Emari Demercado

Emari Demercado

26-Year-Old Running BackRB
Arizona Cardinals
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. Demercado could have fantasy value if injuries open a window for him. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#339.56
ADP
Signed a three-year, $2.56 million contract with the Cardinals in May of 2023.
Opportunity knocks
RBArizona Cardinals
October 1, 2025
Demercado is slated for expanded backfield opportunities, beginning Sunday versus the Titans, with Trey Benson (knee) in line to be placed on IR, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Demercado looked solid in a change-of-pace role behind Benson during last Thursday's 23-20 loss to Seattle, in which he rushed twice for eight yards and secured both of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown. With Benson now out at 4-to-6 weeks, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, and James Conner (foot) already lost for the season, Demercado and Michael Carter now become positioned to lead Arizona's backfield, while Bam Knight steps into the No. 3 role. It's possible that Demercado still primarily operates as a pass-catching specialist, but at 215 pounds he's more suitable than the 201-pound Carter for between-the-tackles work. Especially in PPR formats, this development places Demercado firmly on the fantasy radar, though the Cardinals now become strong candidates to pursue further backfield additions.
Read More News
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
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.
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
Advanced NFL Stats
How do Emari Demercado's 2025 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. 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. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Broken Tackle %
    The number of broken tackles divided by rush attempts.
  • Positive Run %
    The percentage of run plays where he was able to gain positive yardage.
  • % Yds After Contact
    The percentage of his rushing yards that came after contact.
  • Avg Yds After Contact
    The average rushing yards he gains after contact.
  • Rushing TD %
    Rushing touchdowns divided by rushing attempts. In other words, how often is he scoring when running the ball.
  • Touches Per Game
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) he is averaging per game
  • % Snaps w/Touch
    The number of touches (rushing attempts + receptions) divided by offensive snaps played.
  • Air Yards Per Game
    The number of air yards he is averaging per game. Air yards measure how far the ball was thrown downfield for both complete and incomplete passes. Air yards are recorded as a negative value when the pass is targeted behind the line of scrimmage. All air yards data is from Sports Info Solutions and does not include throwaways as targeted passes.
  • Air Yards Per Snap
    The number of air yards he is averaging per offensive snap.
  • % Team Air Yards
    The percentage of the team's total air yards he accounts for.
  • % Team Targets
    The percentage of the team's total targets he accounts for.
  • Avg Depth of Target
    Also known as aDOT, this stat measures the average distance down field he is being targeted at.
  • Catch Rate
    The number of catches made divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Drop Rate
    The number of passes he dropped divided by the number of times he was targeted by the quarterback.
  • Avg Yds After Catch
    The number of yards he gains after the catch on his receptions.
  • % Targeted On Route
    Targets divided by total routes run. Also known as TPRR.
  • Avg Yds Per Route Run
    Receiving yards divided by total routes run. Also known as YPRR.
Broken Tackle %
0.0%
 
Positive Run %
50.0%
 
% Yds After Contact
37.5%
 
Avg Yds After Contact
0.8
 
Rushing TD %
0.0%
 
Touches Per Game
1.5
 
% Snaps w/Touch
17.6%
 
Air Yards Per Game
-1.5
 
Air Yards Per Snap
-0.18
 
% Team Air Yards
-0.8%
 
% Team Targets
2.3%
 
Avg Depth of Target
-2.0 Yds
 
Catch Rate
66.7%
 
Drop Rate
33.3%
 
Avg Yds After Catch
10.0
 
% Targeted On Route
15.8%
 
Avg Yds Per Route Run
0.68
 
Loading Advanced NFL Stats...
2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2025 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2024 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
2023 NFL Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Scoring
Standard
PPR
Half PPR
FanDuel
DraftKings
Yahoo DFS
Loading Game Log...
Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Arizona CardinalsCardinals 2025 RB Snap Distribution
#% of Team Snaps

12348%
9337%
3413%
42%
Loading Weekly Snap Counts...
Receiving Alignment Breakdown
See where Emari Demercado lined up on the field and how he performed at each spot.
Detailed
Grouped
Side
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Alignment Breakdown...
Loading Team Alignment Breakdown...
This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Titans pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
TEN
vs Titans
Sunday, Oct 5th at 4:05PM
Overall QB Rating Against
85.5
 
Cornerbacks
101.1
 
Safeties
71.8
 
Linebackers
69.9
 
Loading Opponent Pass Defense Stats...
2025 Emari Demercado Split Stats
Loading NFL Split Stats...
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 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.43 sec
 
Shuttle Time
4.15 sec
 
Cone Drill
7.00 sec
 
Vertical Jump
32.0 in
 
Broad Jump
119 in
 
Bench Press
19 reps
 
Hand Length
9.50 in
 
Arm Length
32.62 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Emari Demercado See More
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Emari Demercado See More
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
Scores key TD in loss
RBArizona Cardinals
September 25, 2025
Demercado rushed twice for eight yards and brought in both targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' 23-20 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Garners 30 total yards in loss
RBArizona Cardinals
August 23, 2025
Demercado rushed seven times for 22 yards and brought in two of three targets for eight yards in the Cardinals' 20-10 preseason win over the Raiders on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Fills dual role in preseason loss
RBArizona Cardinals
August 16, 2025
Demercado rushed six times for 15 yards, failed to bring in his only target and returned two kickoffs for 60 yards in the Cardinals' 27-7 preseason loss to the Broncos on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Healthy for OTAs
RBArizona Cardinals
June 2, 2025
Demercado (back) is participating in voluntary OTAs, Jess Root of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Ends campaign on IR
RBArizona Cardinals
Back
February 17, 2025
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
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Expanded role moving forward
RBArizona Cardinals
September 21, 2025
Demercado is likely to work as the Cardinals' No. 2 running back beginning with Thursday's Week 4 matchup against the Seahawks following James Conner's season-ending ankle injury, Josh Weinfuss and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.
ANALYSIS
Conner suffered the injury early in the second half of Sunday's loss to the 49ers, and Demercado logged his first two carries of the season following his teammate's exit. The third-year pro already had two full seasons of experience in Arizona's offense coming into 2025, so Demercado projects as a capable complementary option behind new No. 1 back Trey Benson.
See All NFL Rumors