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Kyler Murray is one of the NFL's budding young stars at the quarterback position. In what seems to be a league going away from the prototypical pocket passers, Murray can do it all on the ground and through the air. He ended the 2021 season with 3,794 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and 5 rushing touchdowns. With only 14 games played, however, he ended up finishing as the QB10.
There are a lot of questions surrounding Murray coming into this season, but one of the largest is his overall ability to stay healthy as a mobile quarterback. In the past few seasons, he has sustained ankle and shoulder injuries that have impaired his time on the field or to even taking the field in the first place. It's never a good thing when a 25-year-old quarterback is already getting a potential injury-prone label.
There may not be somebody with a higher ceiling though than Kyler Murray as we are full steam ahead into the NFL season with week 1 around the corner.
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Are Kyler Murray's Injuries a Problem for Fantasy Football?
Taking a look at Kyler Murray's injury history, it starts back in November of 2020 when he sustained a Shoulder/AC joint injury. Now that didn't cause him to miss any time, but it did hamper his rushing ability, most likely in fear of re-injury. From week 11 on (when he was injured) he only eclipsed the 30 rushing yard mark twice whereas before the injury he only had less than 30 yards twice.
Moving to the most recent injury that did cause him to miss time – a grade 2 ankle sprain during last season causing him to miss three games (weeks 9-12 including the bye). Obviously, a lower-body injury to a mobile quarterback is going to be more important than anything else for fantasy upside. Just like in 2020 post-injury his production dipped.
In his first game back in week 13, he only attempted 15 passes for 123 yards but was able to get 59 yards on ten rushes in that game. From there he didn't have any game over 9 rush attempts but did sit in the pocket more throwing over 40 passes three times with the other two games at 38 and 39 passing attempts. That sounds great, but in only one of those games did he surpass 300 passing yards and the Arizona Cardinals only won one game in the season-ending stretch.
Now we are in the preseason of 2022 and Kyler Murray is experiencing new pain. This time in his wrist and hand. This is the preseason and take these reports with a grain of salt, but the fact that he hasn't been as involved with the preseason games (outside of offensive play calling at times) is something to keep an eye on early in the year.
Where Should I Draft Kyler Murray for Fantasy Football?
So what does this mean for Kyler Murray this year in fantasy football? Well, I would draft him understanding the risks around the injury as well as the fact that DeAndre Hopkins will be absent for the first six weeks of the season. There also seems to be some turmoil on the Cardinals roster as a whole that could cause drama throughout the season.
Also, understand though the upside that Kyler Murray has as a potential QB1 talent that can win you your league with his production through the air and the ground. One thing is true: if he is on the field he is going to be valuable given his skill set.
Look for updates on his recent injuries and if he will be involved in the last game of the preseason when the Cardinals round out against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday, August 27.
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