With most fantasy football leagues concluding after Week 17, there is no reason for you to be reading this if you weren't playing in your league's Championship Week.
Below you will find some players that could be starts or sits in your league, but my fantasy football rankings will better help you determine if I would start Player X over Player Y.
Jennings has performed as a top-24 fantasy receiver and scored in four consecutive games and in six of his past seven. The Bears have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season and the 49ers have a top-five implied total this week. Jennings is a high-end WR2 this week.
Yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. has returned and Wilson had only three targets in Week 16, but he still managed to finish with 52 yards and a score. Double-digit targets shouldn't be expected any more for Wilson, who has averaged 17.6 fantasy points per game since Week 11, but I'd still trust Wilson over his much more ballyhooed teammate in Week 17.
I admit it would be difficult to trust any Jets player this week, and Mitchell certainly isn't a must-start. That said, he's a widely available waiver wire option (18% rostered in Yahoo!) as a viable WR3 based on his top-36 spot inside my fantasy wide receiver rankings this week. Mitchell has a minimum of six targets (and average of 7.7 per game) over his past six games and he has scored 14-plus fantasy points in two of his past four contests.
Since returning in Week 13, McLaurin has 16 catches for 259 yards and two touchdowns over four games. Three of those matchups were against teams that rank among the eight stingiest defenses to opposing wide receivers. This week, McLaurin gets the most generous fantasy defense to the position on Christmas Day. Even if the Commanders are down to their third-string quarterback (Josh Johnson), McLaurin remains a strong play.
Five weeks into the season, Egbuka seemed like the runaway favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a sure-fire WR1. Only Puka Nacua (588), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (534), and Justin Jefferson (449) had more receiving yards in their first five games this season than Egbuka (445, five TDs), who also trailed only Amon-Ra St. Brown (six) in receiving touchdowns during that span. Over his past six games, however, the rookie has a 44.2% catch rate, 42 or fewer yards in five of those games, and no touchdowns. With the team's receiving corps back at full strength, he set career lows in targets (two) and catches (one) in Week 16.
Without Patrick Mahomes or (likely) Gardner Minshew under center, it's nearly impossible to trust any Chiefs pass catcher in Week 17. Chris Oladokun will likely start assuming Minshew is unable to play this week, and Worthy finished with only two catches for 41 yards last week. Given the difficult matchup against an elite Denver Broncos defense, it's better to keep Worthy on your bench.
Jalen Hurts: In the same year that Saquon Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards, Hurts set a career low as a full-time starter in pass attempts per game (24.1). In fact, that was a drop of 7.5 per game from his 2023 average (31.6). He finished 2024 throwing for only 2,903 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Even with Barkley's rushing greatness last season, Hurts extended streaks of 150-plus carries (to three seasons), 600-plus rushing yards (four) and double-digit rushing scores (four). Over the past four years, Hurts has compiled 611/2,779/52 rushing in 62 games, equivalent to 9.51 fantasy points per game from rushing stats alone. In addition, only two players (both running backs) — Derrick Henry (51) and Josh Jacobs (42) — come within 10 rushing touchdowns of Hurts (52) during that span, per Stathead. (Josh Allen is tied for fourth (40) with Joe Mixon and Jonathan Taylor.)
Brock Purdy: Purdy had a down year in 2024 but still finished as the QB10 on a points-per-game basis (18.6). Compared to career rates (in parenthesis), Purdy's 65.9% completion rate (67.5%), 4.4 TD% (6.0%), and 8.5 Y/A (8.9) were all lower in 2024. Yes, Deebo Samuel now plays for the Washington Commanders and Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and nearly every other top receiver not named Ricky Pearsall seem to have injury designations (or a suspension), but Purdy is a value when comparing my projections/rankings to his current ADP.
J.J. McCarthy: With one of the league's best offensive instructures in place, McCarthy should hit the ground running (maybe literally, too) in his debut season after missing 2024 with a torn meniscus. Kevin O'Connell had Sam Darnold playing at an MVP-caliber level for much of the year, and the team has a good offensive line with a talented group of weapons (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Adam Thielen, T.J. Hockenson, etc.). Given his plus athleticism and environment, there is plenty of upside for a season similar to Bo Nix's rookie campaign (ADP of QB20+ with a top-10 finish).
