7 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson had as quiet of a debut as they come in the team's season opener last week against the Bills. The third-round pick out of Florida State saw just three rushing attempts to
James Conner's 16. Benson gained 13 yards on the ground and caught one pass for another five yards. The rookie didn't take the field until the Cardinals' third drive and was outsnapped by fellow backup
Emari Demercado, 14 to eight. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing referred to Conner as the team's "bell cow" in comments to the media ahead of Week 1 and there's little reason to believe they will move away from him in Week 2. Benson is still worth stashing in case the injury bug bites or the team starts utilizing their backs differently, but he should be on fantasy benches on Sunday against the Rams.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoTight ends league-wide disappointed in Week 1. As it was,
Trey McBride's eight points in half-PPR leagues were still good for a top-10 finish at the position. While his production (five catches for 30 yards) fell short of expectations, fantasy managers found a silver lining in McBride's utilization. The Cardinals deployed their star tight end on 85% of snaps and he led the team with a 29% target share against the Buffalo Bills last week. In Week 2, Arizona plays the Los Angeles Rams, who give up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2023. McBride is a priority target in the Cardinals' passing attack and should enjoy a more productive game. The 24-year-old is already one of the top options at tight end and should be locked into starting lineups. McBride will be a top-12 tight end in Week 2, and given his usage in Arizona's offense, could find himself at the top by the end of the week.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoBuzz around Arizona Cardinals slot receiver
Greg Dortch has been building for weeks. Dortch demonstrated great route running and chemistry with
Kyler Murray during preseason training camps and in Week 1 had a 26% target share even though he was on the field for just 62% of offensive snaps. In Week 2, the Cardinals host the Los Angeles Rams, who themselves held
Amon-Ra St. Brown to three catches and 13 yards out of the slot last week. The 2023 All-Pro's reputation demanded more attention than Dortch will likely see, but the Rams' ability to shut down the position shouldn't be overlooked. A repeat of Dortch's modest week 1 performance isn't out of the question and would still make him a solid flex play, especially in deeper leagues, but managers counting on a boom game are better off waiting another week.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. had a dud of a debut against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. The fourth overall pick of the NFL draft had just one catch for four yards and wasn't targeted at all in the second half of that game. While the performance was alarming for fantasy managers who paid up to get the vaunted rookie near his ADP of 15, there is hope for improvement in Week 2. Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing admitted earlier this week that the team needs to prioritize getting the rookie more involved going forward. Harrison will again line up on the outside against a Rams secondary that allowed 121 receiving yards to
Jameson Williams last Sunday. The former Buckeye can be started against the Rams with tempered expectations. He projects as a WR2 in Week 2.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
James Conner put up 83 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He will look to do more of the same on Sunday in the Cardinals' home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Fears that he might lose work to rookie
Trey Benson were assuaged last week as Conner handled 16 of Arizona's 20 handoffs and was on the field for 67% of offensive snaps compared to Benson's 13% share. The Rams had one of the toughest run defenses in the league in 2023 but no longer have Aaron Donald anchoring their line. In Week 1, they gave up 131 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to the Lions. Conner should be locked into fantasy lineups this week and can be expected to put up another RB1 performance.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver
Xavier Weaver (oblique) is officially questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The undrafted rookie wideout is still looking to make his NFL debut, and he has a chance to do so this week after logging three straight limited practice sessions. Weaver performed well in Arizona's preseason finale, reeling in 2-of-4 targets for 56 yards. He also handled two punt and kickoff returns for an additional 81 yards. The Colorado product projects to have difficulty finding consistent playing time in the starting WR rotation behind Marvin Harrison Jr,
Michael Wilson, and
Greg Dortch -- even when healthy. However, he is someone to monitor regarding his usage on kick returns. If Weaver can gain consistency there, he could be helpful for fantasy managers. Otherwise, he can be safely avoided sans deep dynasty leagues.
