How does the Cardinals’ RB surplus work itself out?
For a Cardinals team needing to bounce back from the second-worst rushing attack in the league last year, it can't afford to overthink things.
Watch: Tyler Allgeier surprising reaction to the Cardinals drafting another running back | 7 mins
The Arizona Cardinals have one of the deepest running backs rooms in the league. There’s no debate about that.
How first-year head coach Mike LaFleur utilizes that depth very much is.
Longtime starter James Conner is back on a reworked contract but is now joined by 2026 No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love and free-agent pickup Tyler Allgeier. Trey Benson is still around, and Bam Knight was re-signed this offseason. Corey Kiner rounds out the room.
There are a lot of mouths to feed and only one football. And for a franchise needing to bounce back from being the second-worst rushing attack in the league last year, it can’t afford to overthink things.
After looking at the quarterback situation, let’s dive into the running backs room.
Cardinals running back questions ahead of training camp
1. What will the snap split look like?
Conner may still be on the roster (for now), but it’s clear the Cardinals want to move in a new direction.
You don’t bring in Love, who is making the most guaranteed money for an NFL running back, at No. 3 overall and Allgeier through free agency as depth pieces.
Let’s not overthink here.
The pecking order is expected to start with Love and Allgeier, with the mix of Conner, Benson and Knight filling in after.
But while Love should see the lion’s share of touches, he’s not going to get run into the ground.
Much like we saw in Atlanta in recent seasons, Allgeier served as a great change-of-pace option alongside RB1 Bijan Robinson.
That should be the blueprint in Arizona, especially when taking a look at how LaFleur has utilized multiple backs in his previous stops.
Most recently with the Los Angeles Rams, running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum formed a lethal tandem in 2025 while keeping legs fresh. Williams saw 55.6% (259 rushes) of the Rams’ total carries, compared to Corum’s 31.1% (145).
Williams turned those touches into 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns. Corum added 746 yards and six touchdowns.
If Love can reach 1,000 yards and double-digit scores as a rookie while not overdoing it, that’s a big win for both the running back and franchise in 2026.
2. How will the surplus work itself out?
Just because Arizona has a bevy of running backs doesn’t mean that’ll be the case by Week 1.
The hope is everyone gets through training camp healthy and forces the Cardinals to make tough roster decisions. But as we’ve seen in recent seasons, injuries are going to happen in camp.
So, while Arizona could probably do without a running back or two and pick up some draft capital, it does not need to be in a hurry to move anyone unless the offer is too good to pass up.
But if the group gets to initial 53-man roster cuts healthy, something’s got to give, whether it’s through a trade or release.
3. Who will be the odd men out?
Looking back at LaFleur’s L.A. stint, the Rams kept just three running backs on the initial 53-man roster in each of the past two seasons. They went with four in his first year with the Rams in 2023.
If that three-back trend carries over into Arizona, who is going to secure that last spot?
Love and Allgeier are locks. Beyond them, it gets interesting.
Conner has done plenty for the franchise during his five years with Arizona. None of that was with LaFleur, though. If a contending team comes calling needing a boost in the backfield, he’s likely the first name brought up in trade talks. He deserves to play for a contender before his NFL career winds all the way down.
Benson failed to step into a starting role last year due to a knee injury and setback later in the season. Still, he presents a young option that has shown some pop in his first two seasons for a team looking for a change. Giving up on a young back entering his third season isn’t the best look for general manager Monti Ossenfort, but it’s clear Arizona is heading in a different direction on the ground.
Then there’s Knight, who made eight starts and scored four touchdowns for Arizona late in the year before suffering his own season-ending injury.
He might be more of an afterthought in the room, but Knight adds something Conner and Benson don’t: a presence on special teams.
That caveat — plus Knight’s already established relationship with LaFleur from their time together in New York — could be among the deciding factors when it comes to who stays and who goes.
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Comments
5 Comments
Connor stays for the room. Knight plays on 4th down. Benson has been a bust, not even showing a glimpse. Big but not a power guy, fast enough but doesn't run away from anyone, can juke a bit but never gets to open green to do it. Cut your losses, take 6th for him and adios...
Conner is good when one yard is needed. When he went down, the Cards were passing in one yard situations. Someone has to be there who can do the job in that situation. It's the difference between getting a touchdown in the red zone and settling for a field goal.
Age, coming off an injury, and two younger guys in the bus ine in front of him. Play some on 3rd, take some reps in the 2nd qtr, fill in when Love or Allgier gets nicked. Love the guy but father time comes for us all.