Questionable
Injury Back
Est. Return 6/1/2025
2024 Rush/Rec Stats
ATT
24
YDS
223
TD
1
YDS
104
TD
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
While a back injury cost Demercado the final four games of the season, he displayed big-play ability when he was healthy with two runs of 40-plus yards and an absurd 9.3 yards per carry on 24 totes. While he's a good fit for offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's scheme, Demercado remains at best third on the depth chart behind 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson and James Conner, who signed a two-year extension with Arizona in December. Both of them were banged up to close out the campaign however, so Demercado could have fantasy value if injuries open a window for him. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#
Overall
Ends campaign on IR
Demercado (back) took 24 carries for 223 yards and one touchdown, hauled in 16 of 20 targets for 104 yards and no TDs and returned three kickoffs for 64 yards during 13 regular-season games in 2024.
ANALYSIS
Prior to landing on injured reserve due to a back issue after Week 14, Demercado operated in a regular, albeit small, role out of the Cardinals backfield, seeing touches in all but one of his appearances. He averaged a robust 9.3 YPC on the campaign, and even if one removes his two runs of 40-plus yards, he boasted 5.9 YPC on his other 22 rushes -- a shade above the 4.9 he logged as an undrafted rookie in 2023. With both James Conner (knee) and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) under contract next season, Demercado will remain a depth RB for Arizona in 2025.
Prior to landing on injured reserve due to a back issue after Week 14, Demercado operated in a regular, albeit small, role out of the Cardinals backfield, seeing touches in all but one of his appearances. He averaged a robust 9.3 YPC on the campaign, and even if one removes his two runs of 40-plus yards, he boasted 5.9 YPC on his other 22 rushes -- a shade above the 4.9 he logged as an undrafted rookie in 2023. With both James Conner (knee) and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) under contract next season, Demercado will remain a depth RB for Arizona in 2025.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Emari Demercado's 2024 advanced stats compare to other running backs?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
Broken Tackle %
20.8%Positive Run %
87.5%% Yds After Contact
43.9%Avg Yds After Contact
4.1Rushing TD %
4.2%Touches Per Game
3.1% Snaps w/Touch
25.2%Air Yards Per Game
1.8Air Yards Per Snap
0.15% Team Air Yards
0.7%% Team Targets
3.8%Avg Depth of Target
1.2 YdsCatch Rate
80.0%Drop Rate
0.0%Avg Yds After Catch
6.0% Targeted On Route
22.7%Avg Yds Per Route Run
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2024
2023
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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#3 RB
CardinalsReceiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Emari Demercado lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
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2024 Emari Demercado Split Stats
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Measurables Review
View College Player Page
How do Emari Demercado's measurables compare to other running backs?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
* All metrics are from his Pro Day (not the combine).
Height
5' 9"Weight
215 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.43 secShuttle Time
4.15 secCone Drill
7.00 secVertical Jump
32.0 inBroad Jump
119 inBench Press
19 repsHand Length
9.50 inArm Length
32.62 in
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2024 Fantasy Outlook
An undrafted rookie out of TCU last spring, Demercado got a look as the Cardinals' lead running back in October after James Conner was injured and Keaontay Ingram struggled. The rookie had 33 carries for 136 yards between Weeks 7 and 8, but he missed the next three games with a toe injury and had a much smaller role behind a healthy Conner over the final six weeks. Demercado's spot then became even more precarious this spring when Arizona took Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 Draft. While his competent rookie-year performance and special-teams contributions could keep him on the roster, Demercado figures to be third or fourth on Arizona's backfield depth chart this summer.
More Fantasy News
Moves to IR
The Cardinals placed Demercado (back) on injured reserve Saturday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Out for Week 15
Demercado (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Still not practicing
Demercado (back) didn't practice Thursday, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Doesn't practice Wednesday
Demercado (back) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Nabs four receptions in Week 15
Demercado recorded four receptions for 15 yards on four targets while playing eight of the Cardinals' 71 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-18 loss to the Seahawks.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Behind Ingram on depth chart
Demercado is listed behind Keaontay Ingram on Arizona's Week 6 running back depth chart, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Demercado played every snap in the second half of the Cardinals' Week 5 loss to the Bengals after James Conner suffered a knee injury, but the undrafted rookie may not maintain the lead role going forward, even with Conner having been placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Ingram is trending toward a return for Sunday's game against the Rams after missing the past two games due to a neck injury. If healthy, Ingram could be first in line for carries over both Demercado and Tony Jones, the latter of whom was claimed off waivers Monday.
Demercado played every snap in the second half of the Cardinals' Week 5 loss to the Bengals after James Conner suffered a knee injury, but the undrafted rookie may not maintain the lead role going forward, even with Conner having been placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Ingram is trending toward a return for Sunday's game against the Rams after missing the past two games due to a neck injury. If healthy, Ingram could be first in line for carries over both Demercado and Tony Jones, the latter of whom was claimed off waivers Monday.