ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Giants RE Osi Umenyiora (knee) will play and that LE Justin Tuck (neck) is unlikely to play Sunday.
It will be Umenyiora's season debut. If Tuck is indeed sidelined, Jason Pierre-Paul will draw draw the start, and Umenyiora could approach a full workload. Beanie Wells (questionable, hamstring), who is likely to play, comes in as our No. 19 ranked running back for Week 4.
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 11:14:00 AM
Cardinals declared Chester Taylor inactive for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Taylor has only been with the Cardinals for a week, so he's sitting this one out. LaRod Stephens-Howling will be the primary backup to Beanie Wells, who is set for a huge workload. John Skelton (ankle) is also inactive, leaving Rich Bartel as the No. 2 quarterback. Other Cardinals inactives: WR Stephen Williams, CB Michael Adams, OT D'Anthony Batiste, CB Korey Lindsey and TE Jim Dray.
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 02:50:00 PM
Panthers HC Ron Rivera expects MLB Jon Beason (questionable, Achilles') to play Sunday against the Cardinals.
Steve Reed of the Gaston Gazette doesn't expect Beason to play every down, as the star linebacker will likely need to be eased back into the lineup. Beanie Wells is a must start in all fantasy formats, while Beason should be sat in IDP leagues this week even if he is active.
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 09:45:00 AM
The Panthers will rotate defensive tackles Terrell McClain, Sione Fua, and Andre Neblett against the Cardinals this week.
Rookies McClain and Fua are still adjusting to the speed of the NFL after the shortened offseason. This is the best matchup Beanie Wells will face all season, and he needs to be in starting lineups. Rotoworld ranks Wells 11th among fantasy backs in Week 1.
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 09:11:00 AM
Chester Taylor might not suit up for the season opener against the Cardinals.
Still learning the Cardinals' offense, Taylor is listed behind LaRod Stephens-Howling on the Week 1 depth chart. LSH and Alfonso Smith will likely be the backups to Beanie Wells against perhaps the league's softest run defense. Beanie is a top-15 fantasy back this week.
Tue, Sep 6, 2011 06:06:00 PM
Cardinals agreed to terms with RB Chester Taylor on a one-year contract.
Arizona was desperate for a third-down back who could also take over as the lead back should Beanie Wells go down with an injury. Whether Taylor still has the ability is as a 32-year-old coming off 2.4 yards per carry in 2010 is in serious doubt. He's no lock to take over passing-down duties from LaRod Stephens-Howling. Taylor is not a concern for Wells' fantasy value.
Sun, Sep 4, 2011 02:02:00 PM
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic confirms that Ryan Williams is done for the season with a ruptured right patellar tendon.
Williams will undergo season-ending surgery early next week. While he has youth and time on his side, there's a chance Williams will never take the field at the NFL level again. Though the Cards plan to add a backup running back before Week 1, Beanie Wells projects to be a bell cow in Williams' absence.
Sat, Aug 20, 2011 04:14:00 PM
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt revealed after Friday night's preseason game that Ryan Williams "probably" has a torn patellar tendon.
It's a season-ending and potentially career-threatening injury depending on Williams' recovery process. The good news is that Williams is still just 21 years old, and the injury is occurring now as opposed to November. He'll have a better chance to be healthy by the start of 2012 training camp. The bad news is that Williams will need major knee surgery and his rookie season in the NFL will be a washout. Beanie Wells will dominate carries in Arizona this year.
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 11:28:00 PM
According to NFC West blogger Mike Sando, rookie Ryan Williams "looks like the better pure runner" than Beanie Wells early in Cardinals camp.
Williams' "effortless" cuts have been more impressive than Wells' "straight-line," downhill style, per Sando. We still like Wells as a value pick in the seventh and eighth rounds, but Williams at the very least looks like the primary passing-down back and will begin pushing for early-down carries sooner than later. The situation could easily become a committee by midseason.
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 02:23:00 PM
Redskins acquired RB Tim Hightower from the Cardinals in exchange for DE Vonnie Holiday and a conditional late-round pick.
Hightower wore thin on the Cardinals coaching staff with five fumbles in back-to-back seasons. Though he's a reliable pass-catcher, Hightower has been one of the least effective backs with the ball in hands, failing to top 7.0 yards per reception since entering the league in 2008. Regardless, he's a good bet to take over the passing-down role in Mike Shanahan's offense, further clouding the backfield picture. Ryan Williams will see immediate playing time in Arizona, playing on passing downs over Beanie Wells. With Hightower in D.C. and Cedric Benson back in Cincinnati, it's hard to see Ahmad Bradshaw signing anywhere other than New York.
Sun, Jul 31, 2011 06:03:00 PM
Cardinals signed No. 38 overall pick RB Ryan Williams to a four-year, $5 million contract.
A more well-rounded back than Beanie Wells or Tim Hightower, the 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year was rated as a top-15 player on the Cardinals' draft board. The coaching staff has been tight-lipped about its backfield plans, though Mike Jurecki of XTRA 910 Phoenix suspects Wells will open the season as the starter barring injury. The Rotoworld Draft Guide ranks Wells slightly higher than Williams.
Sun, Jul 31, 2011 04:51:00 PM
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic "wouldn't be surprised" if Tim Hightower or Beanie Wells were traded before the season.
Wells has already been the subject of trade rumors. Hightower, a restricted free agent, would be a less inviting option for teams than Wells. The Cards could probably get a mid-rounder for Wells, but only a late-round pick for Hightower.
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 03:17:00 PM
SI.com's Jim Trotter hints that the player the Eagles would like to receive in a potential Kevin Kolb trade with the Cardinals "will surprise you."
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the name most often bandied about, so he can be disqualified under this scenario. Other names floated in various circles include Patrick Peterson, Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower, Daryl Washington, and Greg Toler. We feel confident that Peterson will not be on the table, though Wells would certainly qualify as a "surprise."
Fri, Jul 1, 2011 11:15:00 AM
Tashard Choice finished dead last among all running backs last season in Football Outsiders' broken tackle rate.
Beanie Wells, who also finished near the bottom in a similar metric from Pro Football Focus, was second-last. Choice's YPC dropped from 5.3 in 2008-09 to 3.7 in 2010 while his yards per reception fell from 8.8 to 6.4. Choice's inability to create plays on his own could go a long way toward explaining why he has seemingly fallen out of favor in Dallas. Talent-wise, he's closer to a role-playing Chester Taylor type than a long-term solution at the position.
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 07:08:00 PM
