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Cardinals RB James Conner likely out for season, will undergo ankle surgery

Mon Sep 22 10:36am ET
Field Level Media

Cardinals running back James Conner is scheduled for ankle surgery and unlikely to return this season, pushing Trey Benson into a starting role in Arizona.

Conner was carted to the locker room after being tackled in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He had nine carries for 22 yards in the game and totaled 95 rushing yards in two-plus games this season.

Conner, 30, was hit at the shoulder pads while also being clipped low. Teammates called for trainers and several players on both teams gathered around the two-time Pro Bowler to wish him well as he left the field on a cart.

Benson had 10 carries for 42 yards in the second half of the 16-15 setback.

Benson leads the team with 125 rushing yards on 21 carries and called Conner his role model. He said he plans to pick up the slack for Arizona (2-1).

"I don't have a choice," he said. "I'm going to do it for (Conner). He's going to be my motivation for the rest of the year and I can't wait."

Michael Carter is on the Arizona practice squad and would be a candidate to join the active roster when the Cardinals officially transfer Conner to injured reserve.

Bam Knight and Emari Demercado are the current backups on the 53-man roster. Demercado has been the primary third-down back.

"You just got to regather yourself, try to keep going. Do it for him," Demercado said.

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The Paur Report

Five Fantasy Takeaways: Week 3

Player Notes
Adam Trautman Sep 22 9:50am CT
Adam Trautman

Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman was not targeted by quarterback Bo Nix during his team's 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. Trautman recorded three catches for 10 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 and profiled as a desperation streaming option at tight end heading into Week 3 with top Broncos tight end Evan Engram (back) sidelined for the game. Instead, it was Broncos tight end Lucas Krull who found the end zone on Sunday, finishing with one catch for nine yards and a score. Trautman has four catches for 15 yards and a touchdown through the first three games of the season and should not be trusted by fantasy managers even if Engram remains sidelined for Week 4.

From RotoBaller

Trey Benson Sep 22 9:40am CT
Trey Benson

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson should be in line for a significant workload increase after the unfortunate news that veteran Cardinals back James Conner (ankle) will miss the remainder of 2025 due to an ankle injury. Benson has logged 21 carries for 125 yards and eight receptions for 45 yards through the first three games of the season. He may not play a true three-down role, as Arizona mixed in running back Emari Demercado on passing downs after Conner went down in Week 3. Still, Benson should dominate touches in the Arizona backfield and is the priority waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he remains available.

From RotoBaller

James Conner Sep 22 9:30am CT
James Conner

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) is officially set to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering a severe ankle injury in Week 3. Conner is undergoing additional tests on Monday to determine the exact extent of the injury, but will definitely undergo surgery, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 30-year-old running back will finish 2025 with 133 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 40 total touches. Cardinals second-year back Trey Benson should be in line for a major workload increase and profiles as the number one waiver-wire addition in all fantasy leagues where he is available heading into Week 4. Arizona running back Emari Demercado could also play a role as the team's passing-downs back and could have some deep-league fantasy appeal.

From RotoBaller

George Pickens Sep 22 9:20am CT
George Pickens

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens was targeted nine times in Week 3, finishing with five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in his team's 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears. Pickens could be in for a significant target increase over the next few weeks with the news that top Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb (ankle) suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3. Pickens has now logged nine targets in back-to-back weeks, although it's worth noting that he could still be behind Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson in the target pecking order in Dallas. If Lamb cannot play in Week 4, Pickens would likely profile as a must-start fantasy wide receiver in Week 4, even in a tough matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Sep 22 9:13am CT
Joe Burrow

Dynasty | Bengals quarterback Jake Browning completed 19-of-27 passes for 140 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in a blowout loss to Minnesota. Dynasty Analysis: This was alarming as the Bengals were destroyed 48-10 and looked like a team that has given up after losing Joe Burrow. Browning himself was awful on the day and showed little to make anyone believe he can be an option in dynasty leagues, despite having talent all around him. This was about as bad as it gets.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Najee Harris Sep 22 9:10am CT
Najee Harris

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (Achilles) is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an injury sustained during Sunday's 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Harris was lined up in the backfield when he suffered a non-contact Achilles injury in Week 3. He immediately went to the locker room and was ruled out. With Harris sidelined, rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton will step in as the team's clear-cut RB1 and immediately work his way into the top-20 running backs to start in Week 4. Hassan Haskins projects to step into the No. 2 role. It was a tough season for Harris, as he was slowed down by an eye injury over the summer and now this injury. At 27 years old, Harris remains a hold in dynasty formats, but can be dropped in redraft leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tyquan Thornton Sep 22 9:10am CT
Tyquan Thornton

