QB Carson Palmer (Arizona)

Palmer completed 63.3% of his passes last season for an average of 7.47 YPA, 22 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions, a solid QB rating of 83.9. However, he’s going into his age 35 season and could hit a wall in terms of his abilities at any time at his age. The Cardinals drafted Logan Thomas in the 4th round for that reason. He’s a weak QB2.

4000 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 21 interceptions, 50 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns (207 pts standard)

RB Andre Ellington (Arizona)

6th round rookie Andre Ellington rushed for 652 yards and 3 touchdowns on 118 carries in 2013, an average of 5.52 yards per carry. He also added 39 catches for 371 yards and a touchdown through the air. However, he didn’t see that many touches, even though lead back Rashard Mendenhall averaged just 3.17 yards per carry. Mendenhall is now gone so Ellington will become the lead back. The Cardinals seem to have finally realized what they have with him as they’ve been talking him up as a feature back all off-season.

Ellington is only 5-9 199 and the Cardinals were concerned about his ability to carry a load, which could have some merits, but he was definitely deserving of a bigger role. The 2013 6th round pick probably won’t average 5.52 yards per carry again this season, in a bigger role, but he should still average a high YPC and he could approach 300 touches as a three down back. The Cardinals have no real competition for him with only Jonathan Dwyer and Stepfan Taylor behind him on the depth chart.

240 carries for 1130 yards, 7 total touchdowns, 50 catches for 450 yards (200 pts standard)

WR Michael Floyd (Arizona)

Floyd broke out in his 2nd year in the league in 2013, as the 13th overall pick in 2012 caught 65 passes for 1041 yards and 5 touchdowns on 107 targets (60.7%) and 569 routes run, an average of 1.83 yards per route run. He’s still a one year wonder as an NFL player, after struggling as a rookie, but rookie receivers tend to struggle anyway and he’s got a ton of talent. He could be even better in his 3rd year in the league.

68 catches for 1080 yards and 8 touchdowns (156 pts standard)

WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona)

While Floyd’s career is on the up, Larry Fitzgerald’s career is on the way down, as he heads into his age 31 season. Fitzgerald has gone under 1000 yards receiving in each of the last 2 seasons. His 71/798/4 line in 2012 was understandable because he had supremely terrible quarterback play, but even with better quarterback play, he only caught 82 passes for 954 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013. That’s obviously still very solid, but this is the guy who averaged 94 catches for 1309 yards and 10 touchdowns per 16 games from 2005-2011, even though he never really had great quarterback play, except for those couple Warner years. Now in his 30s, he’s simply not the same player any more.

75 catches for 900 yards and 7 touchdowns (132 pts standard)

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]