3 months agoThe Arizona Cardinals defense/special teams should be left on waivers ahead of a Week 17 meeting against the Los Angeles Rams. Aside from having their full rotation of dangerous skill players in running back
Kyren Williams and receivers
Cooper Kupp and
Puka Nacua, the Rams have been adept at limiting negative plays, ranking in the top 10 in the league in sack rate and turnover rate. Conversely, Arizona ranks in the bottom 10 in scoring percentage allowed, yards per rushing attempt, and turnover percentage. With most leagues in the championship round, there's no reason to risk playing the Cardinals in this matchup.
--Nick Piotrowicz - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
3 months agoArizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. has had quite the rollercoaster ride of a rookie season, especially in terms of fantasy football. He's finished as a WR3 or better in six weeks this season but has finished outside of the top 50 in seven weeks.
Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals aren't going downfield very often, which directly affects Harrison's value. In Week 17, they'll try to play spoiler against the Los Angeles Rams. While the Rams allow an average of 27.8 fantasy points per game to wideouts, their defense has improved in the second half of the season. They've only allowed one touchdown in the last two games, which leaves Harrison as a flex play in this matchup.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
3 months agoArizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride may still be looking for his first receiving touchdown of the season, but he sits at the TE4 on the year in half-PPR formats. In Week 16, he posted his first finish outside of TE1 territory since Week 7. After some strong words about how his team played that week, McBride is sure to bounce back against the Los Angeles Rams who give up an average of 10.5 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. He's received around a 25% target share through this season, and there isn't any reason for that to change. Fantasy managers can still consider McBride a must-start, especially in PPR leagues.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
3 months agoArizona Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray has had quite the rough stretch over his past seven games and is currently the QB11 on the season. Since Week 9, he's finished as a QB1 just two times, a QB2 three times, and finished even worse in the other two. They face off against their divisional foe, the Los Angeles Rams, in Week 17, and they've been improving on the defensive side of the ball. Murray finished as the overall QB1 the last time these two teams faced off in Week 2, but the tides have changed considerably. Murray holds QB2 value going into this matchup.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
3 months agoArizona Cardinals kicker
Matt Prater (knee) was limited in practice all week but was ruled out on Friday for the team's Week 17 divisional contest against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. Prater had his 21-day practice window opened to return from Injured Reserve last weekend and has been limited in six practices. However, the 40-year-old will not be activated from IR, and with the regular-season finale being next weekend with the Cardinals eliminated from the playoff picture, we have a suspicion that he will not play again this year. With Prater out again this weekend against the Rams,
Chad Ryland will once again fill in as the starting placekicker. In an inconsistent Arizona offense now with nothing left to play for but pride, Ryland won't be a recommended fantasy starter in Week 17. The 25-year-old has made 25 of his 29 field-goal tries and all 21 of his extra points in 11 games with Arizona in 2024.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
3 months agoArizona Cardinals rookie running back
Trey Benson (ankle) was limited in practice all week and is considered questionable to play in Week 17 on Saturday night against the hosting division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Lead back
James Conner (knee) was also limited in practice all week and questionable for Week 17. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said he's uncertain about the statuses of both Conner and Benson heading into Saturday night. Benson, who did not play in the team's Week 16 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, would only be worth a look in fantasy as an RB3/flex if he returns and Conner is ruled out. If both Arizona backs are unable to gain clearance, the Cardinals would likely split the backfield touches amongst
DeeJay Dallas and
Michael Carter. The 21-year-old Benson is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in his first 13 NFL games, but he's been afforded only 63 carries behind Conner.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
3 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The lead back sustained the injury during last weekend's game against the Carolina Panthers. Conner remained a limited participant during practice, which is a promising sign. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status leading up to kickoff as No.2 running back
Trey Benson (ankle) is also listed as questionable. Over his past three games, Conner has averaged an impressive 26.5 PPR points per game and found the end zone four times over this stretch. If Conner is active, fantasy managers should feel confident starting him in all formats as an RB2. If both Conner and Benson cannot play,
Michael Carter and
DeeJay Dallas would operate in a committee and are viable flex options.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Tyler Drake
3 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
Trey Benson (ankle) is practicing for a third consecutive day on Thursday after missing last week's game against the Carolina Panthers due to an ankle injury. The rookie out of Florida State could be in line for more work if
James Conner (knee) cannot play or is limited, but fantasy managers will have to see what their official game designations are later on Thursday and 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday. The Rams present a neutral matchup for fantasy running backs, so if Benson earns a spot start, he should be considered an RB2 option for fantasy football championship matchups.