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards in Kansas City's 22-9 win over the New York Giants in Week 3. Thornton was targeted nine times and finished with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old has now recorded nine catches for 171 yards and two scores through the first three games of 2025. With Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) on the sidelines, Thornton has emerged as the Chiefs' WR1 over the past two weeks. Worthy is likely to return in Week 4, which could eat into Thornton's workload. Still, Thornton may have passed veteran wideout Marquise Brown on the depth chart and is still worth adding in deep fantasy leagues heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

From RotoBaller

Ricky Pearsall Sep 22 9:00am CT
Ricky Pearsall

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall played a pivotal role on Sunday in helping the 49ers come away with the 16-15 victory over their division opponent, the Arizona Cardinals. In the afternoon, he saw 11 targets and hauled in eight of them for 117 yards. The 11 targets were second on the team to Christian McCaffrey (15). With Jauan Jennings (ankle/shoulder) not suiting up in Week 3, Pearsall made the most of his opportunities as the team's clear-cut WR1. In the first two games with Jennings suiting up, Pearsall had only 13 targets compared to Sunday's 11. Even with Jennings in the lineup, Pearsall still holds season-long WR3 value; however, he has clearly shown that he can be a stable WR2 in an offense if given the opportunity. At this time, it's unclear if Mac Jones (knee) or Brock Purdy (toe) will be under center in Week 4; regardless, Pearsall remains a low-end WR2 at this time until George Kittle (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) return from IR. Up next for Pearsall and the 49ers is a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

From RotoBaller

Jeremy McNichols Sep 22 8:50am CT
Jeremy McNichols

Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols carried the ball four times for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Raiders. McNichols had a statement run in the second quarter, where he evaded multiple tackles and ran for a 60-yard touchdown. The touchdown was his first of the season. With Austin Ekeler (Achilles) out for the season, the Commanders went with a running-back-by-committee approach on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed eight times, while Chris Rodriguez led the backfield in attempts with 11 rushes, and McNichols rushed four times. While the committee approach is less than ideal for fantasy managers, it does mean that every player in the backfield is worth a look on the waiver wire in Week 4, specifically Rodriguez and McNichols, with Croskey-Merritt likely already rostered. Given the offense's success in their Week 3 win, McNichols' role and volume will likely stay the same in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.

From RotoBaller

DeVonta Smith Sep 22 8:40am CT
DeVonta Smith

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith recorded a season high eight receptions on nine targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Based on game flow, the Eagles were forced into a pass-happy game script as they trailed the Rams the entire second half. Smith and his counterpart, A.J. Brown, were the biggest beneficiaries, as we saw Hurts throw the ball 32 times, by far the most this season. Although it was an excellent afternoon for the Eagles' pass catchers and Smith specifically, it's hard to trust him as a consistent WR2 due to the nature of this Eagles offense. They are a run-first team, which means the opportunities for Smith will not likely be there every week. Smith had as many targets on Sunday as he did in the first two weeks combined. Up next for the Eagles is a road battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which, on paper, should set up to be an entertaining game, and one that requires the Eagles to throw like they did last Sunday, making Smith a low-end WR2 in Week 4.

From RotoBaller

CeeDee Lamb Sep 22 8:20am CT
CeeDee Lamb

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) exited Sunday's contest in the first quarter after getting tackled on an end-around. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys believe Lamb suffered a high-ankle sprain that isn't as bad as it initially seemed. Rapoport also noted that most high ankle sprains generally have a 4-6 week recovery window. That being said, nothing there has yet been confirmed regarding the timeline for Lamb's return to action. In Lamb's absence, Jake Ferguson and George Pickens saw a team-high 14 and nine receptions, respectively. Should Lamb miss time, which it appears it could be the case, fantasy managers can start Pickens and Ferguson confidently if they weren't already. Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin both could get more looks in deeper leagues. Lambs' fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on his progress throughout the next few days. Next up for the Cowboys is a matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Demario Davis Sep 22 1:53am CT
Demario Davis

New Orleans Saints LB Demario Davis tallied 11 tackles - two solo - in Week 3 versus the Seattle Seahawks.

