QB John Skelton (Arizona)
8/20/12: The Cardinals have not named a starting quarterback yet, but Skelton will start and play into the 3rd quarter this week, which means he’ll get all the 1st team reps in the most important Preseason game of the year. Barring a meltdown, he’ll be the starting quarterback. In 11 career starts, he’s thrown for 2248 yards, 10 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, while rushing for 153 yards. Over 16 games, that’s 3270 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 20 interceptions, and 223 rushing yards. He was pulled in two of those games and has thrown for 2057 yards, 9 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, while rushing for 144 yards. Over 16 games, that’s 3657 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, while rushing for 256 yards. He’s got a good receiving corps, but there’s no guarantee he won’t be benched midseason or anything like that. You can do better in a QB2.
Projection: 3500 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 200 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown (196 pts standard/226 pts in 6 pts TD leagues)
RB Chris Wells (Arizona)
7/1/12: Chris Wells is still uncertain for Training Camp after giving what was initially called “minor” surgery on his knee earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged him publicly to “bust his tail” over the next few weeks because other running backs have looked good in his absence. They spent a 2nd round pick on Ryan Williams in 2011 and now that he has returned from injury, they plan to use him. The more time Wells misses, the better it is for Williams and the worse it is for Wells.
Chris Wells had a great season last year, but Ryan Williams is returning from injury. They used a 2nd round pick on him in 2011, so they’ll definitely use him. He’ll cut into Wells’ carries a lot more than Alfonso Smith, LaRod Stephens-Howling, and Chester Taylor did last season. He won’t approach the career high 245 carries he had last season, especially after an offseason surgery of his own on his knee, one he is not yet practicing because of.
Projection: 170 carries 710 rushing yards 7 total touchdowns 9 catches 60 receiving yards (119 pts standard/128 pts PPR)
RB Ryan Williams (Arizona)
7/1/12: With Wells moving down, Williams moves up. Wells is hardly the picture of durability so Williams is not only a nice compliment, but will be a potential fantasy breakout candidate if Wells suffers a major injury. There’s upside here.
Williams will probably be a pure backup after the season that Chris Wells had last year, but he’ll see some carries and it’s not like Wells isn’t an injury risk. They drafted Williams in the 2nd round for a reason. They’ll use him.
Projection: 140 carries 630 rushing yards 5 total touchdowns 32 catches 240 receiving yards (117 pts standard/149 pts PPR)
WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)
Larry Fitzgerald had 80 catches for 1411 yards and 8 touchdowns last year with terrible quarterback play. I can’t guarantee his quarterback play will be any better, but Michael Floyd drawing away the bracket coverage opposite him will help him.
Projection: 83 catches 1440 receiving yards 9 receiving touchdowns (198 pts standard/281 pts PPR)
WR Michael Floyd (Arizona)
7/26/12: The 13th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Floyd is reportedly struggling with his work ethic and will open Training Camp as the Cardinals’ 4th receiver and may even start the season 4th on the depth chart. He could work his way up the depth chart during the season, but his fantasy value just went from minimal to none.
There’s not a ton of value in Arizona’s #2 receiver, even one as talented as Floyd, but Early Doucet had 54 catches for 689 yards and 5 touchdowns and Andre Roberts had 51 catches for 586 yards and 2 touchdowns last year. Floyd should at least do better than that, even as a rookie.
47 catches 520 receiving yards 4 receiving touchdowns (76 pts standard/123 pts PPR)
TE Rob Housler (Arizona)
8/20/12: You can read more about Housler here.
Projection: 48 catches 600 receiving yards 4 receiving touchdowns (84 pts standard/132 pts PPR)
[switch_ad_hub]
[switch_ad_hub]
[switch_ad_hub]
Football Fan Spot 