Analyze Micahel Carter's matchup for week 9
Michael Carter has slipped to second-fiddle behind Bam Knight, capping his touches in the single digits and rendering him unplayable even against a Cowboys defense that bleeds 4.2 YPC and 123 rushing yards a game.
Dallas enters Monday night ranked 20th in rushing yards allowed and has already given up 12 rushing scores, but the generous paper matchup is meaningless for Carter, who has watched his carries plummet from 18 to 9 to 7 over the last three weeks while Knight assumes early-down and two-minute work. With Arizona projected to trail and abandon the run, the best-case script still funnels 14–18 touches to Knight, leaving Carter scrambling for scraps and passing-down work that won’t crack double-digit touches.
A clear fade: 18-9-7 carry regression, 2.8-3.8-1.6 YPC, and snap share surrendered to Bam Knight.
Carter’s brief window as Arizona’s lead back slammed shut the moment Knight showed any pulse. The staff has since telegraphed a preference for Knight’s north-south style, relegating Carter to satellite duties and the occasional change-of-pace carry. Behind an offensive line that ranks bottom-five in adjusted line yards, Carter’s elusiveness hasn’t translated—his 2.8 season YPC is the league’s second-worst among backs with 40-plus attempts. The Cowboys’ leaky front seven looks inviting, but game script is poised to neuter Arizona’s rushing volume altogether; Dallas scores the sixth-most first-half points, and the Cardinals’ 2-5 record makes them prime candidates to fall behind early and throw 65 percent of the time. Even if a few late garbage carries open up, Knight—not Carter—will be the back soaking them up to salt the clock. Finally, Carter’s pass-game role isn’t safe; he’s averaged only 2.3 targets since Week 5, and when Arizona goes hurry-up, Knight stays on the field. Expect a 5-7 touch, 20-30 scrimmage-yard stat line that caps his ceiling well below flex viability in 12-team formats.