--Jackson Sparks - RotoBallerSource: Tyler Drake
3 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (knee) has been making "good" progress since suffering a knee injury in last week's overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. However, Gannon said he's unsure if he'll know the statuses of both Conner and rookie
Trey Benson (ankle) by Thursday or if they'll be game-time decisions for Saturday night's divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Both Conner and Benson have been limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is a good sign, but with the Cardinals eliminated from postseason contention, they may choose to play it on the safe side and either hold them both out or keep them limited if they suit up on Sunday. Conner should serve as Arizona's lead back if he's active in Week 17, but right now he should be considered more of a shaky RB3/flex for fantasy lineups.
UPDATE: Conner practiced again on Thursday.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Josh Weinfuss
3 months agoArizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (knee) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice. The veteran has maintained the same practice status for two days in a row; he had also been limited in Tuesday's walkthrough. The Cardinals will hold one more practice on Thursday before releasing their final injury report. If Conner can log a full session, he might be able to avoid an official injury designation. Otherwise, he could end up being listed as questionable for Week 17, which would leave his status in doubt until the Cardinals' list of inactives gets released on Saturday evening. Fantasy managers certainly hope that Conner will be able to suit up. He has remained a top fantasy option in his age-29 season, ranking as the RB9 overall with 1,090 rushing yards, 410 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns. He should continue to be deployed as a top-12 fantasy running backs, assuming he suits up Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
--Andersen Pickard - RotoBallerSource: Josh Weinfuss
3 months agoArizona Cardinals kicker
Matt Prater (left knee) was limited in practice on Tuesday. Prater was recently designated to return from injured reserve and has been practicing in his 21-day window for the past week. Prater has not played since Week 4, so it is no surprise that the Cardinals are easing the 40-year-old back into action. Prater is one of the better kickers in NFL history. Before his injury, he had not missed a kick this season. However, if he were to be activated ahead of Week 17 against the Los Angeles Rams, he would be a risky play in fantasy. The Cardinals offense can be inconsistent at times, and Prater may need to shake off some rust. Even so, it is good to see Prater progressing from his injury.
--Quincy Milton III - RotoBallerSource: Theo Mackie
3
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agoArizona
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Conner
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limited
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Benson
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also
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Conner
picked
up
his
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16
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Panthers.
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3 months agoArizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) have both already been ruled out for Saturday's Week 17 divisional clash against the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson will miss his second straight game, while Williams will sit out on Saturday night after injuring his knee in the overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16. With the Cardinals being eliminated from playoff contention with their loss on Sunday, they don't have any incentive to put any injured players out on the field for the final two weeks of the regular season. Arizona missing both their left and right tackles against the Rams this weekend is bad news for their offense, and they could also be without lead running back
James Conner (knee) as well. It should at least give fantasy managers pause when deciding to start quarterback
Kyler Murray.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
3 months agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Arizona Cardinals running back
James Conner (knee) is in wait-and-see mode for the team's upcoming Week 17 game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. Conner injured his knee in the overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, but not before putting up strong numbers with 19 touches for 166 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals were eliminated from postseason contention with their loss on Sunday, which means the Cardinals aren't going to rush the 29-year-old back this weekend if he's not ready. Conner's status will likely depend on how much he can do in practice this week.
Trey Benson (ankle) missed the Week 16 game and
Emari Demercado (back) is on Injured Reserve, so if Conner is ruled out, the Cardinals could be down to
DeeJay Dallas and
Michael Carter in their backfield against LA on Saturday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
3 months agoArizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that the team will not rest quarterback
Kyler Murray in either of the final two games of the season despite being officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday. The Cardinals have two divisional games remaining, at the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17 on Saturday night and at home versus the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. Because of his dual-threat abilities at the QB position, Murray has been a top-12 fantasy player at his position in 2024, but he's had mixed results for his fantasy managers in recent weeks, including in the Week 16 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in which he had two TDs (one throwing, one rushing) but also two interceptions. The 27-year-old will remain a low-end QB1 option in fantasy this Saturday against a Rams team that he threw for 266 yards and three TDs against way back in Week 2.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Arizona Republic - Theo Mackie
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