From TheHuddle

Alvin Kamara Sep 22 1:23am CT
Alvin Kamara

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara rushed for 42 yards on 18 carries and caught one of two targets in Week 3 versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Fantasy Spin: The Saints' longest rush on 27 attempts was eight yards, which is indicative of the kind of game it was for almost every New Orleans player. Kamara's fantasy managers were teased with his six targets in Week 2, but he has drawn two targets in his other two outings. It is a concern for him given how often New Orleans will be in negative game script this season. Until his usage as a receiver changes (or becomes more consistent), Kamara is a borderline RB2 at best, including in Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills.

From TheHuddle

Russell Wilson Sep 22 1:23am CT
Russell Wilson

New York Giants QB Russell Wilson completed 18 of his 32 passing attempts for 150 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in a Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson also ran the ball five times for 27 yards.

Fantasy Spin: Coming off his monster effort against Dallas, Wilson couldn't get anything going on Sunday night, and his deep balls were almost all ill-advised, leading to a couple of interceptions. With the team now 0-3, the clock officially starts ticking to get Jaxson Dart's trial by fire started. With upcoming games against the Chargers, Eagles twice, 49ers, and Broncos, they might choose to limp along with Wilson a bit longer, but would he be playable in any of those matchups? If he's your QB2, start looking for a replacement.

From TheHuddle

Cooper Kupp Sep 22 1:03am CT
Cooper Kupp

Seattle Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp hauled in two of his three targets for 31 yards in Week 3 versus the New Orleans Saints.

Fantasy Spin: The Seahawks led 21-0 after one quarter and only needed to attempt 21 passes in this one, so at least one significant pass-catcher was likely going to miss out on the fun. With that said, this marks the second time in three games as a Seahawk that Kupp has finished with two catches on three targets. Needless to say, it does not bode well for him being anything more than a low-end WR4 at best for the remainder of the season. It is debatable whether he is even in flex consideration in Week 4 versus the Arizona Cardinals.

From TheHuddle

Travis Kelce Sep 22 12:53am CT
Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce had four receptions for 26 yards against the New York Giants in Week 3. He was targeted seven times.

Fantasy Spin: Relative to last year when he had eight catches and 69 yards combined through the first three games, Kelce is actually doing decent things to begin 2025. Of course, compared to most other years of his career, this is a significant slump with the future Hall-of-Famer averaging 45 yards per game thus far. History says he and Patrick Mahomes will get back on the same page, but Kelce turns 36 in a couple of weeks and has a lot of miles on his odometer. For now, keep Kelce in your lineup, but don't be afraid to move swiftly to stash a capable TE2 if one is out there on waivers.

From TheHuddle

JuJu Smith-Schuster Sep 22 12:23am CT
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster caught all four of his targeted passes for 55 yards in a Week 3 win over the New York Giants.

Fantasy Spin: Through three weeks, one thing is certain, Smith-Schuster loves the number five. In Week 1, he had 55 yards. In Week 2, 5 yards. Sunday night, 55 yards again. Jokes aside, the veteran has been on the outskirts of flex country for those in larger leagues in two of three games this year. He's likely on borrowed time with the development of Tyquan Thornton and impending returns of Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice, but Smith-Schuster might be usable if your need is dire.

From TheHuddle

Sam Darnold Sep 22 12:13am CT
Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold finished 14-of-18 for 218 yards and two touchdowns in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints.

Fantasy Spin: Darnold sat out the entire fourth quarter after the Seahawks rolled to a 44-6 lead. The 28-year-old capped off Seattle's first drive with a 12-yard TD strike to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and put the Seahawks ahead 28-6 early in the second quarter with a 14-yard score to Tory Horton. Darnold threw for two scores for the second straight week and has completed 70 % of his passes on the season. Due mostly to the low-volume nature, Darnold will remain a middling QB2 option in fantasy in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals.

From TheHuddle

Quinshon Judkins Sep 22 12:10am CT
Quinshon Judkins

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins delivered a standout performance in Sunday's surprising 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers. He carried the ball 18 times for 94 yards and scored a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He also caught one pass for one yard. Judkins' impressive showing came against one of the league's best defenses, solidifying his role as the team's lead back. Despite missing training camp due to legal issues, which still pose a potential suspension threat, his immediate impact and upside make him a must-start RB2 in fantasy leagues moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Michael Pittman Jr. Sep 22 12:00am CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. had a solid performance in Week 3, catching all six of his targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 41-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. Pittman Jr. led the team in catches, yards, and targets, even on a day when running back Jonathan Taylor stole the spotlight with three touchdowns. The veteran wide receiver has been a consistent target for quarterback Daniel Jones, accumulating nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns through three games this season. If he remains a red-zone target, he should be a reliable WR3 with WR2 upside moving forward.

From RotoBaller