Josh Allen: Putting aside the debate over who should have won the NFL MVP award last season, it's clear that both Allen and Lamar Jackson had MVP-caliber seasons, especially as voters split their votes for MVP and the 2024 AP NFL All-Pro first team. Going into fantasy drafts this summer, Allen vs. Jackson will be the difficult (or easy) choice facing fantasy managers — and to be clear, the "easy" part is that you can't go wrong with either.
Allen posted five-year lows in several passing categories — attempts (483), yards (3,731) and touchdowns (28) — but his dual-threat skill set is what makes him so dangerous. Allen now has (at least) 12 rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and 500-plus rushing yards in four consecutive seasons. He has finished as a top-two fantasy quarterback for five consecutive seasons.
Bryce Young: Young was benched after a terrible start through the first two weeks last season (only 225 passing yards, 4.01 Y/A, no touchdowns and three interceptions). He didn't start again until Week 8, but he played much better, especially over the final three games (64.8%, 7.0 Y/A, seven touchdowns and no interceptions). After Carolina's Week 11 bye, Young was the QB8 in fantasy PPG (21.2) through the end of the season.
Caleb Williams: Williams benefits from the trifecta of improvements in offensive coaching, protection and weapons. After completely revamping their interior offensive line in free agency, the Bears also used their first three draft picks on the offense — tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III, and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo. Williams is one of my favorite QB2 targets with upside when I don't draft a top-four option.
Lamar Jackson: What a year it was Jackson, who posted career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41) while leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%), yards per attempt (8.8) and passer rating (119.6)! It was the second time in his career that he has finished as fantasy's QB1. He posted a 9% TD% in his other overall QB1 season (2019), and then followed that up with a 6.9% rate in 2020. His career average is 6.4%. Long story short, he was absolutely phenomenal in 2024, but last year's ratios would be unsustainable for any quarterback including Jackson (even though he could repeat as fantasy's QB1). Although he has a max of five rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons, Jackson is the NFL's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards, averaging a whopping 1,019 yards per 17 games over his career.
Kyler Murray: While fantasy managers were hoping for more from Murray in 2024, his final numbers were still solid albeit not spectacular. Murray threw multiple touchdowns in only four games, but he had another four multi-score games when including rushing touchdowns. Even with more weekly inconsistency than you may like, Murray has upside as a back-end QB1, especially if Marvin Harrison Jr. and their connection take a step forward in year two.
Sam Darnold: How close will the 2025 version of Darnold be to his breakout season last year? That's the obvious question, especially considering last year's environment (coaching and supporting cast) was about as ideal for a quarterback as possible. On a positive note, the former top-three pick is still only 28 years old despite entering his eighth NFL season. Darnold threw for 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season and finished as fantasy's QB9. It's definitely possible that the fantasy community (myself included) is discounting him too much in 2025.
Josh Allen: Putting aside the debate over who should have won the NFL MVP award last season, it's clear that both Allen and Lamar Jackson had MVP-caliber seasons, especially as voters split their votes for MVP and the 2024 AP NFL All-Pro first team. Going into fantasy drafts this summer, Allen vs. Jackson will be the difficult (or easy) choice facing fantasy managers — and to be clear, the "easy" part is that you can't go wrong with either.
Allen posted five-year lows in several passing categories — attempts (483), yards (3,731) and touchdowns (28) — but his dual-threat skill set is what makes him so dangerous. Allen now has (at least) 12 rushing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons and 500-plus rushing yards in four consecutive seasons. He has finished as a top-two fantasy quarterback for five consecutive seasons.
Caleb Williams: Poised for a breakout season, Williams benefits from the trifecta of improvements in offensive coaching, protection and weapons. After completely revamping their interior offensive line in free agency, the Bears also used their first three draft picks on the offense — tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Luther Burden III, and offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo. Williams (along with Justin Fields) is one of my favorite targets later when I don't draft a top-four option.
Lamar Jackson: What a year it was Jackson, who posted career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41) while leading the NFL in TD% (8.6%), yards per attempt (8.8) and passer rating (119.6)! It was the second time in his career that he has finished as fantasy's QB1. He posted a 9% TD% in his other overall QB1 season (2019), and then followed that up with a 6.9% rate in 2020. His career average is 6.4%. Long story short, he was absolutely phenomenal in 2024, but last year's ratios would be unsustainable for any quarterback including Jackson (even though he could repeat as fantasy's QB1). Although he has a max of five rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons, Jackson is the NFL's all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards, averaging a whopping 1,019 yards per 17 games over his career.
