Week 2 waiver wires can define fantasy football seasons. The offseason chatter and hype give way to cold logic and reality. If he wasn’t already drafted in your league, Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson is going to be at the top of waiver wire lists this week after a strong performance against the Saints. So, is he worth burning your top waiver priority or FAAB budget on? Let’s explore.
Week 1 Breakdown
Benson caught a lot of eyes in the third quarter of Arizona’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints. With the Cardinals leading 17-10, Benson ripped off a massive 52-yard run down the right sideline that led to a field goal, stretching the lead to two scores. That proved to be an essential part of this game, and Benson ended up leading the Cardinals in rushing with 69 yards on eight totes.
But before we assume he’s taken James Conner’s job, let’s consider the workload share. Conner shouldered 12 carries to Benson’s eight, and out-targeted him four to one in the passing game, including a receiving score. The touches weren’t terribly productive; Conner’s 12 carries went for 39 yards, while his four catches netted just five yards. However, this is what he does. Conner bruises between the tackles and takes what’s in front of him in the passing game. It’s not a high-upside approach, but it doesn’t come with much downside, and the Cardinals have been fine with that.
It’s also worth noting that Benson is not a receiving back by trade. Last season, he took ten carries for every reception, while Conner had roughly five carries to every reception. If he wants to have standalone value, he’d have to overtake Conner as the primary rusher or step in after an injury. The latter is distinctly possible, as Conner is already 30 years old and has missed time in the last three years. This leaves us in a predicament when it comes to projecting Benson’s value as a waiver-wire add.
The Verdict
Judging whether or not Benson is worth the add is dependent on a proper assessment of his value. So here’s how I view the Cardinals’ backup RB going forward.
Benson will not have standalone value as long as James Conner remains healthy. OC Drew Petzing has coaxed back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns out of Conner and values him both as a tone-setter in the run game and a consistent pass protector/safety valve in the pass game. Unless Benson takes a massive leap in both of those areas, backup duties are where he will reside. So don’t add him expecting to get a starting RB in the next couple of weeks. Unless…
Injury. If Conner goes down for any amount of time, Benson steps into immediate RB2 value as an explosive runner in a high-volume rushing attack. He’d be the unquestioned starter with 20+ touches per game waiting. And since Conner is a 30-year-old with 1,658 career touches, injury is very much on the table.
Week 1 made it clear that Benson is one of the best handcuffs in the game. If you can get him on waivers without breaking the bank, go for it. He’s got league-winning upside if he suddenly finds himself in the starting role for an extended period of time. Just don’t spend starting RB-type money on your waiver wire.
