The Facts: In an interview with KTAR-Phoenix, Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team intended to use a backfield rotation in Sunday's game versus the Minnesota Vikings, however LaRod Stephens-Howling had the hot hand, so they stuck with him. Stephens-Howling carried the ball 20 times for 104 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 45 yards.
Diehards Line:The Cardinals backfield situation had been a thorn in the sides of fantasy owners since Week 1. Injuries to starters Chris Wells and Ryan Williams gave Stephens-Howlings and William Powell a chance to shine. Powell was featured and found some success in Arizona's Week 6 loss to Buffalo, while Stephens-Howling took a back seat. Unfortunately Powell didn't get a chance to improve on his performance thanks to a fumble on an early kickoff return against the Vikings that sent him straight to the bench. Stephens-Howling took over and made the most of his opportunity. While Stephens-Howling heads into Week 8 as the favorite to start versus San Francisco, the 49ers run D will be a formidable challenge. Fantasy owners may want to look elsewhere for a bye-week or injury replacement. It is also reasonable to expect more 'hot hand' decisions in the Arizona backfield, that could be further complicated with the return of Chris Wells in late November.