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2016 Fantasy Football Team Outlook - Arizona Cardinals

This article continues off our team outlook series where we will breakdown each NFL team from a fantasy football perspective. We will cover the major changes on each team in the offseason and project what the team will do in the upcoming season.

Today we look at the Arizona Cardinals.

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Offseason Moves

Offseason Acquisitions: LB Chandler Jones, S Tyvon Branch, G Evan Mathis.

Offseason Departures: No notable departures.

 

Quarterback

Age has certainly not been a factor for Carson Palmer. While quarterbacks are often able to play well into their 30's, not many are able to put up numbers like the highly touted veteran. Limited to just six games in 2014 after tearing his ACL, Palmer bounced back tremendously in 2015 with 35 touchdown passes and 4,671 yards through the air. He threw four touchdowns in a single game three times, and heads into 2016 as a reliable option at quarterback with an impressive offensive unit behind him.

The Cardinals enter the new season with a ton of depth at running back, wide receiver, and tight end. But it would probably be wise to keep your expectations at a realistic level with Palmer - he's unlikely to breach the 35 touchdown mark again, but the leader of the Cardinals should certainly flirt with 30. He's a QB1 that will likely be taken inside the top 10 of quarterbacks.

 

Running Backs

This is a scary unit, led by up-and-coming sensation David Johnson. Johnson wasted no time in letting himself be known in 2015. In Week One, Johnson touched the ball only once - a 55 yard reception for a touchdown. It wasn't until the latter part of the season that the rookie started rushing the ball effectively, including a three touchdown, 187 rushing yard performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. Even with a small sample size of experience, this kid is special. He will only learn and grow playing alongside Chris Johnson.

Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington make up the rest of the three-headed backfield in Arizona - although neither Johnson or Ellington have as much fantasy upside. They will certainly get their touches, but it's clear who the favorite is here in David Johnson.

CJ2K and Ellington aren't reliable starters for fantasy, but are worth a look and stash in deeper leagues. They're handcuffs to Johnson, but CJ2K was once the best back in the league and Ellington was once the potential future for the Cardinals. Johnson will surly fly off the board in the first round of every draft.

 

Wide Receiver

Leading the receiver unit is veteran Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz is currently dealing with a slight MCL sprain and has been held out of some preseason action. Because of the injury, Fitz's value has certainly dropped. Although, even if fully healthy, it's more realistic to believe that Fitz won't come close to the numbers he put up in his resurgent season in 2015. The Cardinals are a crowded offensive unit and Palmer knows how to spread the love like the best of the them. Injury or not, Fitz has dropped from WR1 consideration, but is definitely not a bad WR2 or WR3, just as long as his knee holds up.

With John Brown also dealing with a concussion (update: he's been cleared to practice, but missed Arizona's third preseason game), the Cardinals have paired Michael Floyd with Carson Palmer during preseason game snaps. This could mean a couple of things. One, the injuries leave Arizona with no choice. Or two, the team has big plans for the tandem this season. I'm favoring the latter.

It was a weird, inconsistent season for Floyd in 2015 - consisting of multiple injuries that resulted in six games of only one or zero receptions. In these games, Floyd accumulated less than 20 receiving yards. In every other contest, the fourth year receiver posted at least 50 yards, including five performances of over 100 yards. He's also no stranger to the big play, catching 40+ yard passes three times. Floyd, now healthy, is set for his long awaited breakout season. Keep an eye on him, as he'll likely be drafted as a top-30 receiver.

 

Tight End

Tight end is another position where the Cardinals have multiple options to work with. Jermaine Gresham and Carson Palmer have history playing in Cincinnati together once upon a time. Gresham was nearly non-existent last season, reeling in only 18 catches on 32 targets, so it's tough to believe that the Cardinals will start using him, or Fells, more consistently when they've rarely favored inserting the tight end into their offensive attack frequently.

