The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
This is a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield.
Arizona Cardinals Offense
The Cardinals are hoping to take the next step and get into the postseason in 2026. After going 4-13 in Jonathan Gannon’s first season, they went 8-9 last season. They squandered a real opportunity to win the NFC West, but there are positives to take from the season. Kyler Murray stayed healthy and played all 17 games, James Conner continued to shine at running back and they found their new WR1 in rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. They ranked 10th in offensive EPA/play, eighth in EPA/rush and 10th in rushing success rate. Conner is an underrated back, ranking seventh in the NFL in rushing yards over the past two seasons. If he can stay healthy, it should be another strong season for him.
When Murray is on the field with Harrison, Conner and Trey McBride, this is an exciting offense to watch. This will be their third season under the same head coach and offensive coordinator, which provides some much-needed stability in Arizona. The defensive side of the ball is where the Cardinals have struggled, ranking 24th in defensive EPA/play last season. They made some moves to improve on that side of the ball during the offseason. If those moves pay off and there is more stability on defense, that will help the run game. When you constantly get yourself into shootouts, you become a more pass-heavy team. Teams with good defenses often have good running games as well. That is the goal for Arizona this season.
Running Back Handcuff: Trey Benson
Conner has had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons since joining the Cardinals. He has fit into this offensive scheme well. Having a dual-threat quarterback like Murray is a big advantage for a running back. Defenses aren’t just focused on a pass play or a handoff to Conner, but on unique plays that allow Murray to take off and run as well. That extra element can give Conner an extra second to break a run before the defense knows what’s happening. However, having Murray as a runner also hurts the backup running backs. Murray was the second-leading rusher, by a decent margin, on the Cardinals last season. However, this could be the season that Trey Benson establishes himself as a real contributor to this offense.
Benson was a 2024 third-round pick by the Cardinals. He suffered an injury that allowed him to play only 13 games in his rookie season, but he played a solid role in the offense when he was healthy. He rushed for 291 yards in his rookie season, splitting backup duties with Emari Demercado. However, if he can stay healthy, Benson should be given more responsibility in his sophomore season. After seeing real NFL action, getting a full offseason as a pro and hopefully staying healthy, the coaching staff will have much more trust in Benson. Conner only played 13 games in 2023. If he has another season where he misses time, Benson will be given the bulk of the carries. That makes him the best choice to handcuff with Conner this season.
