Dynasty Capsule: Arizona Cardinals
As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re also going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.
We continue the gauntlet with the Arizona Cardinals.
Quarterbacks
Kevin Kolb
When the Cardinals acquired Kolb from the Eagles before the 2011 season, they thought they had found the answer they had been looking for since Kurt Warner retired. What they got was 15 games out of a possible 32 and more questions than answers. Although hindsight is 20/20, the Cardinals could (or should) have seen this coming. After all, it was Kolb’s injury that gave way to Michael Vick’s breakout year in Philadelphia in 2010 and ultimately his exit.
It seems like ancient memory since we last saw Kolb in uniform, but he actually wasn’t awful when he played last year. In the five plus games he played in, he averaged nearly 200 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns and just three interceptions – extrapolated out, that’s 3,200 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. It’s nothing earth shattering, but truthfully that’s about what was expected out of Kolb. The one stat working in his favor above all else, he was feeding Larry Fitzgerald the ball. We’ll talk about that later.
The future of the Cardinals’ quarterback position is up in the air again. With a $2 million dollar roster bonus due March 17th, on top of his $9 million dollar base salary, Kolb’s future with the team will be decided soon. That’s an awful lot of money due to a player that has averaged less than half the season his two years in the desert, but I believe the Cardinals would pay it if they knew he would make it through the year healthy. With Bruce Arians in town and a talented group of pass catchers on this roster, whoever gets the job will have the opportunity to put up some big time fantasy stats. If Kolb is released, it has been speculated he would reunite with former offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, now with the Jets.
John Skelton
Skelton was an intriguing player coming out of a small school (Fordham) in 2010. At 6’6” and 244 pounds, he’s a big guy with a strong arm. Unfortunately, he’s just a big guy with a strong arm. He lacks the decision making to be an effective NFL starter or even a backup. I’ll never understand why the Cardinals threw the ball so much in Skelton’s three midseason starts during weeks 7-9. He threw an eye popping 134 pass attempts in those games, completing 80 for a 59.7% completion percentage. Then, in week 11 he was benched for an overwhelmed rookie, Ryan Lindley, and then briefly reinserted into the starting lineup for one game in week 14 and promptly threw four interceptions and lost a fumble.
Skelton’s days are probably numbered in Arizona. A total overhaul could/should happen at the quarterback spot with Arians handpicking “his guys.” There are more talented backups floating around than Skelton.
Brian Hoyer
The wild card in the quarterback competition, Hoyer was claimed off waivers by the Steelers after week 14 and was playing by week 16, even starting week 17 – a true sign of how much of a dumpster fire the Cardinals quarterback situation really was. Hoyer didn’t exactly “light it up” but it had been SO bad for SO long that anything positive was a plus. He only threw one touchdown and two interceptions and a total of 330 yards, but had a real chemistry with rookie receiver Michael Floyd.
Hoyer spent three years as Tom Brady’s backup before being cut in favor of Ryan Mallett in New England. Now he’s a restricted free agent and rumors are that teams are interested. It could be agent driven rumors to drive up the tender offer or maybe teams really are interested, we’ll see when tenders are designated. He’s merely a back up caliber talent.
Ryan Lindley
Lindley had no business seeing the field as a rookie. If not for a Hail Mary effort by then coach Ken Whisenhunt to save his job, he probably wouldn’t have. Lindley played ball at San Diego State and viewed as a developmental project player. Nothing is more detrimental to a project player than getting him destroyed. Although he was awful when he was on the field, expect Lindley to be the most likely Arizona quarterback to return in 2013 because he’s under contract so cheaply. Just don’t look at his zero touchdowns and seven interceptions, it’ll make you sad.
Running Backs
Ryan Williams
Have you ever noticed the first aid symbols and the Cardinals’ team colors are both red and white? I’m beginning to think that it’s not a coincidence. This team seems to be snake bitten when it comes to promising young players.
Enter Ryan Williams.
After being selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech, Williams tore the patella tendon in his knee in preseason action and missed his entire rookie season. A devastating knee injury for anyone, let alone a NFL running back, Williams never looked all the way back in 2012. He was averaging a very disappointing 2.8 yards per carry before ending the season with an injury to the AC joint in his left shoulder.
Ultimately, it may end up being a blessing in disguise as the time off should give Williams the time needed to get his legs right and finally make the impact that was expected of him coming into the league. Coach Arians is on record as being a big fan of Williams and favors a one man rushing attack. Look for Williams to be a big part of the Cardinals ground game and a great buy low in fantasy leagues.
Beanie Wells
Fresh off his first 1,000 yard, ten touchdown season in 2011, Chris “Beanie” Wells was expected to take the next step and become a solid RB2 in non-PPR fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, Wells reverted back to his injury prone self and only appeared in half the Cardinals games due to a turf toes injury that landed him on the new “Injured Reserve/Designated for Return” list. When Wells returned, he promptly punched in two touchdowns and caught people’s attention, but his 2.8 yards per carry in that game should have, too. Wells was atrocious the rest of the year playing behind a very poor run blocking offensive line, with the exception of week 15 when he popped three touchdowns in against the Lions.
Bruce Arians calls pass protection a “prerequisite” for running backs and this is clearly Wells’ biggest weakness. If he wants to stick around in the desert he is going to have to learn to take care of the quarterback. Right now I wouldn’t consider Wells anything more than Ryan Williams’ backup, and that’s before they undoubtedly add a running back in free agency and/or the draft. His release still isn’t out of the question.
