Michael Carter 2026 fantasy outlook and rest-of-season projection
- Age
- 27
- Height / weight
- 5'8", 201 lb
- Experience
- 6th season
- Drafted
- 2021 R4, #107
2025 Season
- PPR PPG
- 7.6
- Pos rank
- RB46
- Rostered
- —
Week 4 at Ravens, Sun Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET 15th vs. RBs, neutral
Michael Carter Rest-of-Season Outlook
Pass-catching RB4 for deep leagues only
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished RB48 last season at 7.6 points per game.
Our 2026 Preseason Outlook
Carter has settled into a clear identity: a receiving-down complement, not a lead back. In 2025 he played 13 games on a 45.2 percent snap share, running 265 routes and turning 45 targets into 33 catches for 267 yards, while his ground game cratered to 92 carries for 333 yards at a weak 3.62 per carry. The advanced marks confirm the limits: 1.35 yards after contact per attempt, a 5.43 percent explosive-run rate and a -0.036 EPA per play. The 66 fantasy points ranked RB45.
That receiving role is his only real tether to value, mirroring 2024s tiny 3-game sample and a career that never topped the 6.23 YPC flash of his 2023 part-time year. A 2021 fourth-rounder out of North Carolina now in Tennessee, he profiles as a passing-down specialist with a thin standalone floor. Carter is a PPR-only deep flex and bye-week fill-in, best left on waivers until an injury opens early-down work.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 95 running backs who played at least six games. Each bar is one running back, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Rushing volume
Receiving role
Efficiency
- Yards after contact per carry
- 1.35
- Broken tackles
- 3
- Explosive-run rate
- 5.4%
- Red-zone opportunities
- 15
- Snap share
- 45.2%
- Targets
- 45
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft spotThe Colts in Week 6 is a top-10 matchup for RBs.Wk 4 BAL, 15thWk 5 HOU, 32ndWk 6 IND, 5thWk 7 CLE, 26th
- Featured receiving role3.5 targets per game, 13th of 95 RBs in 2025.
Risk
- RoleHe's RB5 on the depth chart.
- Weak efficiency1.35 yards after contact per carry, 84th of 95 RBs in 2025.
- Tough matchupsThe Texans in Week 5 (32nd) and the Browns in Week 7 (26th) are among the stingiest defenses against RBs.
All Michael Carter stats & analysis
RBs like Michael Carter
Michael Carter Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Michael Carter's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Michael Carter projects as a pass-catching RB4 for deep leagues only for the rest of the 2026 season: a bench stash in 12-team PPR leagues, waiver-wire material in 10-team PPR leagues and a bench stash in half-PPR leagues. His receiving role (3.5 targets per game, 13th of 95 RBs in 2025) supports that. His efficiency (1.35 yards after contact per carry, 84th of 95 RBs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Michael Carter's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Michael Carter is the RB48 in PPR points per game. That puts him in RB4 territory, waiver-wire material in 10-team PPR leagues.
What is Michael Carter's projected role going forward?
Michael Carter is RB5 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
What is Michael Carter's fantasy football upside?
Michael Carter's upside: his receiving role (3.5 targets per game, 13th of 95 RBs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Colts in Week 6 is a top-10 matchup for RBs.
What could hurt Michael Carter's fantasy value?
Michael Carter's risks: his efficiency (1.35 yards after contact per carry, 84th of 95 RBs in 2025) limits his scoring and the Texans in Week 5 and the Browns in Week 7 are tough matchups. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Michael Carter's remaining fantasy schedule?
Difficult: of his next seven games, 2 come against a top-10 matchup for RBs and 3 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.