2021 Team Injury Preview: Arizona Cardinals

Injuries are inevitable. They occur every season for every team and are often unpredictable. It becomes one of the most infuriating factors for fantasy managers, often sinking a team’s chances and hopes at a championship.

My goal with writing this team preview series is to highlight the players you should be concerned about on your dynasty roster or while drafting your redraft squad. Who should you avoid at cost? Who should you keep an eye on as a possible “injury replacement”? Who should you stop fading unnecessarily due to injuries? I hope to answer all of those questions for you.

It is important to note that I am unable to predict injuries. Even players who have been injured frequently can change their exercise routines or training habits and reduce further risk for injury. My job is to simply highlight those players who carry risk and help you navigate your decisions based on that risk. My statements on injuries are not “end all be all” – ultimately, you must factor in the information and decide for yourself if you are willing to gamble on the risk at hand.

Next on the list: Arizona Cardinals.

Kyler Murray, QB

• 5/24/18: Right ankle sprain while rounding first base (in baseball at OU)
• 11/25/19: Hamstring strain, missed zero games
• 12/22/19: Hamstring strain re-aggravation; left game early, played the following week
• 11/19/20: Right AC joint sprain; missed zero games
• 1/3/21: Right ankle sprain, suspected high ankle; last game of season

It has been fascinating to watch the fantasy community fade Kyler Murray, as if everyone has forgotten that Murray was THE QB1 in fantasy points per game from weeks 1-11 with 29.17 PPG (depending on scoring; Dak Prescott was the QB2 with 27.73 in five games). After Murray suffered the AC joint sprain on his throwing shoulder, he produced 16.51 PPG in weeks 12-17, a middling QB2 for fantasy. He also suffered a high ankle sprain in week 17 after being rolled up on as he attempted to scramble out of the pocket.

Should you be concerned about these injuries? No, you should not be, and you should stop fading Murray. AC joint sprains tend to heal well, and by all accounts, Murray’s was a low-grade sprain (he was able to play through the injury without missing any games, despite the reduction in production). Despite the injury occurring on his throwing shoulder, I expect Murray to pick up where he left off around week 11. Concern may increase if he takes another big shot to his right side. However for now, I have very little concern.

Fantasy Implications: Buy (very well could finish as THE QB1 in fantasy in 2021)

Injury Concern for 2021: Low

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: Low

James Conner, RB

• 9/7/15: Torn Right MCL, season-ending injury in college; required surgery
• 2015: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• 7/30/17: Left AC Joint sprain; seen in a sling after practice
• 12/17/17: Torn Right MCL, season-ending injury, required surgery
• 12/2/18: Right high ankle sprain; missed three games
• 10/28/19: AC joint sprain; missed five games; likely grade II or III
• 11/14/19: AC joint sprain re-aggravation; contributed to missing five games
• 12/22/19: Quadriceps strain, missed final game of season
• 9/14/20: Ankle sprain; played the following week
• 12/2/20: COVID-19, missed two games
• 12/13/20: Quadriceps strain; missed the following week
• 4/12/21: Turf toe injury while riding a recreational vehicle

With quite the long injury history for a running back, Conner is still an intriguing asset in leagues. He produced decent fantasy production in 2020 prior to contracting COVID-19 and then suffering a quadriceps injury upon his return (13.4 PPG in weeks 1-11). The Steelers decided to move on from Conner, allowing the Cardinals to pick Conner up to replace Kenyan Drake.

It is still uncertain if Conner or Edmonds will be the primary back (presumed Edmonds). However if Conner can enter camp with a bill of health, he may be able to secure a key role as the goal line and tough yardage back, which makes his current cost very intriguing. It is a risky bet, but consider acquiring Conner (but do not bank on him lasting 16-17 games).

Fantasy Implications: Consider at cost (worth between a second and third future pick)

Injury Concern for 2021: High

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: High (contract volatility as well, currently on a one-year deal)

Chase Edmonds, RB

• 9/9/17: Left hamstring strain, missed two games in college
• 10/14/17: Left hamstring strain re-aggravation; missed another two games
• 1/17/18: Left ankle sprain, Shrine game
• 10/27/19: Left hamstring strain, grade II
• 12/17/20: Ankle sprain

Here’s an interesting little note on Edmonds – in 45 games played, he has had over 10 rush attempts in… three games. He has also had three significant hamstring strains (2017 was technically a re-aggravation of the first strain, but I count that as another incident) with a very significant strain occurring in 2019, practically costing him the rest of the season. He carries increased risk for re-injury solely for the re-injured left hamstring.

Arizona traded for Kenyan Drake and Edmonds saw only two more touches over the eight-game span (he missed four of those games). I believe actions speak louder than words, acknowledging that while Drake was not the most effective back last year, Arizona continued to run him out there instead of giving Edmonds more touches.

I do not believe Edmonds is built for a larger role, nor do I believe Arizona trusts him with the role. If he does start in that role, he may have a very short leash. While Conner has the more significant injury history on a yearly basis, Edmonds carries his own risk in regards to the left hamstring. Certainly monitor this for any future occurrences of aggravation.

