Cardinals expect Jeremiyah Love to be their lead back, but not to shoulder a traditional workhorse workload

Love will assume the role of their main running back when he's healthy enough to play. Coach Mike LaFleur signaled optimism about Love's availability for the Week 1 game against the Chargers, but also said the team doesn't plan to turn him into a single-season workhorse.

LaFleur emphasized that no running back can or should take every snap. He referenced concerns about overloading a back and the effect that can have on both short-term performance and long-term health across a 17-game schedule. The practical goal is to split carries to keep players fresh during games and healthier over the season.

How that shapes workload expectations

The article frames a realistic ceiling for Love at about 15–16 carries per game, not the older-model 20–25 carry workloads. League examples are used to show the shift: Jonathan Taylor, a recognized workhorse, averaged fewer than 20 carries per game last season despite leading in yards and carries. Even high-usage backs who combine rushing and receiving touches (Christian McCaffrey noted as a catch-heavy back) face follow-up-season risks after heavy workloads.

Roster context and personnel decisions

Love won't be asked to carry the offense alone. LaFleur's recent offenses distributed work: with the Rams, Kyren Williams averaged about 15 carries per game while backup Blake Corum averaged 8.5. In Atlanta, Allgeier averaged 8.4 carries a game behind starter Bijan Robinson, who had nearly 17. Those splits mirror the Cardinals' intended approach.

Framing it for fans and fantasy managers

Fans and fantasy owners should adjust expectations. Even if Love is "the guy," his per-game rushing attempts will likely fall short of historical "bell cow" numbers. There will be game-to-game variability — a hot game could produce higher carries — but the default plan is shared work.

Love missed preseason practice time with a high-ankle sprain. LaFleur said Love was trending toward being ready for the opener, but the team has been cautious about declaring him fully available. The decision to keep practice-squad running back Evan Hull off the elevation list was interpreted as a signal that Love should be on the active roster for Week 1.

Expect Love to be the primary ballcarrier, but also expect a rotation. The Cardinals plan to protect their rookie and extend his effectiveness across the season by intelligently splitting snaps with Allgeier and other backs.