David Johnson game status

The Cardinals announced their Week 9 inactives, and Johnson will be INACTIVE for Thursday Night Football against the 49ers. He and Chase Edmonds are both out for the game, leaving Kenyan Drake, Zach Zenner, and Alfred Morris as the active running back options. The recently acquired Drake seems to be the most viable option of the three.

Editor’s update: David Johnson is not expected to play on Thursday.

The Arizona Cardinals have formally ruled out running back Chase Edmonds for Week 9 Thursday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told the media on Wednesday Edmonds is out and David Johnson is “still working through it,” according to beat writer Darren Urban.

Kingsbury is planning on a running back by committee that will involve recently acquired Kenyan Drake, and Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris. Johnson will be a game-time decision, according to Pro Football Talk.

Fantasy football analysis: Cardinals RBs Chase Edmonds, Kenyan Drake, David Johnson

Zenner and Morris hold no fantasy value. Drake is the most talented of the three, but would be more of a desperation play given he’ll have had a playbook for no more than 72 hours heading into the game. The big question is what happens if Johnson is active. The 49ers run defense has dominated this season, giving up the second fewest points to opposing running backs. Johnson is usually a must start, but if he actually is active, he might be worth sitting for this game.