7 months agoArizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing described running back
James Conner as the team's "bell cow" in recent comments to the media. Anyone left wondering how much Petzing's coachspeak could be trusted got their answer on Sunday. Conner handled the ball in each of the Cardinals' first six plays from scrimmage to open the game and paced the team's running backs with 16 rushing attempts. The eighth-year veteran gained 50 rushing yards and caught three passes for another 33 yards through the air. Conner scored his first touchdown of the season in the second quarter, taking the handoff from three yards out and punching it through the line for the score. Conner and the Cardinals next face the Rams, who allowed a combined 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns to
David Montgomery and
Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions in Week 1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoThe hype surrounding Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. pushed his ADP to 15 during the fantasy draft season. He fell well short of expectations in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, drawing just three targets and making a single catch for four yards. The fourth overall pick from the 2024 NFL draft may have disappointed fantasy managers in Week 1, but his usage leaves room for optimism. Harrison was on the field for nearly every offensive snap, missing only six plays, all of which were three-tight end sets. While Buffalo's secondary seemed at times to be giving the rookie receiver special attention downfield, the defensive pressure on quarterback
Kyler Murray also lent to Harrison's lack of production. With Harrison running mostly intermediate and long routes, there simply wasn't time for him to complete a route before Murray had to get rid of the ball. The debut was a dud, but Harrison should remain in starting lineups in Week 2 when Arizona takes on the Los Angeles Rams.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 162 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He gained an additional 57 yards on the ground on 5 rushes, including a 29-yard scamper that ended up being Arizona's longest play from scrimmage. Murray's touchdown pass went to wide receiver
Michael Wilson from five yards out in the first quarter. The 27-year-old signal caller had an efficient start to the game with only one incompletion in his first 12 attempts but as the game went on Arizona's offensive line found it harder and harder to keep up with the pass rush, forcing Murray to hurry his throws. While he was never picked off he eventually coughed up a fumble late in the third quarter that gave the Bills the ball on Arizona's 21-yard line, setting them up for the go-ahead score. Despite the lackluster final line, Murray will be a QB1 candidate in Week 2 when Arizona hosts the Los Angeles Rams.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoArizona Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (knee) was ruled out after suffering a knee injury against the Bills on Sunday. Williams is an important piece of an uninspiring Cardinal's O-line. Williams came over to the Cardinals as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. As such, it is disappointing to see him go down in his first game with the team.
James Conner and
Kyler Murray managers should keep an eye on the situation to see how it could affect those players should Williams miss time. However, it is worth noting that Williams was able to walk off under his own power.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
7 months agoArizona Cardinals offensive lineman Jonah Williams (knee) suffered an apparent knee injury and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Kelvin Beachum has replaced Williams at right tackle for the time being, but this will be something to monitor as it could affect
Kyler Murray's protection. Williams has been an everyday starter for the Bengals through the first four years of his career and transitioned into the starter for the Cardinals. Updates will likely be on the way after Williams is checked out in the locker room.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Craig Grialou
7 months agoArizona Cardinals tight end
Tip Reiman (ankle) is officially active for Sunday's season opener against the Buffalo Bills. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity on Friday, but in the end, he's suiting up for his NFL debut. The rookie third-round pick remains behind
Trey McBride on the depth chart, which means he can be avoided in most fantasy football leagues this week.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Bo Brack
7 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals open the 2024 season against
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. In 2023, the Cardinals allowed the second-most points in the league (455) and the third-most passing touchdowns (32). Arizona made no significant improvements in the offseason and PFF ranks each unit (defensive line, linebackers, secondary) dead last in the league. The Bills, on the other hand, feature one of the best quarterbacks in the league leading an offense that scored the fifth-most points in the league last year. Aside from likely yielding too many points to make them a viable D/ST option, Arizona also has no pass rush to speak of and with Allen's mobility, the Cardinals won't be making up any fantasy points via sacks. Any other D/ST will be a better option to start in Week 1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7
months
agoArizona
Cardinals
kicker
Matt
Prater
will
begin
his
18th
NFL
season
when
the
team
takes
on
the
Buffalo
Bills
in
Week
1.
Prater
is
the
active
leader
in
career
field
goals
with
401
and
is
second
on
the
list
in
career
extra
points.