--Alex CiullaSource: Zach Gershman
7 months agoArizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that the knee is not a concern for quarterback
Kyler Murray (knee), calling him "all good" for the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Murray found himself on the Cardinals' Week 2 injury report but has practiced in full all week and is not in any danger of missing this weekend's game. It's surely something to watch moving forward, though, especially for a QB like Murray who relies on his legs often. The 27-year-old was inconsistent in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills and wasn't on the same page with high-profile rookie receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr., connecting with him just once for four yards. Murray finished 21-for-31 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown and also had five carries for 57 yards with a lost fumble. He'll look to bounce back in Week 2, where he'll be a midrange QB1 play for fantasy managers.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
7 months agoArizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. saw only three targets and caught one of them for four yards in his NFL debut in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said that Harrison attracted extra coverage from the Bills defense. "As a quarterback, obviously, you're going through your reads," quarterback
Kyler Murray said. "Sometimes the ball goes to him, but that's not my job. I have a sense and a feel for guys when they don't get the ball and when they are getting the ball, but I leave that up to Drew. He tells me, 'Don't worry about that type of stuff. Just keep playing your game and get the ball to where the ball is supposed to go.'" Harrison's quiet day could have been a combination of all those things, and Murray mentioned himself he thinks he and Harrison will eventually get on the same page. Going into Week 2, treat Harrison as a high-end WR2 in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: GoPHNX.com - Craig Morgan
7 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals will place offensive tackle Jonah Williams (knee) on the Injured Reserve, which will force him to miss at least the next four games, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. The head coach said he does not know yet if Williams will require surgery for the knee injury that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It's bad news for the Cardinals offense after the team brought the 26-year-old offensive lineman in during the offseason to help bolster their O-line. If Williams requires surgery, there's a possibility that he'll need to miss more than four games for the Cardinals. In the meantime, expect Kelvin Beachum to step in on the right side of Arizona's offensive line and start at right tackle, beginning in Week 2 against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
7 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray (knee) was listed on the team's first practice report for Week 2 on Wednesday, but he practiced in full and should be fine to play this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. It's something to watch moving forward, but it shouldn't make fantasy managers hesitant to use the 27-year-old signal-caller as a QB1 in starting lineups this weekend. Murray was inconsistent in the Week 1 loss on the road to the Buffalo Bills, going 21-for-31 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also had five carries for 57 yards and a lost fumble. Murray connected with rookie first-round receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. just once for four yards. It's nothing to be too concerned about yet, and Murray's rushing abilities at QB give him QB1 upside most weeks. Expect Murray to look Harrison's way a lot more in Week 2.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
7 months agoArizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing acknowledged the need to get rookie
Marvin Harrison Jr. more involved after his quiet NFL debut. Harrison Jr. caught just one pass for four yards and was targeted only three times in Week 1. Petzing emphasized that making Harrison Jr. a central part of the offense is a priority moving forward. He noted, "I think the Bills did some things to take him away, and I could've called plays to involve him more early, but it was a good start. We have some work to do." Petzing took responsibility for not utilizing Harrison Jr. more and clarified that it's his job, not quarterback
Kyler Murray's, to ensure the rookie gets ample opportunities. Fantasy owners should confidently start Harrison Jr. in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, as plans are to feature him more prominently.
--Martin Grisko - RotoBallerSource: Around The NFL @AroundTheNFL Dan Quinn on Jayden Daniels' 16 rush attempts Week 1: "We'd love to see him remain a passer first"
7 months agoArizona Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is expected to miss some time due to a knee injury. The team is still assessing the full extent of the injury and determining a timeline for his return. Williams, who signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Cardinals this offseason, was a left tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals before transitioning to right tackle in 2023. With Paris Johnson stable on the left side, Williams' injury leaves a gap on the right side of the line. Veteran swing tackle Kelvin Beachum, who previously started 48 games at right tackle for the Cardinals from 2020-22, filled in on Sunday. However, Beachum struggled, allowing two sacks and two additional hurries on quarterback
Kyler Murray. This change will likely negatively impact the effectiveness of Murray and the rest of the Arizona offense.
--Martin Grisko - RotoBallerSource: Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN
7 months agoArizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride had a team-high nine targets in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. The chances translated to a five-catch day but resulted in just 30 receiving yards. On a day when Arizona's offensive line was doing all that it could to withstand Buffalo's pass rush, quarterback
Kyler Murray had to get rid of the ball quickly and McBride proved to be a reliable safety valve even if he didn't have time to get downfield. The second-year pro saw a couple of passes that could have gone for 20 or more yards, though both throws were off the mark. Despite the subpar day, McBride's eight PPR points were still enough for him to rank in the top 12 at his position in the first week of NFL action. He will continue to be a TE1 candidate as the season progresses and should be locked into lineups in Week 2 when the Cardinals play the Rams in their home opener.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
DeeJay Dallas took a return 96 yards to the house for the first such score under the NFL's new kickoff rules on Sunday. Dallas can be elusive but he got a little lucky in Week 1 when three would-be tacklers converged on him and essentially took each other out, allowing the returner to easily shake free and continue downfield. Dallas spent his first four professional seasons with the Seahawks and has racked up 1,474 kick return yards since adopting those duties in 2021, the sixth-most in the league over the last three years. As the last running back on the depth chart, Dallas carries almost no fantasy value, though he might be of interest in leagues that account for return yards. In Week 2, Arizona faces the Rams, who registered six touchbacks with no returns for their kickoffs in their season debut.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver
Michael Wilson scored the team's first points of 2024 when he caught a five-yard pass from
Kyler Murray in the first quarter of Sunday's season opener against the Buffalo Bills. Wilson showed good awareness on the play as he took it upon himself to find some open space in the back of the end zone while Murray did his best to stay on his feet despite a heavy pass rush on the play. The touchdown reception ended up being Wilson's only reception of the day and he drew just one other target in the loss. Wilson did start opposite
Marvin Harrison Jr. and had the second-highest snap count among Arizona's wide receiver group. Next week the Cardinals host the Rams, who just gave up 121 receiving yards and a touchdown to the Lions' WR2,
Jameson Williams.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
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