Fells out-caught Gresham last season, by only three receptions, but did find the end zone three times (two more than Gresham). Neither are TE1 material but could prove to be solid backups. I'm not even sure either are draft-worthy in standard leagues, and will likely serve better as wait-and-see fillers come the start of the season into midseason.

 

Kicker

Chandler Catanzaro finished the 2015 season with the second most extra points made in the league. While field goals are obviously more important, this stat simply shows us that the Cardinals offense is no joke. And with Bruce Arians at the helm, Catanzaro should see plenty of opportunities to kick, extra points and field goals. He only missed three three-pointers, but failed to convert a 50-yarder on just two attempts. His leg strength is always in question but his accuracy isn't. He's a safe pick, a top-10 kicker, without a ton of upside.

 

Defense

The Cardinals scored seven touchdowns on defense last season and enter the 2016 campaign ranked inside the top 10. Arizona's defense is another safe pick, especially after putting together 33 total takeaways in 2015 (19 interceptions, 14 force fumbles). Expect big fantasy numbers throughout the season.

 




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

New England Patriots

Patriots Select Tight End Eli Raridon With 95th Overall Pick
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Take Another Receiver in Chris Bell at 94th Overall
San Francisco 49ers

49ers Select Kaelon Black With 90th Overall Pick
Chicago Bears

Zavion Thomas Selected 89th Overall by Bears
Giancarlo Stanton

Exits With Leg Tightness on Friday
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Select Will Kacmarek With 87th Overall Pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Draft Ted Hurst 84th Overall in NFL Draft
Isaiah Joe

Likely to Miss Game 3 Against Suns
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Select Chris Brazzell II in the Third Round
Baltimore Ravens

Ja'Kobi Lane Heading to the Ravens With 80th Overall Pick
Peyton Watson

to Remain Sidelined Saturday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Drew Allar Selected 76th Overall by Steelers
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Select Speedy Receiver Zachariah Branch At 79 Overall
Aaron Gordon

Questionable for Saturday's Game 4
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Select Caleb Douglas With 75th Overall Pick
Jordan Goodwin

on Track to Return Saturday
New York Giants

Giants Trade Up to Pick 74, Select Malachi Fields
NFL

Saints Select Oscar Delp With 73rd Overall Pick
Grayson Allen

Listed as Questionable for Saturday
Mark Williams

Won't Play Saturday
Washington Commanders

Commanders Use 71st Overall Pick on Antonio Williams
Chicago Bears

Bears Select Sam Roush With 69th Pick
Victor Wembanyama

Will Miss Game 3 Against Trail Blazers
Carson Beck

Selected 65th Overall by Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams

Rams Select Max Klare With 61st Overall Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Select Marlin Klein With 59th Overall Pick
Jonathan Greenard

Eagles Acquire Jonathan Greenard, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars Select Nate Boerkircher With 56th Overall Pick
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Eagles Select Eli Stowers at No. 54 Overall
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Reed Sheppard Move into Starting Five on Friday
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Wins Most Improved Player Award
Immanuel Quickley

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Joel Embiid

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Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Scratched on Friday With Mid-Back Pain
Troy Terry

Available for Game 3 Against Oilers
Radko Gudas

Misses Second Straight Game Friday
Charle-Edouard D'Astous

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Dan Vladar

Considered a Game-Time Call for Saturday
Jake Sanderson

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Yakov Trenin

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Stars
Mats Zuccarello

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Jackson Holliday

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CJ McCollum

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Jordan Kyrou

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Roope Hintz

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Jason Dickinson

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Adam Henrique

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Michael Harris II

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Matt Duchene

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Michael Harris II

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Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Calf Tightness
JR Ritchie

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Wyatt Langford

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Maikel Garcia

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Juan Soto

Officially Back in Mets Lineup on Wednesday
J.T. Realmuto

Phillies Place J.T. Realmuto on Injured List With Back Injury
Lucas Giolito

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Ryan Helsley

Orioles Put Ryan Helsley on Bereavement List on Wednesday
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Marco Penge

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Sahith Theegala

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Brooks Koepka

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