Photo: Matt Pendleton, USA Today Sports

Join the Footballguys daily update

Start your morning with our roundup of football’s biggest stories, with the fantasy insight you need to make league-winning decisions. Delivered directly to your inbox, 100% free.

Subscribe now

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals, Round 3, Pick 66

Trey Benson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in Round 3 with the 66th overall pick, according to Ian Rapoport.

Fantasy Football Impact for Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

Trey Benson is one of the few running backs in the 2024 draft class with the skills to play a three-down role in the NFL. At Florida State, he showed that he’s good at almost everything a running back needs to do, but he’s not necessarily good at anything. He finished with just over 1,100 total yards in each of his last two seasons, but only had one 100-yard game last season.

In 2024, he will play a complementary role to James Conner and should be able to learn a lot from the veteran. No Arizona backup running back has finished with more than 116 carries during Conner’s time with the team, but Benson is easily more talented than the others we’ve seen in that role.

As a rookie, 125-150 carries, with another 30 targets, could represent his field. If Conner were to get hurt, we could be talking about Benson as a top-15 player in fantasy. After this season, Benson will likely take over the lead role, and when you look at an offense with Benson, Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride, there is reason to be excited about the future of the Cardinals’ offense.

The consequences of fantasy football

For the past three seasons, James Conner has basically had the Arizona backfield to himself. He averaged about 200 carries but didn’t play in 17 games in any of those years. He will be 29 years old when the season starts and the Cardinals knew they would have to replace him sooner or later.

By 2024, Conner and Benson should coexist well, and Conner should finish with those same 200 carries for one more season. Next year, Benson should immediately step into the three-down role. Arizona claimed Michael Carter off waivers last season, but he failed to make much of an impact. The addition of Benson practically ends his stay in Arizona.

Stock Watch

elevators

Falleros

General description

The Arizona Cardinals selected Trey Benson in the third round of the NFL Draft. Benson projects as a three-down back in the NFL, but he will spend at least his first season in a timeshare with James Conner. His real value lies in 2025 and beyond.

For more information on the 2024 NFL Draft, check out Footballguys’ Rookie Draft Guide, where you can read about the Cardinals’ Trey Benson and other rookie teams.