Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald still one of the NFL’s valuable receivers

Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald no longer dazzles the highlight reel

Yet he proved in the Arizona Cardinals victory against the Washington Football Team that he still has a lot of football left in him. It seemed every time quarterback Kyler Murray needed a sure-handed target, Fitzgerald came up big, catching 7 passes on all 7 of his targets for 50 yards.

Perhaps his biggest play of the game came on a 12-yard strike from Murray on fourth-down from the Washington 37 yard-line. It was another heads up play from one of the NFL’s most accomplished veterans.

When you look at the highlights in the Cardinals win against Washington, you’re treated to a number of breathtaking plays. From Murray’s two touchdown runs to his downfield strikes to DeAndre Hopkins, Dan Arnold, and Andy Isabella. To heads-up plays from the defense and special teams. And even one of the wildest fourth-down conversions in recent memory.

None of which included Fitzgerald’s quiet, yet effective day. Thus far on the season, Fitzgerald has caught 11 of 12 targets for 84 yards. Good for 7.63 yards per reception.

No, Fitzgerald won’t stretch the field as he did in his earlier days. He’s no longer the touchdown machine who will threaten inside the 20-yard-line. His days of 1,000-plus receiving yards are over.

But early returns on Fitzgerald in 2020 is that he’s still among the NFL’s most reliable targets. He epitomizes what it means to be a prototypical possession receiver. And he is still among the NFL’s most valuable wide receivers.

While most NFL careers ride off into the sunset at age 37, Fitzgerald proved he still has a place in this game and that he can compete with the next generation of NFL opponents. And he provides veteran leadership all 32 teams in the NFL need.

Going forward, Murray is the face of the Cardinals franchise, and prize off-season acquisition DeAndre Hopkins is the number one receiver on the team. But Fitzgerald, even as one of the NFL’s oldest players in the game, continues to find a niche in the game and value to this football team.