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Aidin Ebrahimi explores why Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray could end the 2024 fantasy football season as the league-winning QB. Can he recapture his form?
QBs are more important than ever in fantasy football. In this day and age, you need a QB who can produce week in and week out if you want to make the fantasy playoffs and win your league.
Last year, I predicted that Lamar Jackson would be the 2023 league-winning QB and 2023 NFL MVP. I was quite right in that assessment. Jackson won the MVP, was the overall QB4, and finished as the overall QB1 during the fantasy playoffs, where league-winners show themselves. Jackson proved himself last year after most of the attention went to Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow. And this year, I have a feeling that Kyler Murray will outperform his ADP and shine in the fantasy playoffs, just like 2023 Jackson.
Without further ado, let's look at why Kyler Murray can reemerge as a fantasy weapon once again, outperform the likes of C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love, and be this season's fantasy football league-winning quarterback.
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2019-2021: Fantasy Football Dominance
After his incredible Heisman-winning season in 2018, Kyler Murray was on every single fantasy manager's radar. His rushing ability combined with his passing made him one of the most sought-after fantasy QBs heading into the 2019 season.
He showed that the hype was justified in his rookie season, throwing for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 544 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
The “Elite Rushing QB gets an alpha WR” formula is happening to Kyler Murray for the second time…
2020 Josh Allen + Diggs = QB1
2020 Kyler Murray + Hopkins = QB2
2022 Jalen Hurts + AJ Brown = QB32024 Kyler Murray + MHJ = top 5 QB
— Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) May 28, 2024
Murray finished as the overall QB7, but 2019 was a weak year for QBs and Murray needed to improve if he wanted to replicate his fantasy success.
He did that and then some in 2020. He improved as a passer and runner, contributing to 37 total touchdowns and making the Pro Bowl for the first time. From Week 1 to Week 16, he was the overall fantasy QB1.
After that monster season, expectations were sky-high. He was being picked as the QB3 heading into the 2021 campaign, and everything was looking great after the first seven weeks.
Before Week 8, Murray had led the Cardinals to a perfect 7-0 start and was the overall QB3. But an ankle sprain during the Cardinals' first loss of the season changed everything.
Murray missed three games and wasn't quite the same for the rest of that year. Despite that, he still finished as the QB10 and led his team to the playoffs, where they would lose to the Rams.
He was definitely at his best during the 20-game stretch from Week 4 in 2020 to Week 7 in 2021, where he threw for 5,187 yards and 39 touchdowns to 12 interceptions and had a 104.3 passer rating. His 758 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns were the icing on the cake.
2022-2023: Injury And Recovery
The Cardinals were pleased with Murray's progress and signed him to a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension. However, an "independent study" clause in the contract which required that Murray spend four hours a week studying film without the distraction of television or video games caused him to receive an unprecedented amount of scrutiny from the media.
Somewhat poetic
On December 12, 2022 Kyler Murray on the opening drive rushed passed the 40 yard line and tore his ACL on the 45 yard line trying to get the 1st down
On his first game back 335 days later, Kyler Murray on the last drive of the game rushed passed the exact spot… pic.twitter.com/Kql0Ctid5Q
— Jesus (@updatecardinals) November 13, 2023
Murray shook it off and was the QB6 until Week 8, where he strained his hamstring. He tried to play through it in Week 9, but then missed the next two games. In the second game after his return, Murray tore his ACL, which ended his and the Cardinals' season.
The Cardinals were expected to be the worst team in the NFL in 2023, and very few expected to see Murray out on the field. But Murray was adamant to shake off the "lazy" and "distracted" labels that had been put on him due to that "independent study" clause, so he came back in Week 10 despite the Cardinals having won one game.
It took Murray quite a while to get back on track, but he still led the team to three wins and finished as the QB9 from Week 10 onward. He completed 71.7% of his passes and had a passer rating of 108.3 in his last three games.
2024: Why Murray Will Lead You To A Fantasy Football Title
This Cardinals roster is not the best team in the world, with their defense and offensive line being weak areas. But Murray has some serious weapons to pass to. Their firepower combined with their weak defense is a recipe for many shootouts, which can only mean more stats and fantasy points for Murray.
Welcome to DORTCHLAND🏰!! 🥲🔥 https://t.co/4090jLwU11
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) August 6, 2024
The reliable and underrated James Conner is back, coming off the best season of his career. He'll share some touches with rookie Trey Benson, a fast and exciting back who can speed things up and also has pass-catching potential.
Trey McBride is also looking to build upon his impressive sophomore campaign; he averaged 67.3 yards per game and caught 80.3% of his passes with Murray last year.
Chris Moore and Zay Jones are two solid veterans who will give OC Drew Petzing more play-calling options. Greg Dortch is a very talented player and has been praised by HC Jonathan Gannon multiple times, with Gannon expecting him to have a big year.
Michael Wilson looked great before he got hurt, and is looking to have a big sophomore jump in 2024. And of course, all eyes will be on Marvin Harrison Jr. The son of the NFL legend scored 29 total touchdowns in his final two years at Ohio State and is already the Cardinals' WR1. If he pans out, the Murray/MHJ duo will be one of the best QB/WR duos in all of football.
In addition to all these weapons, don't forget to keep an eye out for their other young players such as Elijah Higgins, Tejhaun Palmer, and Tip Reiman.
Kyler Murray 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Kyler Murray is in the ideal situation to succeed this year. His QB9 ADP is less than sophomores C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson, and he has shown the ability to outperform his ADP when healthy.
The Cardinals' weak defense will give up a lot of points, but Murray has an awesome array of weapons at his disposal and will answer right back. This makes the 2024 Cardinals one of the most exciting teams in football.
Which play was better?
Option 1: The Cardinals Hail Murray
Option 2: The Longest 2-Pt Conversion in NFL History pic.twitter.com/NK8x5DBeDF
— 🌵 Mr. Az (@MrAzSports) May 19, 2024
Murray believes in HC Jonathan Gannon's vision for the team, and Gannon is really satisfied with Murray's attitude. "I love the guy because he's done everything that I've asked of him and more," Gannon said, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com.
He then said that Murray was "leaps and bounds ahead" of where he was last year both physically and mentally. Murray will play against the Patriots, Panthers, and Rams during the fantasy playoffs. Not the hardest slate of games in the world, and he can be elite during this stretch.
He is ready to shed the "lazy" label and become 2024's potential overall QB1 and league-winning quarterback.
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