RB Trey Benson Fantasy Impact

By T.J. Besler | May 9, 2024

Trey Benson Fantasy Impact

The Arizona Cardinals selected Florida State RB Trey Benson with the second pick of the third round (66th overall) in this year’s draft. Benson was the second running back selected in the draft after the Carolina Panthers used a second-round pick on Texas RB Jonathon Brooks. The pick makes some sense for a team with nothing of note behind 28-year-old James Conner. Benson is a talented running back with breakaway speed and the ability to make defenders miss. Although Brooks was the first running back off the board some believe Benson may have the highest upside in this year’s draft class and the best chance of developing into a quality every-down running back. With an established starter who is coming off a season that saw him rush for over 1000 yards and seven touchdowns, Benson will likely start as a complimentary piece. But the Cardinals don’t have a ton of pass-catching talent behind rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and third-year TE Trey McBride, so Benson’s pass-catching prowess could come in handy. It’s unclear how much he’ll see the field in 2024, but let’s look at what we may expect from him.

Fantasy Value

The Arizona Cardinals use a diverse run scheme and while they have historically leaned on one primary running back they may be forced into finding more creative ways to create offensive production. Enter Trey Benson. Fantasy managers first started hyping Benson after he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 216 pounds at the 2024 NFL Combine. That type of speed could get him on the field early in his career. But as I mentioned, he can also be used in the passing game, making him another potential weapon for QB Kyler Murray. It’s hard to know exactly where to place Benson in season-long redraft formats. I certainly wouldn’t reach for him because there is a wide range of outcomes for his rookie season, but right now his ADP has him going around the eighth round, and I would be willing to take a chance on him at that price. With his talent and situation, I would expect him to, at worst, be a solid bye-week fill-in or perhaps even a worthy flex, especially if you carry two flex spots. However, as Conner’s primary backup, selecting Benson is about the inevitability of Conner missing time since he has every season of his career. If Benson is called upon for lead back duties he could break out in a big way, and you would be very happy you picked him up.

Dynasty Value

Dynasty leagues are where we begin to really see Benson’s value. Before running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Benson was valued as a mid-to-late second-round pick in Superflex rookie drafts, but now he’s likely to go closer to the beginning of the second round. In 1QB leagues, depending on team needs, I would not be surprised to see him sneak into the backend of the first round. It makes sense. He has the type of athletic traits and instincts that should translate to the NFL, and with early third-round draft capital, there’s reason to believe that the Cardinals see him as their potential running back of the future. At 28 years old, it’s possible that Conner, who will be a free agent after this season, won’t be with the team in 2025. That could pave the way for Benson to take over the reins. Benson is a high-upside pick in dynasty fantasy football leagues. All signs point to a winning combination of situation and skill set that should make him a valuable fantasy asset for the next few years as he continues to develop and grow into a larger role. The pre-season and early regular season will go a long way toward providing some clarity on his immediate fantasy impact, but the long-term outlook for Benson is promising.

Conclusion

Benson has been flying under the radar but could be the most complete running back in this year’s draft class. His ability to break tackles and breakaway speed and his favorable situation should provide plenty of opportunities to produce. With Conner being an injury risk, Benson could find himself in a primary role sooner rather than later, but even as a complimentary piece in an offense looking for playmakers, he could have value. Early in redraft, his primary value will be that of a bye-week fill-in, regular flex, or as a handcuff for the Conner owner. But as the season progresses, he could develop into much more. In dynasty, he is worth targeting toward the end of the first round in 1QB leagues and early in the second round in 2QB/Superflex leagues. Benson could be the lead back in this backfield as early as 2025, making him a great fantasy option for the future.

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T.J. Besler

A die hard Bears fan and fantasy sports fantastic, T.J. Besler earned his journalism (and theatre) degree from The University of Iowa. When he isn’t busy writing parodies for his YouTube channel Parodies for Charities he can be found either on stage performing or doing all things fantasy football related. Besler has traveled to nearly all 50 states either for work or leisure, and is grateful to everyone who has helped him along the way, especially his lovely wife Elsa, without whom much of this would not be possible. BEAR DOWN!