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7 months agoArizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride is expected to pick up where he left off following his breakout last year. Drafted in 2022, McBride was hardly involved in the offense at all until
Zach Ertz was placed on injured reserve halfway through the 2023 season. Once McBride had the TE1 role to himself, he took off, ending the season with the team lead in targets (106), receptions (81), and receiving yards (825). McBride was targeted on 27% of routes run in 2023, tops among tight ends, and his 2.10 yards per route run ranked second behind
George Kittle. Arizona faces the Buffalo Bills in the season opener on Sunday. Despite their solid defense, McBride should be locked into starting rosters and should finish as a TE1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoNow entering his fifth NFL season, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Greg Dortch may finally have a regular role carved out for himself in 2024. Buzz has been building around Dortch throughout the preseason as he has shown chemistry with quarterback
Kyler Murray and demonstrated excellent route running ability. Lauded rookie
Marvin Harrison Jr. and third-year tight end
Trey McBride are the top two targets in Arizona's offense but Dortch should see a fair amount out of the slot. The Cardinals face the Bills in Week 1 and while Buffalo's secondary will be a challenge, in 2023 they gave up more fantasy points per game to receivers lined up in the slot versus out wide. Dortch projects to be in WR5 territory in Week 1. While he may be worth a flex in deeper leagues, he should be held out of lineups in 10- or 12-teamers.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals rookie first-round wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to make his regular-season debut on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. During the preseason, the former Buckeye was kept out of harm's way for the most part, seeing only three snaps in all. The fourth overall selection of the NFL draft, Harrison is already listed as the team's WR1 and is expected to have an immediate impact. The Bills won't make it easy, though, as they are the only team returning three cornerbacks with coverage grades of 81.0 or higher from PFF. Still, given the combination of talent, draft capital, and the team situation, Arizona should be feeding Harrison as many targets as possible. Harrison looks like a safe WR2 with upside in Week 1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson finished the preseason with 17 carries for 64 rushing yards. The third-round pick out of Florida State was once believed to be a threat to
James Conner's playing time but it appears the rookie will have to wait a while before he makes his mark on the league. In recent comments to the press, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing reaffirmed the team's commitment to using Conner as their primary running back, referring to him as the "bell cow in that room." While Benson's performance during training camp and the preseason solidified his role as Conner's direct backup, not much should be expected of the rookie out of the gate. Given Conner's injury history, Benson is certainly a worthwhile bench stash but the bench is exactly where he should be on fantasy rosters in Week 1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoWhen the Arizona Cardinals open their season on Sunday, it will mark running back
James Conner's eighth as a pro, and his fourth with the team. Since joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner has the eleventh-most carries in the league despite missing seven games due to injury over the last two seasons and starting only six games in 2021. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently told the media that Conner is "the bell cow in that room," signaling he will maintain his role despite rookie
Trey Benson's presence on the depth chart. In 2023, Conner turned in his first 1,000-yard season and finished with the third-most rushing yards per game (80.0). The Buffalo Bills have a stout defense but last season had a weakness against running backs, allowing 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst in the NFL) and 6.33 yards per target (fourth-worst) to the position. Conner can be started as a solid RB2 option in Week 1.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray won't have it easy in Week 1 when the team kicks off the 2024 season against the Buffalo Bills. Last season, the Bills limited opposing quarterbacks to just 215.2 passing yards per game and a total of 18 passing touchdowns, tied for the third-fewest in the league. However, they lost veteran safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde in the offseason, leaving room for fantasy managers to be optimistic about Murray's production. There's also the fact that Murray isn't shy about using his legs to make a play. Since his rookie season in 2019, he has averaged 37.7 rushing yards per game (fourth-most in the NFL in that span). Murray has a good track record and a stable of young pass-catchers headlined by fourth-overall draft pick
Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite the tough matchup, Murray should be in starting lineups on Sunday.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
7 months agoArizona Cardinals tight end
Tip Reiman (ankle) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Reiman practiced all week in a limited fashion, but it appears his ankle hasn't progressed enough for him to be cleared for the Cardinals' opening road tilt. With the third-string tight end sidelined, it's fair to expect
Elijah Higgins to garner some more snaps, with fourth-string option
Travis Vokolek to mix in for some as well, possibly. The rookie third-round pick doesn't project to have a significant role in Arizona's offense right out of the gate. Even if the Illinois product is healthy,
Trey McBride is the clear leader of this unit. Fantasy managers can avoid Reiman in the early season, and he's nothing more than a deep dynasty league stash for the time being.
--Alex CiullaSource: Sports Illustrated
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