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Is Trey Benson out for the season? When is Trey Benson coming back? The latest Trey Benson injury update and fantasy football outlook heading into Week 15 of 2025.
The clock is ticking for Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson to return to the field.
The Cardinals' playoff hopes have already been extinguished, and if Benson doesn't return to the active roster soon, he'll be shelved for the rest of the season.
Will Trey Benson play in Week 15, and will he make a good start for the first round of the fantasy playoffs? Let's dive in!
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Is Trey Benson Out for the 2025 Season?
Benson injured his knee in Week 4 and was placed on the IR. His recovery timeframe was estimated at four-to-six weeks after meniscus surgery. However, his injury has dragged on much longer than that.
When he began practicing again ahead of the Cardinals' Week 13 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there was optimism that he would return to the field. But that did not come to pass. He began missing practices, causing some to speculate that he suffered a setback.
When asked by a fan, Darren Urban, a senior writer for the Cardinals' team website, stated that "[Coach Jonathan] Gannon won’t use that term." As of late November, Gannon was describing Benson as "day to day."
Cardinals Could Hold Trey Benson Out Another Week https://t.co/UNDFLV94hs
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 9, 2025
Because the Cardinals opened his 21-day practice window, they must activate him by Week 15, or else they won't be able to activate him for the rest of the season.
Without Benson in the lineup, the Cardinals lost to the Los Angeles Rams 45-17. The Cardinals rushing game has suffered. James Conner (foot) is out for the season, and Emari Demercado (ankle) has also been missing time.
Their leading rusher, Zonovan Knight, has run for 271 yards on 81 carries, a lackluster average of just 3.3 yards per carry. Against the Rams, quarterback Jacoby Brissett was the team's leading rusher, with 22 yards on four carries. Knight gained just 16 yards on seven carries, and Michael Carter added 13 on three carries.
In the absence of their top three running backs, the Cardinals have been leaning heavily on the passing game. Brissett, who has started eight games this season for the injured Kyler Murray (foot), has attempted 40 or more passes in six of his starts, including in each of the past five games. With such volume, he has finished as a top-ten fantasy quarterback five times.
Wide receiver Michael Wilson has been having a big season, particularly in the absence of Marvin Harrison (appendicitis and heel). Wilson made 39 catches for 481 yards and two touchdowns in the past four games, surpassing 100 yards in three of those.
Trey Benson 2025 Fantasy Football Outlook
If you have ridden Benson throughout his injury ordeal, it would be worth it to hang onto him for one more week. By the time Wednesday of Week 15 rolls around, you can make your final decision on Benson. Either, he will play this week against the Houston Texans, or he won't play for the rest of the season.
Trey Benson Might Not Return This Season https://t.co/tsmRDkEXHB
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 7, 2025
Even if Benson is activated this week, he is not a strong start. The Texans defense is a tough assignment for even the healthiest of running backs. Houston is allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Opposing running backs cumulatively have yet to surpass 1,000 yards against the team.
Moreover, the Texans have only allowed 11 touchdowns on the ground and through the air to the running back position. They are allowing the fewest points in the league, just 16.0 per game, so quarterbacks and receivers aren't doing too well against the Texans, either.
On top of the fact that his Week 15 matchup is treacherous, there's also the reality that you don't want to be starting a running back who has missed ten weeks and during an extended absence that dragged on. The Cardinals will probably limit his volume in his first week back.
If they do activate him, Benson might be a good start against the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively. The Bengal defense is allowing the most points of any team in the league, the most rushing yards, and the second-most yards per rushing attempt.
While the Falcons' defense is better, it's still considerably worse than average. Atlanta is in the bottom ten for expected points added (EPA) per play against the run.
While the Cardinals might do a backfield split, Benson is most likely to be the RB1a. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, which is more than every other Arizona RB except for Emari Demercado, but Demercado missed Week 14 with an ankle injury.
Who Should I Start Tool
Not sure who to start? Check out the Who Should I Start tool:
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 15 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Christian Watson, Kyle Monangai, Colston Loveland, Josh Downs, Troy Franklin, Bam Knight, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 15. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
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Popular Week 15 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 15 (2025)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 15 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 15 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Christian Watson, Kyle Monangai, Colston Loveland, Josh Downs, Troy Franklin, Bam Knight, Luther Burden III, Jayden Reed compared to others:
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