William Powell
After the Cardinals offense turned into “The Walking Dead” and the back-up to the back-ups were playing, William Powell got his shot. He even started the week 17 game versus San Francisco. With the Cardinals’ terrible run blocking, Powell was clearly overmatched.
As an exclusive rights free agent, he has a decent shot at returning since he can handle the required pass blocking and has decent pass catching ability. If everything goes to plan though, Powell won’t see the field much in 2013.
Alfonso Smith/Javarris James
This is evidence of how injury riddled this team really was. Neither of these players will be back for 2013, especially James. In all his knuckleheaded glory, he has been suspended the first four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
La’Rod Stephens-Howling
Stephens-Howling is a free agent, but was expected to re-sign with the team. However, according to a Rotoworld blurb, his agent has had no contact with the new regime. That’s a little surprising considering the flashes we saw last season. At a pint sized 5’7”, 185 lbs, Stephens-Howling was not afraid to stick his nose in and run between the tackles. He even popped off a couple 100 yard games against Atlanta and Minnesota.
Wide Receiver
Larry Fitzgerald
There is no doubt whatsoever that Larry Fitzgerald is one of the truly elite wide receivers in the NFL. His attitude, work ethic and overall team leadership is benchmark. In fantasy leagues he was considered “quarterback proof” after surviving Matt Leinart, Josh McCown, Max Starks, and Brian St. Pierre, amongst other aforementioned dumpster fire types. Unfortunately, the volatile mix of Kolb, Skelton, Lindley and Hoyer was enough to finally put Fitzgerald where we never thought we’d see him while healthy – fantasy benches.
As I mentioned earlier, the silver lining to Fitzgerald’s career worst season was actually Kevin Kolb. During the first six games of the season before Kolb went down, Fitz was on pace for 96 receptions, 1,147 yards, and eight touchdowns – right on par for his ADP and everything fantasy GMs expected. Unfortunately, we all know that’s not how his season ended. Fitzgerald finished with 71 catches, 798 yards and four touchdowns, easily his fewest fantasy totals since his rookie year.
Redemption came in the form of the 2012 Coach of the Year, Bruce Arians. After a one year stop in Indianapolis that saw him bring Reggie Wayne back from the fantasy graveyard, Arians has his first full time coaching gig and a plan. He will move Fitz all around the formation and he will find a quarterback capable of running his aggressive vertical style offense, whether it is Kolb or someone else. Fitzgerald is the prototypical buy low. If you can get him at ANY type of discount, pull the trigger. This is your last chance.
Michael Floyd
As a Notre Dame fan, I was so excited to see Michael Floyd end up in Arizona. Playing across from one of the game’s elite wide receivers and role models, Floyd landed in an ideal spot both personally and professionally.
Truthfully, I think everyone expected a lot more from him his rookie year. Part of the problem was Ken Whisenhunt’s refusal to play young guys, part of it was disgusting quarterback play and I’m sure some of it was not adapting to the pro game as quick as expected. Each week, Floyd would either do something in the passing game or throw a block in the running game that would excite me and let me know it’s going to work out. Everyone got to see that in week 17, the game Brian Hoyer started as Floyd completely dominated the 49ers’ secondary to the tune of eight catches, 166 yards and a touchdown.
Arians is on record as a “big fan” of Floyd’s and he is another really good buy low target. As long as Floyd doesn’t relapse into KnuckleheadLan,d he should be a PPR fantasy asset for years to come.
Andre Roberts
When the Cardinals drafted Michael Floyd, it was expected Roberts would slide down a peg on the depth chart and give up his playing time to the highly touted rookie.
Someone forgot to tell him.
Andre Roberts held the rookie off the entire year by turning in his best season as a pro. Playing all over the formation, he caught 64 passes for 759 yards and five scores. Moving forward, Roberts has a big role in the Cardinals passing offense. With Fitzgerald and Floyd commanding attention, he should easily find operating room underneath as a slot receiver. With improved quarterback play, I would expect Roberts to repeat his 2012 numbers, if not slightly build on them.
Early Doucet
Doucet was lost in the shuffle. Coming into the 2012 season it was up in the air which receiver (Roberts or Doucet) would land the WR3 gig behind Fitz and Floyd. Obviously, Roberts leapfrogged Floyd and Doucet was fourth on the depth chart after a fairly decent 2011 season. Things never really got going for him with the offense stuck in neutral at best.
Doucet might or might not be back in 2013, but with only so many balls to go around he remains off the fantasy radar anyways.
LaRon Byrd/Kerry Taylor
Byrd has intriguing measurables but is buried on the depth chart. Taylor has bounced around the league and is an extreme long shot to stick
Tight Ends
Rob Housler
At 6’5” and 250 lbs, Housler has the frame to wreak havoc over the middle. He was on the potential breakout lists of quite a few of us here last year and although he didn’t put up huge stats, it was more indicative of the Cardinals’ quarterback play than of Housler’s. He finished the year with 45 catches for 417 yards. He’s still looking for his first career touchdown.
Look for Arians to utilize Housler to his ability. Going three receivers wide with Housler in the slot is going to cause defenses fits. Going into his third pro season out of small Florida Atlantic, Housler should remain near the top of potential Tight End sleepers.
Jeff King
King is strictly a blocking tight end and has little to no fantasy value outside of blocking for Ryan Williams and trying to keep the quarterback upright. Even if Housler were to go down, King would not be a recommended fantasy play.
Jim Dray/Kory Sperry
Nothing more than end of roster types and special teams players.
- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Seven - October 24, 2018
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- Dynasty IDP Waiver Wire: Week Five - October 10, 2018