Justin Fields: The same year (2022) that Fields threw for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, he finished as fantasy's QB6 in points per game and overall. Of course, it was the elite rushing production (160/1143/8) that outweighed his anemic passing stats that year. Even before the Steelers benched him in favor of Russell Wilson in 2024, Fields was the QB6 in fantasy points per game through his six starts. I expect to be overweight Fields in 2025, especially in best ball formats.
Kyler Murray: While fantasy managers were hoping for more from Murray in 2024, his final numbers were still solid albeit not spectacular. Murray threw multiple touchdowns in only four games, but he had another four multi-score games when including rushing touchdowns. Even with more weekly inconsistency than you may like, Murray has upside as a back-end QB1, especially if Marvin Harrison Jr. and their connection take a big step forward in year two, as many expect.
The Cardinals signed three defensive linemen -- Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Khyiris Tonga -- in free agency, adding 294 games of experience and 26.5 sacks among the three of them to provide more depth for a rotation that's expected to look like hockey lines.
Arizona also drafted Darius Robinson out of Missouri in the first round and edge rusher Xavier Thomas out of Clemson, both of whom can play inside and out. Adding all of the new faces to a defensive line room that already includes the likes of L.J. Collier, whom the Cardinals re-signed this offseason, second-year lineman Dante Stills and veteran Roy Lopez means Arizona's defensive front got much-needed improvement. -- Josh Weinfuss
I just really appreciate how Monti Ossenfort runs his drafts. For all the failed former Bill Belichick acolytes, Ossenfort might be blazing a pretty interesting trail out in the desert. The Cardinals landed arguably the best receiver in the draft in Marvin Harrison Jr., a solid foundational piece in pass rusher Darius Robinson, one of my favorite Day 2 corners (Max Melton) and a big-play back (Trey Benson) all before Friday night was halfway through. Throw in a few fun mid-to-late selections (TE Tip Reiman, safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, edge Xavier Thomas) and the sixth-round lifeline for OT Christian Jones, and the Cardinals had themselves a hell of a weekend. If the NFC West wasn't so tough, I might have them a little higher. As it is, they're in the sleeper on-deck circle.
They've had two good drafts in a row as they build under general manager Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon. They could push to be a playoff team this season.
Still ample work to do here on both sides of the ball. But the Cards are clearly on the way up, and first-round WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to be among the Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunners ... assuming the line holds up in front of QB Kyler Murray.
This was the draft Arizona had been waiting for. The Cardinals had seven of the first 90 picks. Teams generally hope to get at least starting-quality players out of that type of draft capital. If Arizona did that, its turnaround could begin now.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Marvin Harrison Jr. should immediately make Arizona's passing attack much more viable, and I like the addition of Jonah Williams to stabilize the offensive line. But this is still a team counting on a lot of young draft picks. Better, but not ready yet.
Banks has been money at left tackle for the Longhorns the past two seasons, earning all-conference accolades both years, including first-team honors in 2023. Similar in some ways to this year's No. 20 overall selection Troy Fautanu, Banks' lack of ideal height — Texas lists him at 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds) — may push him inside to guard in the NFL. Regardless, he's great lineman.
At 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, Johnson is a big, patient corner with fluid hips and excellent movement skills. He transitions in and out of his backpedal extremely well, though he will need to become more disciplined in coverage this season before turning pro. He can be overaggressive attacking routes. Still, Johnson allowed just 14 catches into his coverage last season (zero TDs) and hauled in four interceptions. I could see some comparisons to Pat Surtain II coming his way. Arizona drafted Max Melton and signed Sean Murphy-Bunting, but the CB room still has a ways to go.
The Cardinals didn't draft a true defensive tackle this year despite that being one of their bigger needs. Graham has been a disruptive force against the pass and run for the Wolverines.
Watching the Penn State defensive prospects last season, Carter was clearly the star for a front seven that produced multiple top-100 picks. Formerly a linebacker, he is expected to play more of a pass-rushing role in 2023. Early warning: The Micah Parsons comparisons will be rampant.
Walker is a true alien. He is 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds and led all FBS interior defensive linemen in pressures (51) this past season. He is incredibly agile for a player that size and has the sheer strength to ragdoll offensive linemen. The Cardinals didn't select a true defensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft despite that being one of their bigger needs, so Walker makes the most sense here.
