X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

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.

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including Draft Kit + DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through October. Premium DFS lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more - seven days a week. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

 

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.

 




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NBA

Bronny James Scores 10 Points
Harrison Ingram

Limited on Sunday
NBA

Isaiah Mobley Drops 16 Points
NBA

Ryan Rollins Staying with Bucks
T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Still Not Close on New Contract
Terry McLaurin

Still Not Pleased with Contract Situation
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Yu Darvish

to Make Season Debut on Monday
MLB

Nationals Fire Dave Martinez, Mike Rizzo
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
KaVontae Turpin

Arrested on Two Charges
Cole Ragans

to Begin Throwing on Monday
Theo Johnson

Prioritizing his Health this Offseason
Andrés Giménez

Andres Gimenez Hits 10-Day Injured List
Jermaine Burton

Continues to Show Growth
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF