Say what you will about the Cardinals’ much-discussed Air Raid offense under Kliff Kingsbury — especially with the team starting the season 0-1-1 — but the offense continues to produce strong WR production for fantasy owners. Part of this comes down to pure volume of opportunities, as Arizona is 5th in the NFL through 2 weeks with 68 plays run per game, and Kyler Murray currently leads the league with 94 pass attempts on the young season. Just a hair under 50% of these attempts have been targeting Larry Fitzgerald or Christian Kirk, but as the offense continues trying to find its groove, it has the potential to make several receivers fantasy-relevant.
While a lot was made this offseason about the second year leap for Christian Kirk, it’s been ol’ reliable Larry Fitzgerald who has been pacing Arizona’s passing attack. Fitz leads the team in targets (24), receptions (13), yards (217), and has the team’s only receiving TD in 2019, which all culminates in a WR12 ranking through 2 weeks. Kirk is right behind him with 20 targets, 10 receptions, and 146 yards, making him the WR31 so far. Both are performing well enough to start regardless of matchup, but the fun really starts when you move further down the depth chart.
Damiere Byrd isn’t exactly a household name around the NFL, but he may become one sooner than you think. Through 2 games he’s tied with Kirk with 10 receptions, having done so on just 14 targets. He clearly has developed chemistry with Murray but remains ranked very low — he’s The Wolf’s WR86 for Week 3 — as he continues trying to work his way into Arizona’s aerial attack.
Byrd has some competition for the team’s WR3 in rookie KeeSean Johnson and veteran Michael Crabtree, but seems to be winning the battle — Byrd was on the field for 56 of the team’s 60 snaps in Week 2, compared to just 19 apiece for Johnson and Crabtree. Week 2 was Crabtree’s Cardinals debut, and although he was only targeted 3 times and finished with 2 receptions for 13 yards, it is logical to think he may challenge Byrd for the WR3 role as the season progresses.
Ultimately, this offense likely isn’t where it needs to be to allow for sustainable WR production from several people, but if and when it gets there, you may be able to find some value even in the guys who aren’t named Fitz or Kirk.
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