The Arizona Cardinals invested the third pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who was widely considered one of the top prospects in the draft as a can't-miss pick.
Love brings a balanced rushing profile built around burst, contact balance, and open-field speed. He's a mismatch nightmare in the second and third levels. Love presses the line well, gets downhill quickly when a crease opens, and has enough lateral agility to make defenders miss without wasting steps. His acceleration gives him big-play ability, while his 6-foot, 212-pound build and balance allow him to finish runs through contact rather than relying only on space. Love also offers receiving value, which can help him stay on the field in fantasy-friendly roles, though his early NFL usage will depend on pass protection, down-to-down consistency, and how quickly he earns trust in a backfield rotation. It's difficult not to see former NFL back DeMarco Murray in Love's game.
Jeremiyah Love's Fantasy Football Outlook
The Cardinals have James Conner coming off injury at nearly 31 years old and signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency. Trey Benson gets pushed even further down the depth chart, provided he makes the final roster. Conner certainly could be on the roster bubble, but his release would cost $4.83 million in dead cap space.
The backfield mix should be settled during the summer, and it's more likely than not we'll be looking at Love getting the lion's share of the touches coming out of training camp. Perhaps Conner sticks around as a veteran presence who can operate on third downs, but he sure feels like the odd man out at this point. Benson no longer has any fantasy potential, and whoever is the direct backup to Love will be a fringe selection.
As for Love himself, he's a borderline RB1 based on talent in 2026, and you can be sure he'll have all the hype in the world entering the summer draft season. His long-term outlook is a rock-solid top-10 back, and he'll be treated as such in keeper/dynasty formats. More to come once the depth chart clears up....
