Arizona Cardinals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Arizona Cardinals signed running back James Conner a two-year, $19 million contract extension on Saturday, according to a source. Conner was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season, but the Cardinals will instead lock him in for another two years. Arizona drafted Trey Benson back in April, but the 29-year-old Conner will move forward as the team's primary backfield piece going forward as long as he's healthy. The former third-rounder by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 out of Pittsburgh is having another strong season and is on pace for back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the first time in his career. Conner currently has 705 rushing yards and five TDs on 166 carries (4.2 yards per tote) in 11 games. Coming off a quiet performance in Week 12, Conner should be considered a low-end RB2 in fantasy in Week 13 against the Vikings.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride remains a must-start TE1 in fantasy football. The Cardinals will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in Week 13. Regardless of the matchup, McBride has earned the status of a player who should be started no matter what. While McBride has struggled with touchdown production this season, finding the end zone just twice, he still ranks as a top-three tight end overall. McBride should remain in lineups for Week 13.

James Conner's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 presents a tough challenge, but his consistent usage in both the running and passing game still makes him a viable fantasy option. The Cardinals' offense has struggled to establish a run game, especially after their poor performance against the Seahawks in Week 13, where Conner was limited to just eight yards on seven carries. However, Conner's five targets in the passing game show that the team is still committed to keeping him involved in their offense. Even with the difficult matchup, Conner's steady involvement in the passing game gives him a solid floor for fantasy points, especially in PPR formats. The Vikings' defense has been relatively middle-of-the-pack against the run, so while Conner may not have a high ceiling this week, he can still provide decent fantasy value as a low-end RB2. The key for Conner is his volume, and barring a drastic change in game script, he should see enough touches to justify a start in most lineups.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is a low-end QB1 in Week 14 as the Cardinals travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. It was tough sledding for Murray and the Cardinals offense in Seattle a week ago. The Cardinals failed to produce a touchdown, and Murray threw a momentum-shifting pick-six that set the Cardinals' comeback hopes back by a large margin. However, the Cardinals' offense should return to its usual form this week. The Vikings' stout defense presents a challenge for the Cardinals' passing attack, but this is a unit that has earned its trust. The matchup makes Murray a low-end QB start, but he should still be started in Week 14.

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (back) was a limited participant during practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has mostly operated as the Cardinals' No. 3 running back this season, but he's still been efficient and productive, totaling 211 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards, and one touchdown through 11 games so far. He's not a dependable redraft option as long as both James Conner and Trey Benson are healthy.