FANTASY FOOTBALL

ARIZONA CARDINALS 2020 OUTLOOK

By Muntradamus

BEAST DOME NATION.

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The Cardinals last season were more or less dealing with growing pains all season with Rookie QB Kyler Murray and Rookie Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. David Johnson leaves town, DeAndre Hopkins comes in. Let us see what else the Cardinals did to shake things up.

OFFENSE

The Cardinals offense remains essentially the same to close last season except for the addition of the best WR in the NFL. No big deal. Kyler and the no-huddle Cardinals will have DeAndre Hopkins/Larry Fitzgerald/Christian Kirk. Both Fitzgerald and Kirk were not good #1/#2 options, but make great #2/#3 options. Especially because you cannot single cover DeAndre Hopkins which means those guys can take advantage of great matchups. Kyler will throw bullet passes all season long, probably last in the NFL in yards per attempt, but a ton of quick plays in the process.

This also opens up huge running lanes for Kenyan Drake who can easily explode to a monster season. Chase Edmonds is not that good, but a good handcuff if you pick up Drake. Right now all Cardinals are looking hot in the strategy heading into the next phase.

Offensive Line is very underrated for this unit. When everyone is healthy, they can block well enough to make this offense productive. That is the bottom line. Cardinals will take the next step forward.

DEFENSE

Vance Joseph got some new toys. Jordan Hicks & Devondre Campbell are both amazing Linebackers. Campbell kept the Falcons defense respectable the past two years with all their stars getting injured, and Hicks won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. Throw in 1st Round Pick Isaiah Simmons who was projected to go Top 5 and fell at #8. This LB core is outstanding and can do it all cover and tackle. Chandler Jones as a pass rusher with Kennard who is capable of 10 sacks, the addition of Jordan Phillips who can stuff the run with Peters on rotation. This front 7 is outstanding.

Patrick Peterson missing the first grip of games put this team in a hole before it could even get going in 2019. With Peterson back form day 1, the Cardinals defense will have their star and another pro bowl candidate in Buddah Baker. Buddah last season played a lot of coverage, with Campbell able to guard Tight Ends like a pro, Buddah is going to be a missile.

Between Simmons and Buddah tackling everyone. The Pass rush, the coverage of guys like Campbell and Peterson, it is not going to be easy to gameplan against this unit.

BEAST

Potential Targets

DEANDRE HOPKINS

Hopkins in PPR leagues can be a tommy-gun 10+ Receptions every game. This will happen often calling it right now a NFL record in receptions. However there will be a lot of games where the stat line looks like this. 12 Catches & 58 Yards. Tons of quick throws will make this combo fun to watch. Cardinals offense as long as it grows, Hopkins will be fine. Arrow pointing in the right direction, but still plenty to decide as far as if he is part of the strategy as I am sure he is gone in Round 1 or 2.

(Never look at Sheep Rankings until my Rankings are complete).

KENYAN DRAKE

He is a genie in a bottle. Out of nowhere he can grant you wish and give you your entire Fantasy Day on 1 carry. Drake has always had amazing talent with the Dolphins in my eyes, here is an excerpt from a Thursday Night Football game when Brock Osweiler and the Dolphins played against the Texans in 2018.

WIZARD OF BROCK 2018

Drake will get a lot of action and the Cardinals will ride him into the ground as they have a legitimate chance of competing for the NFC West Crown this year.

Will Drake be part of the draft strategy?

Too early to tell as we have to explore the rest of the NFL teams. As well as other countless other variables to consider that you will be exposed to my mindset in the Draft Guide.

Will Drake have a potential Pro-Bowl Season?

Very highly likely. Even if he does happen to fall into the ultimate desired strategy, barring he sounds like a STEAL in Round 3.

KYLER MURRAY

Good season is in the Cards, get it. Probably going to go very high in all leagues I would assume, I see Mahomes on a whole other level if we are comparing the two, however I expect without looking that Sheep have Kyler going Top 5 with all the hype. There were many games where Kyler’s numbers could have easily lost you a week, and his game is far from polished to being a guy you rely on Week after Week no matter the matchup.

In the end, likely not.

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