Five Biggest Questions
1. Is the injured Kyler Murray draftable?
2. Can James Conner be a weekly fantasy starter?
3. Could Marquise Brown be a top-30 WR?
4. Will Rondale Moore take another step forward as a fantasy asset?
5. Are Zach Ertz or Trey McBride draftable?
Two years ago, the Arizona Cardinals were one bizarre didn't-turn-around-in-the-end-zone A.J. Green touchdown away from moving to 8-0. They were among the clear frontrunners to reach the Super Bowl. And then everything fell apart, and last year things only got worse.
This year? Somehow, even worse, starting with Kyler Murray, who tore his ACL and cartilage in Week 14 last season. He's expected to return at some point in 2023. Of course, he probably will. But then again, if the near-hapless Cards are 3-10 with a few weeks remaining, it's not hard to envision the team protecting their franchise quarterback and sitting him in meaningless games as they (a) tank, and (b) prepare for an aggressive rebuild in 2024.
That's why Murray's murky value casts a shadow over a seemingly favorable QB23 ADP. I mean, why not take a flyer on him after 14-or-so quarterbacks are off the board? When active and healthy, he should be a top-12 guy. So it really depends on the size of your bench and/or IR spot(s), and who you're *not* getting so that you can snag Murray.
For example, as of late last week, Murray's overall ADP was 173, sandwiched between Tyjae Spears (who I believe will earn some starts this season in Tennessee) and Curtis Samuel (who I believe--yes, seriously--could lead Washington in receptions). D'Onta Foreman (possibly 12+ touches per game) is a few spots ahead of Murray, while John Metchie III (possibly Houston's #1 WR) is a few spots behind.
You get the point. It sounds nice to stash Murray. And in an ideal world, he'll give managers top-8 QB production for 8+ weeks. But he also might be hit-or-miss in a weaker offense than he had last year, and it's anyone's guess if he manages to play even eight games.
In the backfield, Arizona loved James Conner's 2021 touchdown total so much that they gave him a nice payday. Admittedly, he played better than I thought he would last season. However, he also sat four games and remains a poor bet to play 15+. With Colt McCoy likely under center for a good chunk of the year, Conner might become a prime safety valve. With no one threatening his spot atop the depth chart, his RB28 ADP is highly reasonable, at least on a per-game basis.
And with Murray's return date up in the air, the Cards' wideout corps is a relative mess. Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore offer a solid one-two punch in an ideal world. But this year won't be an ideal world for a team that might have to start Colt McCoy four, six, eight games or more. And don't get me started on what happens if the soon-to-be 37-year-old McCoy gets hurt, forcing David Blough into action.
Complicating things further is Arizona's look to the future, and the possibility that third-round rookie Michael Wilson could get more run during the fantasy playoffs, while surprisingly effective former undrafted free agent Greg Dortch could play a spoiler role. It's hard to envision any Arizona WR cracking the top 30, and while Brown has the most boom, Moore (WR58 ADP) is the best value pick -- a 2021 second-round selection whose blazing speed is an ideal fit for a team with a weak quarterback.
And at tight end, the Zach Ertz era is drawing to a close. The Cards went all in two years ago, thinking they were on the verge of a title push. Now Ertz is a remnant of what could have been. Going on 33 years old, and having missed five games in 2020 and another seven last season, he's deservedly off the fantasy radar. And if he's forced to sit, the up-and-coming Trey McBride (TE26 ADP) could become a bye-week streamer. But obviously, when both guys are active, it would be tough to trust either one in even a 20-team league.