Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals rookie third-round running back Trey Benson has improved each week during training camp and the preseason and is showing that he's slowly but surely adjusting to the NFL game. Benson might now start the season as the RB2 behind starter James Conner, but ESPN's Josh Weinfuss doesn't think it will take him long to ascend to that spot. The 22-year-old from Florida State carried the ball nine times for 43 yards in last weekend's preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and has gotten extra reps in camp with Emari Demercado dealing with a shoulder injury. There were some injury concerns with Benson coming out of college, but if he manages to stay healthy in 2024, the full expectation is that he'll be Conner's direct backup sooner than later. In fantasy drafts, look to use a late-round flier on him if you choose Conner earlier on.

It hasn't taken Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to establish himself as the WR1 with his new team. By the time the Cardinals broke minicam in June, Harrison, the fourth overall pick back in April, was already seen in that role by both his teammates and the coaching staff. Since then, he's solidified his spot as the WR1 and perhaps the second-most important player (behind quarterback Kyler Murray) in this offense. The 22-year-old is expected to be the one person in the Cardinals' offense runs through and the option Murray looks to in "gotta have it" moments. The expectations for Harrison are massive for both the Cardinals and fantasy managers. If Murray stays healthy, it's easy to see how Harrison will slot in as an easy top-10 fantasy wideout when all is said and done in 2024.

The NFL has suspended Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones for the first five games of the season due to violating the league's personal conduct policy. The suspension follows a misdemeanor domestic battery charge from his time with the Jaguars last season, which the Florida state attorney's office eventually dropped. Despite this, the NFL conducted its investigation and imposed a five-game suspension. Last year, Jones recorded 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns with Jacksonville. He will be eligible for reinstatement on October 7, following the Cardinals' Week 5 game against the 49ers, meaning his earliest return to regular-season action would be October 13 against the Packers. In his absence, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Greg Dortch are expected to lead the team's wide receiver corps for the season opener on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills. While this impacts Kyler Murray somewhat, Trey McBride and Harrison Jr. will likely receive even more targets.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune will start the team's preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, indicating that he has a lead over Desmond Ridder for the backup QB spot behind Kyler Murray. Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals in March in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore, but he's fighting for a roster spot if the team does not keep three quarterbacks. Tune, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, threw for 62 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in one start last year. Fantasy managers in Superflex or two-QB leagues should monitor the backup competitions around the league, as any QB2 could become a starter and enter the fantasy football radar if injuries take place.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that quarterback Kyler Murray is "leaps and bounds ahead" of last year. Murray was forced to miss the first half of the 2023 season while recovering from a torn ACL. The Cardinals went 1-8 without him and 3-5 in games he started. This summer has been smooth sailing for Murray, and Gannon said this week that the ability to focus on football is a good thing for the quarterback. Fortunately for the Murray believers out there, he showcased no significant ill side-effects of the ACL injury regarding his efficiency as a ball-carrier. His 5.55 yards per carry over his eight games last season aligns with his career average of 5.8. The emergence of tight end Trey McBride as a plus-level pass-catching option and the offseason acquisition of rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. to Arizona's offense should provide Murray with two competent go-to choices in the passing game. Between the belief in the coaching staff and a pair of high-level playmakers, Murray is an intelligent middle-round target to aim for to fill your QB roster spot.