The Arizona Cardinals came into the 2007 season with considerable fantasy football promise at virtually every position, but only two players delivered numbers that merited their average draft position. Larry Fitzgerald was as advertised, solidifying himself as a WR1 and a future second rounder in fantasy football drafts in 2008 and beyond. Savvy signal-caller Kurt Warner was also a boon to fantasy football owners after Matt Leinart tore his ACL in Week 6, throwing for over 3400 yards and 27 touchdowns in 14 games, including 12 touchdowns in the final four weeks of the season.
The buck stopped banging there, however, as Anquan Boldin owners were deprived of the wideout for three games at the onset of the season due to a hip injury. He did labor through the second half of ’07 with a dislocated toe en route to catching nine touchdown passes, but his scores typically came two at a time, evidenced by the 10 contests in which he failed to reach paydirt. He also failed to reproduce the yardage total (853) that owners had grown accustomed to in years previous. Edgerrin James was a serviceable RB2 for a second consecutive season, garnering 1224 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, but trudged through the final six games in which he scored just one time. Leonard Pope’s sophomore campaign was an improvement from a year ago, but head coach Ken Whisenhunt will need to feature him as more of a possession receiver if he is to be considered a TE1 in the future.
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Key Departures
Bryant Johnson (WR) – Johnson spent five seasons in Arizona, mostly as a speedy slot receiver who could stretch the field and allow Fitzgerald and Boldin room to operate, before bolting further westward to the San Francisco 49ers to compete for a starting position. He had caught at least 40 passes the last four years, but was never a fantasy option unless if one of the two starters were injured.
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Key Additions
Outside of drafting Early Doucet (WR), the Cardinals had a slow offseason in terms of adding talent that could potentially help fantasy football owners.
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2008 Bruno Boys Crystal Ball
Matt Leinart (QB) - In what should be Leinart’s first full season as the starter, it could also be his make-or-break season after the miserable numbers he posted in five starts last year. Strangely, the fractured collarbone just might have been a blessing in disguise, allowing Leinart to spend more time on the sidelines digesting Whisenhunt’s playbook while learning from an old hand. Consider him no more than a bye week replacement at this juncture, as it’s risky to rely on a young quarterback who has more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (13) in his career.
Kurt Warner (QB) – Warner couldn’t have done any more to show that he can still play the game, yet he’s still expected to enter camp as the backup. Those who draft Leinart in two-QB leagues would be prudent to handcuff him with Warner in the event that he struggles.
Edgerrin James (RB) – James will turn 30 at the end of the summer, and conventional fantasy wisdom has it that many running backs begin to experience a decline in production at this time. In actuality, that began for two seasons ago when he chose not to resign with the Colts and head to Arizona, where he hasn’t sniffed four yards per carry since. James has been remarkably durable throughout his career, missing just six games in the last six seasons, but that is the exact reason why Bruno Boys Fantasy Football remains apprehensive of him for this season and beyond. At that magic age, minor injuries tend to linger and turn into 4-6 week (and longer) ordeals (as we saw with Michael Pittman in ’07) that leave owners rummaging through the free agent scrap heap in search of a longer than desired substitute. Simply, the risk is higher that it has ever been with James, and even if he remains healthy, there’s probably another – more youthful – back that can get you 1100 yards and six touchdowns in the fourth round of your fantasy football drafts.
Larry Fitzgerald (WR) – The Cardinals rewarded their star wideout with a lucrative four-year, $40 million contract after a year in which he caught for over 1400 yards and 10 touchdowns for the second time in his career. The only hesitation we have with Fitzgerald is the QB situation, but Leinart should be able to improve upon last season, especially given the weapons at his disposal. All systems are go for Fitz, who should be considered one of the best young WRs in the game alongside Braylon Edwards, and a top five wideout in fantasy overall.
Anquan Boldin (WR) – 2007 was the third time in his five-year career in which injury prevented him from playing a full season, and that should now be on the minds of fantasy owners come draft day. His crisp route-running speaks to his capability of throwing up 1300-plus yards every season, but he otherwise needs to display more consistency in finding the end zone before he can be considered more than a high-end WR2. For the sake of projecting value, assume the per usual two-game injury and figure that an 1100-yard season with seven touchdowns is in the works for 2008, production that will come at the cost of a back-end fourth round draft selection.
Leonard Pope (TE) – Pope emerged as an end zone target for Warner in 2007, catching five of his 23 receptions for touchdowns, but he’ll have to become a more integral part of the passing game before he deserves draft day consideration. Let him get comfy on the waiver wire, but make room for him on your watch list as he should get a boost in receptions and yardage with an inexperienced QB at the helm.
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Rookies to Watch
Early Doucet (WR) – With rumors abound that Anquan Boldin was unhappy with his contract and wanted out, the Cardinals perhaps addressed a future need by selecting Doucet. An average runner, Doucet profiles best as a slot receiver, with scouts touting his exceptional route-running prowess that will augment Fitzgerald’s and Boldin’s abilities to stretch the field. He might not get much attention early in the season, but if the Cardinals offense throws the football as much as they did in 2007, he could be have value once he gets adjusted to the NFL game.
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Other Team Capsules
NFC WEST - ARI I STL I SF I SEA
NFC SOUTH - ATL I CAR I NO I TB
NFC NORTH - CHI I DET I GB I MIN
NFC EAST - DAL I NYG I PHI I WAS
AFC WEST - DEN I KC I OAK I SD
AFC SOUTH - HOU I IND I JAX I TEN
AFC NORTH - BAL I CIN I CLE I PIT
AFC EAST - BUF I MIA I NE I NYJ