Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado has firmly placed himself as a player in the training camp battle to be the team's RB2. Demercado has been subbing in for James Conner during first-team work with Michael Carter taking second-team work and 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson spelling Carter. Demercado was a regular contributor last season for the Cardinals thanks to his pass-blocking work but he also started two games for the team in Weeks 7-8. Demercado's skillset is valuable and looks to be in line for a roster spot for the Cardinals, but it's only a matter of time before Benson moves up the depth chart considering the draft capital the team spent on him this past April. Demercado shouldn't be drafted in fantasy for this upcoming season but could find some waiver wire buzz if injuries strike the Cardinals' backfield.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson has been running with the starting offense early in training camp practices, even after the team added Zay Jones in the offseason. Wilson led the starting unit on Thursday with three catches and is looking to build on a rookie season in which he had 38 receptions for 565 yards on 58 targets. In addition to his role on offense, Wilson also split repetition in punt-return drills with Greg Dortch and Xavier Weaver. Rookie first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be a starter right away, so Wilson, Dortch and Jones figure to battle for the next two starting spots in camp and the preseason. The 24-year-old Wilson appears to be off to a good start. If he can remain as efficient as he was in 2023 with more opportunities in 2024, Wilson could be a popular early-season waiver-wire target in the Cardinals offense.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner may have recorded a career-high 1,040 rushing yards in 2023, but he hopes that was his floor and he can build on that total in 2024. "That's the floor," Conner told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward. Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling." Now 29 years old, Conner still has a solid grasp on the Cardinals' No. 1 running back role even after Arizona added Trey Benson in the draft. He has continued to show that he can make an impact on the ground and through the air, entering 2024 as a solid RB2 option in most fantasy football leagues.