The Arizona Cardinals won their season opener over the New Orleans Saints, 31-19, but it wasn't without some loss. The team saw starting running back Andre Ellington carted off late in the game with a knee injury. Reports are that Ellington suffered a PCL injury.
Andre Ellington hurts knee; Chris Johnson, David Johnson will offer fantasy production
The Cardinals lost their starting running back late in Sunday’s game. We break down the fantasy implications.
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Before leaving, Ellington had 12 rushes for 69 yards and a touchdown, with a lost fumble. He added a reception for 7 more yards. His backups (veteran Chris Johnson and rookie David Johnson) weren't involved with the offense while Ellington was on the field, but did more afterward. In the end, Chris Johnson had 10 rushes for 37 yards, and while David Johnson had no rushes, he did catch a 55-yard touchdown pass.
Fantasy impact: Ellington battled injuries as long as he could last year. He just doesn’t seem like the type of player who will stay healthy long-term. If the reports are accurate that Ellington suffered a PCL injury, we likely won’t be seeing him for a few weeks at the least.
In his absence, both Johnsons see a bump in value. Chris Johnson's best days are behind him, though the team has said it is impressed with what he's done since joining Arizona. We'll have to see how the touches break down, but for now, David Johnson looks like a mid-range flex option, and Chris Johnson is more of a deeper flier option.
