Week One Fantasy Football Outlook for Arizona Cardinals
By Scott Allen
Aug 17, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Cardinals surely don’t blow people away when it comes to fantasy football numbers, however this season you night be missing out with quarterback Carson Palmer throwing the ball and healthy running backs in Rashard Mendenhall and Ryan Williams.
This week against the St. Louis Rams, it is hard to determine what to expect. The preseason provided us glimpses of offensive sparkle and offensive ineptness. Which Cards offense do we believe? It all starts and ends with the quarterback.
If you are saddled with Carson Palmer with your quarterback, it could be worse. Palmer probably gets 200-300 yards in the air. Now, who is the recipient of all those yards remains to be told. My money is on Michael Floyd and Andre Roberts. While I love Larry Fitzgerald as a player, he just isn’t the sure bet he used to be. Plus he is learning how to receive on inside routes rather than sidelines.
If you are looking for Cardinals fantasy points, I really wouldn’t this week. I think until we know what we have with this offense, you are safe leaving any Cards on the bench. As for their defense, I’d say go for it. St. Louis won’t light up the world, even if they do win the game. Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has just as much to prove, if not more, than Palmer does. This could be a make or break year. He also has running back Daryl Richardson to rely on rushing the ball with Steven Jackson running off to Atlanta.