Kliff Kingsbury: Eno Benjamin Looks Like “Starting” Caliber RB
After Chase Edmonds signed with the Dolphins this offseason, Arizona doesn’t exactly have reliable running back depth behind James Conner. Darrel Williams was also signed this offseason but I’m not sure he’s more than a short yardage guy. If Conner goes down, the Cardinals could be in trouble. Don’t worry, Eno Benjamin will save the day!?
That’s right. That’s what we’re supposed to believe anyway. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that former Arizona State product Eno Benjamin looks like a starting caliber player that will see some time this year:
“Eno Benjamin has been tremendous. [He is] another guy who never had an offseason and he’s out there and looks like he could be a starting running back,” Kingsbury said, via Jess Root of USAToday.com.
We have to take camp talk for what it is. These guys are always going to hype up their own players. Hey, maybe Arizona even believes in Benjamin. I have a hard time jumping to that conclusion with the Cards running back. For those that want to read the draft profile, I have on Benjamin, be my guest. I think the guy stinks.
Maybe there is an opportunity to be had here. Conner is put together with super glue and duck tape at this point and is a prime candidate for the Don’t Eat the Cheese list this year. It’s not a bad offense to be part of. Maybe Benjamin can carve a role here by default and somehow becomes fantasy productive. I just have a very hard time seeing that pathway.
Keaontay Ingram is the only other notable name on the Cardinals depth chart and he’s the furthest thing from a safe bet. Ingram wasn’t even on my list this year after failing to make much of an impact after transferring to USC.
Maybe the running back spot isn’t the most important position in football anymore but Arizona is putting a lot of faith in Eno Benjamin this year. Time will tell if that comes back to bite them in the ass this year. Benjamin, a 2020 seventh-round pick, had 34 attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown a year ago.
