MICHAEL CARTER NEWS

Likely to lead backfield in Week 16 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 Ar...

Impact Emari Demercado and third-stringer Corey Kiner also loom as options in the Arizona backfield, but the former has been used mostly as a change-of-pace option when available this season, and the latter 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 in the Cardinals' 40-20 loss to the Texans this past Sunday, Carter stepped up to dominate 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 be poised to 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 Carter has 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.

10 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy Football FAAB Report: Michael Carter, J.J. McCarthy, Colby Parkinson, and 9 More Week 16 Waiver Wire Adds Michael Carter, J.J. McCarthy, and Colby Parkinson headline this week's FAAB Report as we enter the fantasy football playoffs

10 HOURS AGO • SI.COM

Leading rusher in Week 15 loss 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.

Impact 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.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

The Cardinals Locker Room Show - Jonathan Gannon And Michael Carter React To The 40-20 Loss To Texans Dave Pasch and A.Q. Shipley provide instant reaction to the Cardinals 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 15 at NRG Stadium. Plus, Paul...

2 DAYS AGO • AZCARDINALS.COM

Struggles behind starter Sunday 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.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Gets 10 touches in Week 13 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.

Impact 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.

DECEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Fantasy Football Week 13 Waiver Wire Running Back Pickups feat. Dylan Sampson and Michael Carter In many fantasy football leagues, there are only two games left in the regular season. As such, veteran fantasy football managers know that...

NOVEMBER 24 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

Leading rusher on five carries Carter rushed five times for 28 yards while adding three receptions for 30 yards in Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Jaguars.

Impact 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 desperate play for those in deeper formats against the Buccaneers next Sunday.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Role increases Sunday 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.

Impact Carter's 44 percent snap share marked his highest 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 starting RB Bam Knight, who led the backfield with nine touches for 45 yards from scrimmage and one rushing TD. The extent of Demercado's health concern is unclear, but if he misses any time and Trey Benson (knee) isn't activated from injured reserve this week, Carter would stand to split the backfield with Knight for at least this coming Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

NOVEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Are Michael Carter, Emari Demercado playing today? Why RBs are off to slow starts in Week 10 | Sporting News Arizona Cardinals running backs Emari Demercado and Michael Carter are off to a lackluster start in the Week 10 game against the Seattle Sea...

NOVEMBER 9 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Joins active roster The Cardinals signed Carter from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Impact Arizona used up its third and final elevation for Carter this past Monday at Dallas, only for him to log no snaps on offense or special teams despite being active. Emari Demercado (15 touches, 40 percent snap share) and Bam Knight (11 touches, 57 percent snap share) ended up splitting the backfield reps, and with Trey Benson (knee) still on injured reserve, such a breakdown likely will continue Sunday at Seattle. As a result, Carter currently doesn't hold much sway in terms of fantasy.

NOVEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Packers in a playoff rematch on Monday night

Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are heading to Green Bay for a playoff rematch on Monday night

NOVEMBER 5 • Associated Press

Reverts to practice squad Carter reverted to the Cardinals' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Impact Despite being elevated from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Cowboys, 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. It was Carter's third elevation to the active roster, which means he would have to be signed to the 53-man roster in order for play for the Cardinals for the rest of the season. However, there may not be much motivation for Arizona to add Carter to the active roster if Trey Benson (knee) is close to returning from injured reserve.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Goes unused Monday night Carter was active but didn't play a snap in Monday's 27-17 win over the Cowboys.

Impact Carter was elevated from the practice squad in advance of Monday's contest to bolster the team's backfield depth, but the Cardinals ended up leaning on Bam Knight (38 snaps, 11 touches) and Emari Demercado (27 snaps, 15 touches) exclusively as their running backs during the game. Carter will revert to the Cardinals' practice squad Tuesday, and because he's now been elevated the maximum three times this season, he would need to be signed back to the 53-man roster in order to be eligible to play again. Trey Benson (knee) could be nearing a return from injured reserve in the coming weeks, so Arizona may not have much motivation to add Carter back to the roster. Over four appearances on the season, Carter has carried 35 times for just 97 yards (2.8 average) and one touchdown to go with nine catches for 77 yards on 12 targets.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Is Michael Carter playing tonight? Why Cardinals' RB is off to quiet start in crowded depth chart vs. Cowboys | Sporting News Arizona is mixing it up.

