Preview)
Rotowire
Bam Knight averaged 10 PPR FPPG in his time as the starter, and I would not be surprised if Carter sees a larger share of the snaps and work than Knight did. Last week, Carter was RB19 against the Texans with 18 touches and 13.4 PPR Fantasy points. That is very close to what I project for him this week if Knight is out.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Week 16 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Carter took over for an injured Zonovan Knight (ankle) in Week 15 at Houston and had 14 carries for 56 yards and four catches for 38 yards on four targets. Knight isn't expected to play in Week 16 against Atlanta, and he could be out for the rest of the season. Carter could be the starter in Arizona for the next two games, and he has great matchups against the Falcons and then Cincinnati in Week 17. Emari Demercado (21 percent rostered) would also have a role, but Carter should be considered a borderline starter in all leagues against Atlanta if Knight is out as expected.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Leading rusher in Week 15 loss
Rotowire
Carter carried the ball 14 times for 56 yards and caught all four of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 40-20 loss to the Texans.
Bam Knight (ankle) was knocked out of the game early, leaving Carter to handle most of the work in the Arizona backfield, and he led the club in rushing yards while setting new season highs in touches, rushing yards and scrimmage yards. It's not clear if Knight will need to miss additional time, but Carter could be set for big volume once again in Week 16 against the Falcons. On the season, the fourth-year RB has 525 scrimmage yards and five total TDs in 12 games.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Struggles behind starter Sunday
Rotowire
Carter gained 13 yards on three carries and caught two of four targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 45-17 blowout loss to the Rams.
Fill-in starter Bam Knight (7-18-0) struggled against the Rams' defense, but Carter didn't fare much better in his limited opportunities. The 26-year-old depth piece is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry this season, which puts no pressure on the coaching staff to elevate Carter's role amidst all of Arizona's backfield injuries in 2025. Carter will continue to carry little fantasy value in a brutal matchup against the Texans next Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Keep an eye on Trey Benson (knee) and Emari Demercado (ankle), and if both remain out in Week 14 against the Rams then Carter could be a flex option in deeper leagues. He'll continue to play in tandem with Zonovan Knight, but Carter has scored at least 7.8 PPR points in each of his past three games against San Francisco, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, and he has 13 catches for 99 yards on 16 targets over that span. Carter is worth adding in all leagues for at least 5 percent of your remaining FAB, with his value slightly higher in PPR.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Gets 10 touches in Week 13
Rotowire
Carter recorded five carries for 17 yards and gathered in five of six targets for 47 yards during Sunday's 20-17 loss at Tampa Bay.
Aside from a Week 9 win in Dallas, when he was active but didn't play, Carter has handled various workloads in eight games since his season debut Week 4. The personnel available to the Cardinals backfield due to a litany of injuries has resulted in as few as one touch (Week 4) to as many as 23 touches (Week 5), but he's settled into roughly seven touches per game (6.9, to be exact) in his last six appearances. On Sunday, Carter took a back seat to Bam Knight (14 touches for 98 total yards and one TD), with Trey Benson (knee) still on injured reserve and Emari Demercado inactive due to a high-ankle sprain. If Benson and/or Demercado are able to return next Sunday against the Rams, the aforementioned workload for Carter may dry up to almost nothing, but he should remain involved as long as that duo is sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Leading rusher on five carries
Rotowire
Carter rushed five times for 28 yards while adding three receptions for 30 yards in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Jaguars.
Carter finished Sunday's narrow loss as Arizona's leading rusher despite seeing five fewer carries than fill-in starter Bam Knight (10-12-1). The latter cashed in a short rushing score, making Knight the preferred fantasy option when also factoring in his starting role. Trey Benson (knee) and/or Emari Demercado (ankle) could return in Week 13, although nothing has been confirmed on either front, which would push Carter and Knight into smaller roles on offense. For now, Carter is nothing more than a desperation play for those in deeper formats against the Buccaneers next Sunday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Role increases Sunday
Rotowire
Carter had two carries for six yards and gathered in five of seven targets for 22 yards during Sunday's 41-22 loss to the 49ers.
Carter's 44 percent snap share marked his highest workload since Week 7, which can be attributed to Emari Demercado's early exit due to an ankle injury. Carter ended up playing one more offensive snap (33-32) than Bam Knight, who led the backfield with nine touches for 45 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD. Demercado's status for Week 12 is unclear, but if he misses any time and Trey Benson (knee) isn't activated from injured reserve, Carter would split the backfield with Knight for at least this coming Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carter did not play a single snap as Bam Knight and Emari Demercado served as the Cardinals' two running backs during the 27-17 victory. Arizona has used up all three of Carter's elevations from the practice squad, so he would have to be signed to the 53-man roster in order for play for the Cardinals again this season. However, with Trey Benson (knee) close to returning from injured reserve, Carter's window for utility may have already closed.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Promoted for Monday's game
Rotowire
The Cardinals elevated Carter from their practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Cowboys.
