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Will Trey Benson start for the Arizona Cardinals when he returns? Zach Thompson breaks down the Trey Benson return timeline and fantasy football outlook.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson was ready to get his shot to be the Cardinals' RB1 before he landed on the injured reserve. When he returns, will he get his starting job back? Let's take a look at how he will fit back into Arizona's offense, along with Bam Knight and Emari Demercado.
At the start of the season, Benson was sharing time with James Conner, but the veteran went down with a season-ending foot injury in Week 3. Benson stepped up in Week 4, before suffering a knee injury of his own.
So will Benson return to being the RB1 for the Cardinals when he's back on the field?
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Will Trey Benson Start For The Cardinals When He Returns?
Benson played 55% of snaps in Week 4 after Conner's injury, and he went down late in that game with a knee injury. He was sharing some passing-down work with Demercado and finished with eight carries for 35 rushing yards and added 29 receiving yards on five catches.
While his injury was not initially thought to be serious, he ultimately needed arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus and was expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks, according to reports from Adam Schefter.
The team hasn't given an update on his status, and he doesn't have a clear return date, although he could be ready as soon as Week 10 against the Seahawks in Seattle.
After he went down, the team turned to Michael Carter as the starter from the practice squad while mixing in Demercado. Against the Titans in Week 5, Demercado had a disastrous fumble at the one-yard line while he was about to score a long touchdown. He also missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
The Cardinals released Carter during their Week 8 bye week, but then signed him back to the practice squad, which could allow him to be promoted and play in Week 9. Carter and Demercado will likely back up Bam Knight, who has been the top option in the backfield for the last couple of weeks.
Benson was a third-round pick in 2024, and the team had high hopes for him taking a leap in his second season. He should get a good look at the primary role when he returns, although the Cardinals do like to rotate in other backs in specific packages.
Trey Benson Fantasy Football Outlook
Benson showed some exciting big-play ability early in the season, including this 52-yard run in Week 1 against the Saints.
just a reminder we have Trey Benson on our team
@trey_uno1 | @FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/BFbNxmRaZI
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 8, 2025
He had 160 rushing yards on 29 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and 64 receiving yards on 13 catches before the injury. With a full-time role, he could establish himself as a solid RB2 the rest of the season.
The Cardinals looked ready to give him most of the work before his injury, and once he's back, he will be a great flex option with RB2 upside. If he can secure the goalline work as well, the big back should be able to be a regular contributor down the stretch.
The Cardinals' offense has made James Conner a strong fantasy option the last few years, and Benson has a similar profile with a little more sizzle when healthy.
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