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Emari Demercado is a fantasy football waiver wire pickup option for running backs. Target him as a free agent add off waivers for Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season.
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ANALYSIS: The surprise name coming out of the Arizona Cardinals' Week 5 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was rookie RB Emari Demercado.
The former TCU Horned Frog was called on when starting RB James Conner left the game due to a knee injury and did not return. The rookie rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on his ten total carries.
Conner has been put on the Injured Reserve list as of Tuesday, meaning the veteran will miss the next four games minimum.
If Sunday was any indication of what a James Conner-less Cardinals backfield will look like moving forward, Demercado becomes a worthy addition on the waiver wire. Demercado was a direct replacement for Conner, as no other Cardinals running back received any carries in his absence.
This would provide some elite usage for the rookie if Conner were to miss additional time. Conner’s involvement in the offense and volume is elite, as he has already racked up the 12th most carries for any RB this season despite missing half of Sunday’s loss.
He also holds a 75.8% opportunity share in the Cardinals backfield, good for the ninth-highest of any running back.
This makes Demercado an immediate fantasy starter moving forward in weeks when Conner isn’t available.
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