After cutting Carter earlier this week in a procedural move, Arizona re-signed the running back to its practice squad shortly thereafter. As expected, he'll wind up being elevated for the third and final time this season, so Carter will need to be signed back to Arizona's 53-man roster in order to be eligible to play in any additional games beyond Monday. According to Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site, head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday that Bam Knight will draw the start out of the Arizona backfield in Dallas, but the team plans on taking a hot-hand approach to the position among Knight, Carter and Emari Demercado as the game unfolds. Given the uncertainty of what kind of workload he'll receive, Carter doesn't profile as an inspiring fantasy option this week, even in a favorable matchup versus a weak Dallas defense.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Back with Arizona
Rotowire
Coach Jonathan Gannon said Carter will take part in Tuesday's practice, indicating that the Cardinals at least have re-signed him to the practice squad, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Arizona released Carter on Monday, a procedural move to open up a spot on the active roster in order to activate first-round pick rookie DT Walter Nolen (calf) from the PUP list. Carter has been serving as the No. 2 RB behind Bam Knight the last two games with James Conner (foot) out for the season and Trey Benson (knee) likely at least a couple weeks away from his return from IR. During that two-game stretch, Carter gained 100 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches.
... See More... See Less
Michael Carter: Expected back with Arizona
Rotowire
The Cardinals intend to re-sign Carter in the near future, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Carter was released earlier Monday, but it sounds as if it was some sort of procedural move by Arizona, and the veteran running back appears to be sticking around. His playing time has dipped in consecutive games, and he rushed just seven times for 11 scoreless yards in Arizona's pre-bye loss to the Colts in Week 7. Carter holds very little fantasy value, as Bam Knight has passed him on the depth chart.
... See More... See Less
Michael Carter: Released by Cardinals
Rotowire
The Cardinals have released Carter, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
With Trey Benson (knee) not eligible to return from IR until Week 10, Bam Knight currently is the Cardinals' top healthy RB, though it's possible Emari Demercado (ankle) -- who was inactive Week 7 -- could return to action next Monday against the Cowboys. Additionally, D'Ernest Johnson and Jermar Jefferson represent possible Week 9 practice-squad elevations.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Logs nine touches Sunday
Rotowire
Carter turned seven carries into 11 yards and caught both of his targets for 25 yards during Sunday's 27-23 loss to the Packers.
For the second week in a row, Bam Knight had a slight lead on Carter in terms of offensive snaps (34-28), and the former also was far more effective with his reps, notching 57 yards on 14 rushes while hauling in three of four targets for seven yards. With fellow RB Emari Demercado (ankle) inactive, even practice-squad elevation D'Ernest Johnson got in the mix, seeing 14 snaps and taking one carry for no yards. The timeshare between Knight and Carter will continue for as long as Trey Benson (knee) is sidelined, which is expected to last at least one more game beyond the Cardinals' Week 8 bye.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Set for early-down role
Rotowire
The Cardinals are expected to "lean on" Carter on first and second downs during Sunday's game against the Titans after Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Just over a quarter of the way into the season, Arizona is already down its top two running backs. James Conner suffered a foot injury Week 3 that required season-ending surgery, while Benson is appears set to miss at least 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing meniscus surgery earlier this week. Emari Demercado had opened the season as Arizona's No. 3 running back behind those two players, but rather than elevating Demercado to the lead-back role, Schefter relays that the Cardinals instead plan to keep him in his usual pass-catching/change-of-pace role. Carter, who had previously been elevated from the practice squad for Week 4 before being signed to the 53-man roster Monday, thus looks poised to see the brunt of the early-down work and represents the best bet to lead the Arizona backfield in carries Sunday. Even so, Carter could still struggle to see enough overall touches to make for a comfortable option in fantasy lineups. In addition to losing out on some third-down snaps to Demercado, Carter could also cede some red-zone running opportunities to dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Michael Carter: Jumps to active roster
Rotowire
The Cardinals elevated Carter from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Thursday's game against the Seahawks.
Carter didn't make Arizona's 53-man roster out of training camp but found himself back on the practice squad, where he spent the first three games of the campaign. With James Conner (foot) on injured reserve and out for the season, Carter will join Emari Demercado and Bam Knight as backfield options behind new No. 1 RB Trey Benson. When both Conner and Benson were banged-up Weeks 17 and 18 of last season, Carter racked up 30 carries for 113 yards and one touchdown and gathered in all six targets for 27 yards.
