NFL Fantasy Football Matchup Cheat Sheet: Arizona Cardinals
In NFL daily fantasy leagues, matchups are important. Week-to-week, you should pay attention to favorable matchups rather than the overall quality of any given player. It is better to select an above-average talent facing poor or average defense than an elite talent facing above-average or elite defense.
Each position in ranked according to one of these four ratings: Elite, Above-average, Average, and Poor.
Offense
QB Carson Palmer: Average
RB Andre Ellington: Above-average
WR1 Larry Fitzgerald: Elite
WR2 Malcolm Floyd: Above-average
Slot WR Ted Ginn: Average
TE Troy Niklas: Average
O-line: LT Jared Veldheer, LG Johnathon Cooper, C Lyle Sendlein, RG Paul Fanaika, RT Bradley Sowell: Average
In free agency, the Cardinals stole an excellent left tackle from the Raiders with Jard Veldheer, but a right side devoid of talent balances the line to an average rating. That right side may hurt Ellington’s production, but if his 2013 season was any indication he is due for a breakout season in 2014. Fitzgerald is a must-take on weeks when he is facing average or poor CB1s, and Malcom Floyd is an underrated and cheap WR2 or WR3 option.
Defense
CB1 Patrick Peterson: Elite
CB2 Antonio Cromartie: Average
Slot CB Tyler Mathieu: Above-average
Safeties: SS Deone Bucannon, FS Rashad Johnson: Average
Linebackers: OLB Matt Shaughnessy, ILB Daryl Washington, ILB Kevin Minter, OLB John Abraham: Above-average
D-line: DE Darnell Dockett, NT Dan Williams, DE Calais Campbell: Above-average
Don’t play any offensive players, both running backs and QBs/wide receivers, against the Cardinals. Arizona has both a strong set of cornerbacks and a front 7 that is able to stop the run and rush the passer. This is a top 5 NFL defense you should always avoid.
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