NOVEMBER 4 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Promoted for Monday's game The Cardinals elevated Carter from their practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Cowboys.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

May be elevated Monday Carter is an option to be elevated from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game at Dallas, but coach Jonathan Gannon announced Saturday that Bam Knight will be the starting runni...

Impact The Cardinals have had a revolving door in the backfield this season due to a series of injuries, namely to James Conner (foot, out for the season) and Trey Benson (knee, currently on IR). Emari Demercado (ankle) is set to play for the first time since Week 6, but he's the only other RB on the active roster ahead of Week 9 action. Carter is the obvious name to be elevated Monday afternoon, but even if he suits up and mixes in with Knight and Demercado, his returns (2.8 yards per carry) this season have left much to be desired.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Taking first RB reps this week Carter, who currently is on the Cardinals' practice squad, took the initial running back reps in practice Thursday and Friday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Following Arizona's Week 8 bye, the team released Carter on Monday and then re-signed him to the practice squad one day later. The Cardinals still have two elevations to use on Carter this season, so the transactions seemingly were procedural to open up a spot on the active roster for one of the players currently on a reserve list. Elsewhere in the backfield, Emari Demercado (ankle) returned to practice this week in a limited capacity, indicating that he's closing in on his first game action since Week 6. The order of RBs in practice has been Carter, Demercado and then Bam Knight, so the team may be preparing to run with the backfield of Carter on early downs and Demercado in obvious passing situations Monday in Dallas, assuming the latter is able to suit up.

OCTOBER 31 • ROTOWIRE

The Jet Press Podcast: Jets trade deadline special, Michael Carter II trade reaction In the latest episode of The Jet Press Podcast, Justin Fried and Mike Luciano discuss all things Jets trade rumors and react LIVE to the Mic...

OCTOBER 30 • THEJETPRESS.COM

Returns to Arizona's practice squad The Cardinals announced Tuesday that Carter was re-signed to the practice squad, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Following a Week 8 bye, the Cardinals released Carter from the 53-man roster on Monday, but the fifth-year running back will end up sticking around in the organization. At the moment, Arizona has only two running backs on its roster -- Bam Knight and Emari Demercado (ankle), the latter of whom sat out the Week 7 loss to the Packers -- so Carter seemingly has a good chance of being elevated from the practice squad to add depth to the backfield ahead of Monday's game in Dallas. Knight still projects to serve as Arizona's lead option on the ground in Week 9, though Carter will likely have a role in the game plan if he's elevated.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Arizona 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...

Impact On the heels of a Week 8 bye, Arizona released Carter on Monday, which likely was a procedural move in order to open up a spot on the active roster due to the imminent activation from the reserve/PUP list of rookie first-round pick Walter Nolen (calf). Carter has been serving as the No. 2 RB behind Bam Knight in the team's last two games with James Conner (foot) out for the season and Trey Benson (knee) on IR. During that two-game stretch, Carter combined for 100 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Expected back with Arizona The Cardinals intend to re-sign Carter in the near future, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Impact 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. Carter's 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.

OCTOBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Arizona Cardinals release former starter at running back, open roster spots The Arizona Cardinals released running back Michael Carter, who had struggled after taking over a larger role when Trey Benson went down wit...

OCTOBER 27 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Why Cardinals released Michael Carter after 34 carries in last 3 weeks | Sporting News No one saw this move coming from Arizona.

OCTOBER 27 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Michael Carter released: How many RBs do the Cardinals have besides Bam Knight? The Arizona Cardinals continue to make all sorts of adjustments, and a recent move was releasing Michael Carter from the team, which leaves...

OCTOBER 27 • BOLAVIP.COM