Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Football: Who to start/sit in Week 1

The Arizona Cardinals have a high-profile offense even without DeAndre Hopkins. So there are plenty of options to start in Week 1. 

If you have anyone from the Arizona Cardinals lurking on your fantasy football roster, listen up – you still have solid options here even without DeAndre Hopkins in the lineup. Especially early in the season, where the Cardinals offensive unit has played well during the Kliff Kingsbury Era.

Further, the Kansas City Chiefs are coming to town, a team that had one of the league’s weaker defenses earlier in 2021. So this matchup between Patrick Mahomes and Kyler Murray has potential to be an offensive affair with both quarterbacks potentially putting up big numbers through the passing game.

Kyler Murray is one player for the Arizona Cardinals you definitely want to start in Week 1, Zach Ertz, not so much…

Besides Hopkins, there is a chance Murray also won’t have Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams, or even Rondale Moore for this one. However, with Ertz listed as Questionable as of Tuesday and with Moore looking more like a possibility to play, Murray could still have all three targets. Williams is also on the active depth chart, which serves as another sign he has fully worked his way back from a torn ACL.

Suppose all of the above miss this Sunday’s matchup. It is still smart to start Murray. With his ability to extend plays, even lower-tier pass-catchers like Trey McBride, A.J. Green, Andy Isabella, and Greg Dortch will have time to find open lanes in the defense.

Murray can also make things happen with his legs and pick up positive yardage on the ground. Again, he is facing one of the league’s weaker defenses that allowed 29 points per game in the first two months of 2021.

Look for Murray to enjoy a solid outing through the air regardless of who lines up alongside him. And if he must go with a patchwork pass-catching unit, he will make the most of it.

Regardless if he plays this Sunday, it is best that you sit Zach Ertz this weekend. Sure, he could end up becoming the go-to guy in the red zone against the Chiefs and end up with 12-plus fantasy points.

But given his status for Week 1 plus how deep the Cardinals could be at tight end, it makes more sense to just sit and forget about Ertz this week. If you have him on your fantasy team, wait until he’s 100% healthy, then insert him into your lineup.

Overall, Murray is a shoo-in to start. James Conner is another one worth looking into, as the Chiefs defense allowed 4.8 yards per carry last season. And given his uncertain status for Week 1, Rondale Moore is another one to be wary of besides Ertz.