Michael Carter led the Cardinals backfield Sunday in the first game since RB Trey Benson went down with a knee injury. Carter handled 18 of the 25 RB rushes in the Week 5 loss to the Titans. He also drew five of the team's six RB targets, tying Marvin Harrison Jr. for second on the team in that category. Carter caught all five of those to match TE Trey McBride for the team reception lead. But his yardage efficiency in both phases failed to impress.
Carter managed just 51 yards on his 18 carries (2.8 per rush) and 22 yards on his 5 receptions (4.4 per catch). He did deliver a 1-yard rushing TD early in the first quarter and ranks eighth among RBs in PPR points ahead of the Monday night game.
But Carter also went for 1.72 yards under expectation per carry. That ranked third-worst for the week, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Zonovan "Bam" Knight matched Carter's 2.8 yards per rush but edged him in yards after contact per carry and Pro Football Focus rushing grade. Knight carried just four times for the game, though, and logged one target among his 11 total snaps and five routes.
Emari Demercado ranked second among the trio in playing time but drew just three carries and no targets, and committed about the stupidest play a guy can make.
Carter's limited success plays especially poorly against a Tennessee defense that sits 29th in total DVOA and 31st against the run. But the guys behind him probably don't present enough juice to motivate a significant shift for Week 6.
Expect Carter to crack the top 24 in our Week 6 RB rankings for a trip to Indianapolis. But the Colts and Packers the next two weeks both present negative RB-scoring matchups according to our strength of schedule.
If you see a RB-needy manager in your league, consider shopping Carter off Sunday's fantasy total. Arizona's Week 8 bye follows those two games.
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