Fantasy Implications: Buy at cost (monitor left hamstring/injury reports)

Injury Concern for 2021: Moderate

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: Moderate (also carries contract volatility if Arizona drafts their RB1 in 2022)

DeAndre Hopkins, WR

• 8/17/13: Concussion; suffered in preseason, was ready to go for week one
• 12/23/14: Wrist ligament tear; played rest of season, had surgery in off-season
• 9/20/15: Concussion; played the following week
• 12/25/17: Left calf strain; missed final game of the season
• 12/15/18: Ankle sprain; played through injury
• 1/5/19: Right AC sprain; reportedly grade III, held out from the pro bowl
• 8/16/20: Hamstring tightness; non-issue, played all 16 games in 2020
• 9/30/20: High ankle sprain; lingered throughout season as he continued to play on it
• 12/10/20: Neck/back sprain; played through injury

There are very few wide receivers who I can trust to contribute in fantasy despite dealing with an injury on any given week, and Hopkins is one of them. Despite his long list of injuries, Hopkins has played in an incredible 126 out of 128 possible games, missing one game in 2017 and one game in 2019. I am monitoring any future ankle sprains that he suffers. Right now, I believe they are a non-issue for him.

Fantasy Implications: Buy (was on a 19.5 PPG pace prior to Murray’s AC sprain injury)

Injury Concern for 2021: Low

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: Low

Rondale Moore, WR

• 9/28/19: Left Hamstring Strain; missed remaining eight games on hyperextension injury
• 10/24/20: Left Hamstring Strain; missed three games, played well in final Purdue games

Contrary to Twitter belief, Moore is not “injury prone” as many claim him to be. He was lucky to have only suffered a hamstring strain during the hyperextension injury, avoiding a more serious injury such as an ACL tear. He did not require surgery on the hamstring, and reportedly dealt with a minor setback while getting up to speed in camp prior to the 2020 season.

There were some indications that Moore could have played in the third game of the season but coaches held him out due to rain and poor weather, not wanting to risk further complications or setbacks in his first game back. He was a target machine and the offensive powerhouse upon his return for Purdue. I do not have injury concerns about Moore.

Fantasy Implications: Buy

Injury Concern for 2021: Low

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: Low

AJ Green, WR

• 10/31/09: Bruised lung; missed one game
• 11/14/09: Left AC joint sprain; missed two games
• 11/13/11: Right knee hyperextension/sprain; missed one game
• 7/25/13: Left knee sprain; missed zero games
• 9/7/14: Right Turf Toe sprain; played in weeks three-five, re-injured and missed next three games
• 12/28/14: Concussion; missed one game
• 12/20/15: Back sprain; played in the following week
• 11/20/16: Right hamstring strain; grade III, missed remainder of season
• 9/23/18: Groin strain; played the following week
• 10/28/18: Right Turf Toe sprain; missed three games
• 12/2/18: Right Turf Toe re-injury; missed the last four games of the season
• 12/4/18: Turf Toe surgery; season-ending surgery
• 7/27/19: Left Ankle; required surgery to repair multiple ligaments
  • Seen performing drills, conditioning on field in September; had setback in October
• 8/17/20: Hamstring Strain; missed zero games
• 10/11/20: Hamstring Strain re-injury; left week five game early, played the following week

Green is one of the highest risks at the wide receiver position. Oddly enough, he actually played all 16 games in 2020 with only one game under 62% snaps played (week five, played 42% snaps and left early with a hamstring re-injury). Prior to 2020, he had missed practically 24 straight games (played 25% snaps in week 13 of 2018 prior to the turf toe re-injury that required surgical intervention).

Green is not someone I would want to bank on for a full season, but I cannot argue that he will see decent volume as the potential WR2 opposite Hopkins if he can stay healthy again for 16 games this year. He is practically free, so I suppose he is worth a gamble. Just do not expect much in terms of fantasy production, and you will not be disappointed.

Fantasy Implications: Buy with caution (only because of how cheap he is)

Injury Concern for 2021: High

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: High/Avoid

Christian Kirk, WR

• 12/29/17: Left ankle sprain;
• 12/2/18: Left Jones fracture; missed four games, season-ending surgery
• 9/29/19: Right high ankle sprain; missed three games
• 9/20/20: Groin strain; missed one game
• 1/3/21: COVID-19 reserve list

Kirk is an intriguing prospect, as he excelled in year one prior to suffering the Jones fracture. However, he has since suffered a high ankle sprain and groin strain over the last two seasons. These injuries do not carry much concern long-term but given his lack of consistent production and contract volatility (entering the last year on his contract with Arizona recently drafting Rondale Moore), I am tagging Kirk as a monitor.

He can be a productive slot receiver and I believe he has put any injury concerns regarding the Jones fracture from 2018 behind him, playing in 14 games last season (would have been 15 if not for COVID). I see many fade Kirk stating injuries as a reason, but do not believe injuries are a good reason to fade him.

Fantasy Implications: Monitor

Injury Concern for 2021: Low

Injury Volatility for Dynasty: Low

Note: I was going to write about a Cardinals tight end, but do not believe any of the tight ends will be fantasy-relevant outside of 16-team leagues.

2021 Team Injury Preview: Arizona Cardinals