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Is Michael Carter a must-start value play in Week 17 if James Conner is injured?

Is Michael Carter a must-start value play in Week 17 if James Conner is injured?

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By: Alex Hunter

Conner injured his knee in last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers and it is unclear if the back will be available for this Saturday’s matchup with the Rams. Trey Benson is also in jeopardy of missing his second straight game due to an ankle injury. The Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to Carolina and given that, Conner and Benson sitting this weekend wouldn’t be a surprise.

If that is the case, Carter will be in store for a large workload as Arizona’s main back. With Benson inactive and Conner missing the fourth quarter last Sunday vs. the Panthers, Carter played 14 snaps and saw the team’s lone running back carry in the final frame, while DeeJay Dallas only played four snaps. Overall, Carter was Conner’s clear backup in the game, with five carries compared to zero for Dallas.

If both Conner and Benson are out, Carter would likely see 10-15 carries as Arizona’s lead rusher, while Dallas would likely operate as team’s change of pace back. Last week was Carter’s season debut, but he averaged a serviceable 0.26 FPTS per snap with the Cardinals last season.

While Carter lacks upside, he will be a viable punt play for DFS that has the potential for double-digit FPTS if he ends up getting the start this Saturday.

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

Alex Hunter
Alex Hunter is an avid DFS player and sports handicapper, who has been a proud member of the DraftKings Network team since 2020. He is a data-driven analyst, who earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Worcester State University and has been in the sports content business for nearly a decade, covering the NBA, NFL and PGA TOUR. Alex is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, who loves to be on the golf course when he isn’t grinding lineups or producing content. For all of Alex’s work or if you need any lineup advice, be sure to follow him @Hunta512 on X.
Disclaimer

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.