Sep 25, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) runs for a touchdown against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the fourth quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

It's been a rough season to be an Arizona Cardinals running back. Veteran James Conner underwhelmed in three games before suffering a season-ending foot injury against the San Francisco 49ers. That was a blow, but the franchise drafted Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft to be his contingency plan.

With 5.5 yards per carry and 51 rush yards over expected (RYOE) across limited usage to start 2025, it looked like Benson was primed for a breakthrough. He didn't get the call too often in Week 4 as Arizona trailed the Seattle Seahawks for nearly three full quarters (eight carries, 35 yards). A Week 5 showdown with the hapless Tennessee Titans presented an opportunity to make good on his potential and stake his claim as an RB1 in both NFL and fantasy circles.

Expect, well, he may not make it to Week 5.

Benson could miss Sunday's tilt with the Titans or have his playing time limited due to a minor knee injury.

Who could take Trey Benson's place in the Cardinals' backfield?

The Cardinals have two options on the roster. Emari Demercado missed the first two weeks of the season and played just 10 percent of the team's offensive snaps in Week 3. That rose to 40 percent in Week 4, including 80 percent of the team's third downs. After two catches and a late game-tying touchdown vs. the Seahawks, he'll be the top receiving option out of the backfield.

But Demercado has averaged only 4.1 carries per game in his two-plus seasons in the NFL. He's not a workhorse runner. The bulk of the team's handoffs could fall to Michael Carter, who had a single carry for one yard in Week 4 and averaged only 3.7 yards per carry in three games as a Cardinal in 2024. He's reliable and doesn't fumble much, but he's also a bit of a plodder.

Two vaguely familiar names who could emerge from the ether if Benson can't play? Zonovan Knight and D'Ernest Johnson. Knight is currently on the active roster and Johnson is a member of the practice squad. The 24-year-old Knight could have some untapped potential. Johnson ran for more than 500 yards as Nick Chubb's platoon-mate as a Cleveland Brown, though that was back in 2021.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Trey Benson injury: Cardinals' backup RBs are must-add for fantasy

Reporting by Christian D'Andrea, For The Win / For The Win

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