Harold Perkins is a very undersized pass rusher (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), but he has been productive multiple years in the SEC and will be one of the youngest players in the class. He has 26 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons and was No. 1 in the SEC in forced fumbles during the 2023 season. He is a difficult projection, but should still be a top-10 pick.
The cupboard is hardly bare at Michigan even after a school-record 13 players were taken in this year's draft. Graham joins Johnson as a defender who has already set a sky-high standard during his first two seasons with the Wolverines.
Despite adding a defensive player in each of the first five rounds of the draft this year, the Cardinals are still short on true difference-makers on that side of the ball. Graham could team with first-rounder Darius Robinson to provide some serious power up front for Jonathan Gannon's crew.
Johnson is a prototypical perimeter corner in that he's long, physical and plays with suddenness. He's a difference-maker, both at the catch point and as a tackler.
Analysis: The Cardinals did a nice job over the first two days of the draft. They acquired picks via trade, found home-run hitters on offense in Harrison and Benson and added an inside/outside pass-rush threat in Robinson. They landed athletic corners in Melton and Elijah Jones, as well. Adams and Reiman also met needs, though they were picked a bit earlier than I expected.
Taylor-Demerson was my pick for the Cardinals in the fourth round of my seven-round mock draft because of his quickness as a slot defender and tackling ability. Thomas is athletic enough to stand up on the edge for the Cardinals, while Christian Jones and Palmer have the talent to take back-end roster spots and compete for playing time down the road.
Top needs entering the draft: Wide receiver, cornerback, edge defender
I really could have listed a few more needs above, including each position on defense. While the Cardinals surprised most everyone by winning four games last season, this is still a team with a below-average roster. They really needed a talent infusion in this draft, and they entered Thursday with 11 picks, tied for the most in the league. So, yes, general manager Monti Ossenfort could have traded down from No. 4 to add even more capital, but I like that he went with both the best prospect available and the team's biggest need. Marvin Harrison Jr. (4) has everything it takes to be a future All-Pro wide receiver.
Darius Robinson (27) dominated against top prospects at the Senior Bowl, which made him rise into the Round 1 discussion. While he didn't always live up to his talent level at Missouri, his potential is tantalizing. I didn't love all of Ossenfort's selections on Day 2, but I can see the strategy behind them, and he made two trades down to add capital. Offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (71) and tight end Tip Reiman (82) were both reaches on my board. Max Melton (43) should play immediately as the slot corner, while Trey Benson (66) has speed to burn. Benson thrived when bouncing runs to the outside then flying by defenders.
Arizona added even more to the secondary with corner Elijah Jones (90), safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (104) and corner Jaden Davis (226), each of whom was a value on my board. Christian Jones (162) is a steal in my rankings, as I have him at No. 98 overall; that's a stellar value pick by Ossenfort.
All in all, Ossenfort used 12 picks and hit all of the Cardinals' top needs, including throwing four defensive backs at a porous pass D. This is a well-rounded and super-talented class.
THE CARDINALS CAME INTO THIS DRAFT WITH A TON OF FIREPOWER, AND GM MONTI OSSENFORT USED HIS PICKS WISELY. The team made the right choice in sticking and picking at no. 4 overall to take receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is my second-ranked player overall. Harrison will be a force multiplier for the offense and give Kyler Murray a true no. 1 target for years to come. Arizona turned around later in the first round and grabbed a long and powerful defensive lineman in Darius Robinson, who brings versatility and disruptiveness to their defensive front. Ossenfort scooped up a tenacious ball-hawking corner in Max Melton in the second round and then grabbed my top-ranked running back in Trey Benson in the third. Benson is an explosive home-run hitter who pairs perfectly with James Conner in the short term and gives the team a successor at running back in the long term. I also really liked the Cardinals' selection of safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson at 104th overall, a huge value for my 77th-ranked player. All in all, Arizona got more explosive on offense and really beefed up their secondary in this draft.
They didn't overthink it off the top, staying put at No. 4 for Ohio State WR stud Marvin Harrison Jr. before getting Mizzou DL Darius Robinson at the bottom of Round 1. Second-round CB Max Melton also has huge upside at a position that was bereft of talent. But it didn't feel like the Cards got quite enough despite having seven of the top 90 picks? Admittedly, third-round RB Trey Benson could pay off if incumbent starter James Conner gets banged up again ... or gets too expensive. Third-round TE Tip Reiman of Illinois felt like a luxury ... and a cruel decision given he doesn't believe in birds but has to play for the Cards and constantly face the Seahawks.
Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort lived up to his reputation as a wheeler and dealer. Since taking over in 2023, Ossenfort has brokered 11 trades, including six on draft day and a pair on draft day this year. Ossenfort's moves helped Arizona secure a handful of impact players, led by the best receiver in this year's draft in Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona drafted much-needed pass rush help in Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson and Clemson's Xavier Thomas. The Cardinals also added an explosive running back in Florida State's Trey Benson and two cover corners in Rutgers' Max Melton and Boston College's Elijah Jones. The 12 picks by Arizona are the most in a single draft by the team since 1992. —Eric D. Williams
Best Pick: Loved the pick of running back Trey Benson in the third round. That is the right area to take a back, and Benson was my top-rated back. He will give them a nice 1-2 combo with James Conner.
Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of tight end/H-back Tip Reiman in the third round. He's a brute when it comes to blocking, so I get it, but if they needed a tight end I thought there were better options.
The Skinny: The Cardinals had a lot of ammunition with 12 picks and Monti Ossenfort used it well. I liked a lot of their picks, starting with receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is a much-needed, dynamic playmaker. They added a bunch of potential starters the rest of the way, giving this rising team a lot of talented players. They also added four defensive backs, which was a must.
Analysis: Harrison and Robinson alone would give this busy class a high floor. Harrison is a can't-miss go-to guy for Kyler Murray, and Robinson should thrive for defensive-minded Jonathan Gannon. GM Monti Ossenfort had massive volume and could afford to take a few calculated positional risks afterward. Between Melton and Jones, there wasn't good value, but landing Taylor-Demerson later was a redemptive move. This comes down to Harrison and Robinson being awesome, immediate impact players for the passing game and pass rush.
Analysis: Harrison is a middle of the fairway pick for the Cardinals, who have fallen into another generational wide receiver prospect. After seeing how adept this offensive staff was at getting their best playmakers the ball, the expectations for Kyler Murray will be undoubtedly high this year. Arizona dominated the middle rounds and did a great job of obtaining some players who will compete for starting jobs before the projected talent cutoff, which drops significantly after Round 3.
The Cardinals came into this draft with a roster as bereft of top-line talent as any in the NFL, and general manager Monti Ossenfort did his level best to reverse that curse. The pick of Marvin Harrison Jr. is obvious, and he reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald — another highly-drafted Cardinals receiver. Seems to me that worked out pretty well. Ossenfort also loaded up on My Guys with Darius Robinson (a multi-gap terror), Trey Benson (who reminds me of Isiah Pacheco), Max Melton (a great man/match cornerback), Elijah Jones (maybe the best pure island cornerback in this class), and Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (my favorite safety overall).
A sleeper to watch is Clemson's Xavier Thomas, who had 43 quarterback pressures last season, and foiled blockers on the edge, and when he kicked inside in passing situations.
Just hit after hit for Ossenfort and his staff. Right now, this looks like the best haul in the 2024 draft.
Notre Dame's Joe Alt is my top tackle in the class, but this is a pick with Olu Fashanu's ceiling in mind within an improving Arizona roster. A year after taking the raw yet uber-talented Paris Johnson Jr on day one, GM Monti Ossenfort goes a similar route with Fashanu, one of the class' most gifted pound-for-pound athletes with an underappreciated game as a run blocker.
26. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
This still may be too low for Xavier Legette. A physical specimen at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he's a three-level threat that forces multiple defenders to bring him down in space. His stock is expected to SOAR after his week at the Senior Bowl.
Would GM Monti Ossenfort move on from Kyler Murray and select one of the top-3 QBs here if one is available? Perhaps, but I'm thinking the Cardinals are still committed to Murray, and Ossenfort wouldn't complain if he were able to fill one of his roster's biggest needs with the top overall prospect in the draft. If we were to "Weird Science" a wide receiver, the computer would almost certainly produce Harrison. The consensus All-American is a route tactician who features prototypical size (6-foot-4, 205 pounds), strong hands and athleticism with Hall of Fame NFL lineage (he's the son of Colts legend Marvin Harrison). The last receiver to be drafted inside the top-3 was Calvin Johnson in 2007, and Harrison has that type of potential.
21. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
The Cardinals landed the best player in this draft (Marvin Harrison Jr.) with their first pick of the first round. Here they can continue to build a young and talented secondary. Based on upside, Arnold could be ranked higher on some draft boards than his Crimson Tide teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry. He's relatively inexperienced at cornerback — he was a former safety recruit — but he's been one of the better run defenders at the position and has proven a quick-study in coverage.
This mock draft couldn't have worked out any better for the Arizona Cardinals.
With three quarterbacks picked in a row, that leaves Marvin Harrison Jr. on the board at No. 4. Wide receiver is the most significant need for Arizona, and Harrison is a can't-miss prospect. Pairing him with Kyler Murray would be a blast to watch.
21. Troy Fautanu, IOL, Washington
D.J. Humphries' future is up in the air, especially after he tore his ACL in the final month of the season. The expectation for the Cardinals is that Paris Johnson Jr. will kick over to left tackle, but Arizona desperately needs help on the interior offensive line.
Fautanu was a left tackle at Washington, but he best projects as a guard in the NFL. His size and athleticism would be welcomed in Arizona as the Cardinals try to rebuild the offensive line in front of Kyler Murray.
In a perfect world, Marvin Harrison Jr. falls into Arizona's lap due to the quarterback craze. In this scenario they still make out great with a blue chip tackle in Joe Alt. Paris Johnson Jr. would stay at right tackle for the Cardinals in this scenario, where he spent all of his rookie year.
Alt's movement for his size is impressive, while being an extremely disciplined player who can move defenders in the run game.
21. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
There's a lot of work to be done from a personnel standpoint on Arizona's defense and it's easy to start at corner. Arnold's 2023 tape is tremendous, showing off athleticism and the ability to remain sticky in coverage. He hauled in five interceptions and broke up 12 more passes, constantly making his presence felt when the ball was in the air.
If we were playing a game of matchmaker, the prospect-to-team fit that makes the most sense of any first-round pick is Harrison to the Cardinals. Quarterback Kyler Murray won't hesitate to throw the ball up to his receivers in one-on-one situations, and Harrison -- my top-ranked player in this class -- is exactly what's needed on a roster that's still devoid of high-end talent. Plus, Marquise Brown is a free agent and might not be back.
Harrison's combination of hands, body control and route running make him the clear best receiver in a loaded group, and he has a chance to quickly become a top-10 target at the next level. He is coming off back-to-back seasons with 14 touchdowns and more than 1,200 yards at Ohio State.
22. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
Marvin Harrison Jr. was Arizona's first pick (No. 4), so let's turn to defense here. Rookie third-rounder Garrett Williams has been a pleasant surprise, but Antonio Hamilton Sr. is a free agent and turns 31 years old this month. Jonathan Gannon's defense badly needs cornerback help. Arnold's five interceptions tied for sixth most in the FBS this season, and he is an effortless mover in the secondary, even if his game is still a little raw. He has versatility, too, with experience at safety. Arnold will be a riser over the next few months, and some scouts think he could be the first corner off the board in April.
The Cardinals finished the year with good vibes and a confident Kyler Murray. They are firmly in position to be 2024's version of the Texans: a good, young club that springboards itself to the next level via the draft.
Fashanu is a true anchor tackle to play opposite Paris Johnson Jr., who also could play guard if the Cardinals want to go that route.
21. Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
This feels like a steal — and possibly too low for Latu, the super-productive UCLA edge who once medically retired because of a neck injury. Latu is not going to wow people with his testing, but his move set and hand usage are terrific. He's a rock-solid player who had 64 pressures and a near-25 percent win rate this season.
The Cardinals will likely root hard for quarterbacks to be taken with the first three picks atop the draft, as it's the only way the team can land the premier non-passer in the class. If Harrison is available for Arizona, he's a no-brainer. With the best wide receiver prospect in years paired with emerging standout tight end Trey McBride, Kyler Murray would have the makings of a very impressive receiving corps.
21. Jer'Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois
Jonathan Gannon surely misses the interior pressure he once could rely on from the Eagles' defense, as Arizona hasn't been able to generate anything from its defensive tackles. Though undersized at 6-2 and 295 pounds, Newton has made a habit of wrestling past blockers and making plays in the backfield.
