Fantasy Football News

Cardinals RB Michael Carter is a healthy scratch for today's game vs. the Texans. Not a big surprise after he was acquired earlier this week. With RB Emari Demercado out with his toe injury, it'll be RBs Tony Jones and Keaontay Ingram behind James Conner.

Cardinals RB James Conner claimed 16 of 19 RB carries Sunday in his return from the knee injury that landed him on IR for four games. Conner took those for 73 yards (4.6 per rush) but watched QBs Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune claim the team's two rushing scores. No Cardinals RB drew a target, but Conner's 13 pass routes led the position and marked a 36% route rate. That last number marks potential trouble once RB Emari Demercado returns to health. But Conner can help fantasy lineups even just as lead rusher and part-time backfield receiver going forward. Arizona gets a solid RB-scoring matchup with Houston in Week 11.

Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon says RB James Conner is "getting ready to go, and he's excited to get back when he can get back and play," according to Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com. This week will mark Conner's fourth game on IR, so it sounds like he should be ready to return for a Week 10 home date with the Falcons. We'll obviously have to watch reports on his expected role coming off the knee injury. But you can bet Arizona will be looking to get him back to workhorse use as soon as possible. Neither Emari Demercado nor any other Arizona reserve RB has done anything to challenge the status of a healthy Conner. It's worth noting that Conner would face the eighth-toughest remaining RB schedule if he does return in Week 10, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. The biggest potential trouble spots look like a Week 14 bye (duh) and a Week 17 visit to Philadelphia.

Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) did not practice on Wednesday. We don't have any details on the injury -- or whether he's in danger of missing Sunday's game vs. the Browns. With RB James Conner still on IR, Demercado's absence would leave Arizona's backfield to RBs Keontay Ingram and Damien Williams. We'll update Demercado's status again tomorrow.

Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram (neck) is not listed on the final Week 6 injury report. He'll play vs. the Rams on Sunday for the first time since Week 3. The Cardinals, of course, will be without RB James Conner in that one, leaving the backfield to Ingram, Emari Demercado, and the newly signed Tony Jones. Demercado is the best bet for fantasy production after a solid Week 5 showing, but it's anyone's guess as to exactly how backfield touches will be split here.

Cardinals RB James Conner is expected to miss "multiple weeks" with the knee injury he suffered in the Week 5 loss to the Bengals, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. We'll see if Conner ends up landing on IR, which would cost him four games. His absence leaves Arizona's backfield to Emari Demercado, Keaontay Ingram, and the just-acquired Tony Jones. Ingram has missed the past two weeks with a neck injury but did get in a couple of limited practices last week. We'll see if he makes it back for Sunday's game vs. the Rams, but Demercado will be the best fantasy bet in this backfield at least for Week 6.

The Cardinals on Monday claimed RB Tony Jones Jr. off waivers from the Saints. That, of course, comes a day after RB James Conner suffered a knee injury and doesn't bode well for Conner's chances of playing in Week 6. Arizona also went without RB Keaontay Ingram in Week 5 because of a neck injury. We'll see about his availability for Sunday's game against the Rams. Emari Demercado currently stands as the best bet to lead Arizona's backfield for that one and is worth a look on waivers this week for needy fantasy teams.

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that X-rays on RB James Conner's shin came back clean and that the injury is "nothing major." It sounds like Conner has a shot to play in this weekend's finale vs. the 49ers -- although it's certainly possible that he's held out of a game that means nothing to Arizona. Conner's absence would leave the Cardinals' backfield to Corey Clement and Keaontay Ingram.

Cardinals RB James Conner ran for 69 yards and 2 TDs in Sunday's win over the Rams, adding 17 yards on 3 receptions. He dominated backfield work in his 2nd game back from a 3-week rib injury. RB Keaontay Ingram claimed the team's only other RB carry. No other Cardinals RB drew a target in the game. Conner gets another tough rushing matchup with the 49ers in Week 11, but the kind of work volume he got Sunday will make him a weekly starter for most fantasy football teams going forward. Eno Benjamin was active but didn't get a touch in the game.