The Arizona Cardinals where coming off a successful 2015 season where they won the NFC west and where one game away from the super bowl. Many had high hopes for the Cardinals in 2016 but they failed to live up to the hype. They finished the season second in there division with a record of 7-8-1. Overall the Cardinals where a solid team and had one of the best offenses and defenses in the league, they where just in consistent in the production. Below is the Arizona Cardinals 2016 fantasy football recap.
Arizona Cardinals 2016 Fantasy Football Recap
Quarterback
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has been a solid NFL and fantasy quarterback since he has joined the Cardinals. In 2016 however was not one of his best years in regards to fantasy. Palmer finished the season with 4,233 passing yards 26 touchdowns and 18 total turnovers. He finished with 243 fantasy points ad was the 19th ranked quarterback in fantasy last season. Palmer averaged 16 fantasy points per game but had a five games of nine or fewer fantasy points. In week three he scored negative four and a half points. Palmer is still a solid match up or bye week quarterback for fantasy in 2016. He is worth a late round draft pick in next seasons drafts.
Running Back
Since coming into the league in 2015 Cardinals running back David Johnson has been one of the best backs in the NFL and in fantasy football. Johnson finished as the number one ranked running back in fantasy in 2016. He finished the season with 1,239 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. He also had 80 receptions for 879 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson finished the season with 2,118 yards and 20 touchdowns. He totaled 327 fantasy points and averaged 20 fantasy points per game. Johnson is one of the few elite running backs in the NFL and is worth the number one overall pick in fantasy drafts this up coming season.
Wide Receiver
The Cardinals have had one of the NFL best wide receivers in Larry Fitzgerald for over a decade. While his numbers have steadily declined over the last few seasons he is still a solid NFL and fantasy receiver. In 2016 Fitzgerald had 107 receptions for 1023 yards and six touchdowns. He totaled 136 fantasy points averaging eight and a half points per game. Fitzgerald was a little in consistent in his production and had eight games of six or fewer fantasy points. He also didn’t score a touchdown from week six through week sixteen. He is a solid flex option for fantasy owners and with his 107 receptions he is a better PPR option. Fitzgerald is worth a middle round pick in drafts next season.
The next leading receiver was J.J Nelson with 34 receptions for 568 yards and six touchdowns. He added 83 rushing yards and a touchdown for a total of 651 yards and seven touchdowns. Nelson totaled 105 fantasy points averaged around eight and a half fantasy points per game. Nelson missed four games last season and was a boom or bust throughout the season. Most of Nelsons points came in the last five weeks of the season as he totaled 64 fantasy points. He averaged around 13 fantasy points per game in the last five weeks of the season. Nelson is worth a late round pick in next seasons drafts. The Cardinals third leading receiver was John Brown with 32 receptions for 512 yards but only two touchdowns. Brown dealt with several health issues last season which limited his production. He is a sleeper for the 2017 season and is worth a late round pick in drafts.
Tight End
The Cardinals didn’t have to much production from there tight end veteran Jermaine Gresham. He totaled 37 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns. Gresham finished as the 31st ranked tight end with 51 fantasy points. Even with the tight end position being one of the most shallow position in regards to producing fantasy points owners should look else where for there tight end next season.
Kicker
The Cardinals kicker last seasons was Chandler Catanzaro. He finished the season making 21 of his 28 field goals and 43 extra points. Catanzaro finished as the 20th ranked kicker with 118 fantasy points and averaging seven points per game. In the offseason he left the Cardinals and signed with the New York Jets he is worth a late round pick in drafts next season.
Defense
The Cardinals have had a solid defense in fantasy and in the NFL over the last few seasons. in 2016 the Cardinals defense finished as the fourth ranked defense in fantasy with 144 fantasy points. They averaged nine points per game and only had two games of fewer than eight fantasy points. The Cardinals defense is one of the most consistent defenses in fantasy and is worth a late round pick in next seasons drafts.
The Arizona Cardinals are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. They have a solid defense one of the best running backs in the NFL and an overall solid offense. Time maybe running out for the Cardinals with Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald talking about retiring at the end of the season. If the Cardinals can get more consistent production from there quarterback and receivers they could be dangers and make a run at the playoffs.