Arizona is on its third quarterback and has had injuries to starters at tight end and running back, but Brown has been consistent. He leads the Cardinals with 42 receptions, 440 yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging 10.5 yards per catch. In the final year of his contract, Brown has also been responsible for 27 of Arizona's 85 passing first downs this season, which comes to about 32%. -- Josh Weinfuss
Jonathan Gannon, who has had his team ready to play most weeks, looked helpless at the sight of Clayton Tune being overwhelmed by Cleveland's defense. Help is on the way with Kyler Murray, who could have up to eight games -- with the next three indoors -- to prove himself as the 2024 starter, assuming he's cleared to play soon. Winning and losing is less material, given the 1-8 start; having Murray run Drew Petzing's offense extensively will be important for the long term. But there's a catch: Petzing must find a way to scheme up better blocking. Arizona's O-line was completely dominated against Cleveland, and Murray must stay healthy.
They have to hope Kyler Murray can go this week, and it looks like he might. The offense badly needs him after what we saw against Cleveland last week.
Right now, the Cardinals are set to have picks No. 1, 16, 33, 65, 72 and 80 in the upcoming draft. They have executed their rebuilding plan exactly how they planned. They had to trade away Josh Dobbs and start Clayton Tune (who had 58 yards and a 20.8 passer rating Sunday) to keep the tanking train on track, but so be it. Now, all eyes turn to how Arizona handles Kyler Murray, who is healthy enough to play but might help this team win games.
Starting Clayton Tune in Cleveland went about as poorly as you might expect. But from the sounds of it, Kyler Murray could be back starting this week. That makes the Cardinals much more interesting than your average 1-8 team.
It's hard to accuse teams of tanking, because in practically every case they're not. Fans confuse bad play with tanking all the time. But when the Cardinals sit out Kyler Murray, who has had no injury listed on the team's injury report for two straight weeks, to start Clayton Tune and watch Tune have 27 yards through three quarters, are they being safe with Murray or are they intentionally not trying?
Joshua Dobbs' time as the Cardinals' quarterback is over. The Cardinals are planning to start rookie quarterback Clayton Tune on Sunday against the Browns in Cleveland, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. However, earlier Monday, coach Jonathan Gannon said there's a chance Kyler Murray could start as he continues to ramp up his return from ACL surgery. Dobbs had been a suitable placeholder, keeping Arizona in games despite its 1-7 record and leading the Cardinals to an upset win over the Cowboys in Week 3. He has done fairly well, throwing for 1,569 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions while running for 258 yards and three touchdowns. -- Josh Weinfuss
All eyes should turn toward Kyler Murray's potential return, whenever it comes. This is not Joshua Dobbs slander, I promise. After an icy three quarters against the Ravens, Dobbs did cook a little late and gave the Cardinals a shot. He has more than earned respect for how he's played. But Dobbs is also not awash in talent and has leveled off. Switching to rookie Clayton Tune as Murray's short-term replacement makes sense. But more than anything, the Cardinals have to get their future decision on Murray correct. Every game Murray plays gives the team a better view of the situation. Plus, he's more dynamic than Dobbs, and the marriage of Murray and Drew Petzing might be better than we imagined. The first-year play-caller has done a really nice job with the tough hand he's been dealt so far.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the Cardinals are trading QB Josh Dobbs to the Vikings.
Is this the week QB Kyler Murray returns? If so, he might have a nifty new target, second-year TE Trey McBride establishing personal bests Sunday with 10 catches for 95 yards.
Something scary (for others): Kyler Murray has a lot of value
Murray was healthy enough to play Sunday but did not, so it's still not clear if the new regime envisions him as their quarterback of the future or as a trade chip. Either way, he's a valuable commodity for a Cardinals team that right now owns the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. The rash of quarterback injuries means Murray might command more than usual on the trade market, and his skills on the field are undeniable.
What a picture-perfect season for a rebuilding team. Sure, losing sucks. But the Cardinals have been competitive every week. They're seeing flashes from young players like Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Paris Johnson. Oh, and they currently hold the No. 1 and No. 11 overall picks. It's all going according to plan.
The Cardinals needed a rally in the fourth quarter to avoid their fifth double-digit loss in a row. The fallout was that Joshua Dobbs lost his job as the team's starting quarterback. In Week 9 it'll be either rookie Clayton Tune making his first start or Kyler Murray in his return. Bringing Murray back from a torn ACL to start at a tough Cleveland defense, perhaps in bad weather, seems like something Arizona would like to avoid.
