New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
Final Score: Cardinals 31 – Jets 6
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp on Twitter)
This was a one-sided game in Arizona, as the Cardinals would dominate the New York Jets in Week 10. The Cardinals took advantage of a poor Jets run defense and ran all over them. When they had to pass, Kyler Murray had one of his best passing days of the season, with only two incompletions. The Jets had moments, but the offense seems so out of sync. They had to give up on their run game, which was doing well, for their passing game was not very good. The Jets got behind early and could never recover the rest of this game.
Three Up
- James Conner – James Conner was fantastic in this game and was shown as a significant threat to the Cardinals’ receiving game.
- Kyler Murray – Kyler Murray had one of his best games of the season and looked very good as a passer in Week 10.
- Trey McBride – Trey McBride continues to prove he should be considered the top tight end in fantasy football with another strong performance.
Three Down
- Aaron Rodgers – Aaron Rodgers was night and day from last week to this week. He struggles to find chemistry with his teammates, plus the offensive line is a mess.
- Davante Adams – The chemistry issue with Aaron Rodgers is Davante Adams, who had 13 targets but could only connect for 6 receptions. There were moments when they showed us they weren’t on the same page.
- Tyler Conklin – Tyler Conklin has finished under 10 receiving yards in 3 of the last four games since Adams was traded to New York.
New York Jets
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 22/35, 151 yards passing, FUM
The Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggled in this game. Rodgers never seemed comfortable in the pocket, as the Cardinals caused pressure all game. Rodgers was forcing the ball out quickly with pressure getting close, which caused terrible passes and miscommunication. He forced the ball to Davante Adam too often when he had other pass catchers wide open. Rodgers also mainly had short, quick passes in this game, as he threw deep very few times. When he did throw deep, he was wildly inaccurate in the game. Rodgers will continue to be a headache for fantasy football and someone I’d rather avoid than wait for him to have another good game.
Running Back
Breece Hall: 10 carries, 51 yards rushing | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 31 yards
This was an unfortunate game for Breece Hall against the Cardinals. Hall started the game off well with big runs early in the game. He looked explosive and very patient when hitting the hole for long gains. In the receiving game, he made defenders miss and gain yards after the catch. Hall only touched the ball 14 times and missed out on opportunities in the red zone for Braelon Allen to see the field. The game script took Hall’s production out of this game. Hall still has an RB1 upside, but this offense needs to get back in sync.
Braelon Allen: 7 carries, 27 yards rushing | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards
Braelon Allen was decent in this matchup. He was mostly used on short yards and in red zone situations. Unless he was running full steam ahead, then he struggled to gain positive yards against this Cardinals run defense. Allen should continue to be a top handcuff because he has an upside if something were to happen to Hall. Unless he can score a touchdown, he isn’t worth starting in most formats.
Isaiah Davis: 1 target, 1 reception, 10 yards receiving
The Jets’ other rookie running back saw an opportunity for the first time in weeks. Isaiah Davis had one solid catch-and-run in the fourth quarter but no real fantasy value.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Garrett Wilson: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 41 yards receiving
Garrett Wilson was another player I felt bad for in this game. Rodgers relied on his buddy Davante Adams too often, which hurt Wilson in this game. Wilson was open on numerous routes, but Rodgers failed to see him on the field. With his catches, he was fast and made extra yards after the catch. Wilson only saw one endzone target that should have been a pass interference penalty that would have put the Jets to the one-yard line. Wilson will bounce back and have WR1 upside in future games.
Davante Adams: 13 targets, 6 receptions, 31 yards receiving
Davante Adams had a team-high 13 targets in this game but did very little with his opportunity this week. Some of it was Adams’ issue, as he didn’t seem to be on the same page as Rodgers on certain routes. Most of his passes were quick, short throws, and the defense was there by the time he caught the ball. Most of his production didn’t come until late in the fourth quarter when he had back-to-back 10-plus yard catches. He did see many red zone targets, which is a plus, but it was a bad game overall. Adams should continue to be a weekly starter in fantasy.
Malachi Corley: 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards receiving
Malachi Corley finally getting a chance to prove himself on the field following the Mike Williams trade. He isn’t going to prove much with only two targets in this game. His one catch was a quick, short slant route that helped the Jets get a first down. He doesn’t have any fantasy value this year.
Xavier Gipson: 1 target
Xavier Gipson is a better special team player than an offensive player for the Jets offense.
Tyler Conklin: 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards receiving
Tyler Conklin has struggled since Davante Adams was traded to the Jets. In recent weeks, the Jets seem to be using a rotation as their pass-catching tight end. Conklin didn’t see a target until the third quarter of this game. He could have added more to his stat line, but a penalty took back a 15-yard catch and run. Conklin isn’t trusted as much of a fantasy tight end, even during BYE weeks.
Jeremy Ruckert: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards receiving
Kenny Yeboah: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards receiving
Jeremy Rucket and Kenny Yeboah are both backup tight ends that will get used occasionally as a pass catcher. There is no fantasy value here with Tyler Conklin as the starter.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Kyler Murray: 22/24, 266 yards passing, 1 TD | 3 carries, 21 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Kyler Murray had a great fantasy day as he set a franchise record of 17 straight completions. Murray looked cool and calm in the pocket. He made great throws all game at every level on the field. His very first throw was an incompletion, so he would go on to throw 22 of 23 passes after that. Murray would have a beautiful over-the-shoulder touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr. in the second quarter. His rushing output was dominant in the red zone as he was able to core twitch there. Murray’s on-field production can sometimes be unpredictable, but today, Murray looked as good as his talent shows.
Clayton Tune: 1 carry, -1 yards rushing
Running Back
James Conner: 12 carries, 33 yards rushing, 1 TD | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 80 yards
James Conner had a field day with the Jet’s defense, finishing with over 100 all-purpose yards. While Conners’s YPC output didn’t look great at 2.7, he did have a few solid runs in this game. Conner showed off his speed and vision to get upfield for solid runs. His biggest output was his receiving game value. Conner had one of the game’s biggest plays with a 44-yard catch. All of it came after the catch due to a screenplay. Every time Conner caught the ball, he would almost get 10 yards on those plays. Conner continues to have borderline RB1 upside for fantasy this year.
Trey Benson: 10 carries, 62 yards rushing | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
Trey Benson got more opportunities since the Cardinals continued to run their offense through the run game. Benson looked fantastic in this game on power runs. Benson would go through the hole, showing off burst and strength to knock down defenders in his way. Benson would get some work early in the game, but most of his production came in the second half of the game. Benson is still only a handcuff but is interested in moving forward. The Cardinals have a Week 11 bye week, so I wonder if they will find more ways to get him more involved.
Emari Demercado: 3 carries, 22 yards rushing
DeeJay Dallas: 3 carries, 10 yards rushing
Both Emari Demercado and Deejay Dallas only saw touches on the game’s final drive. Demercado would get the first three carries, then Dallas would get the next three. Demercado has shown some flashes of fantasy, but neither one has much fantasy value.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 54 yards receiving, 1 TD
Marvin Harrison Jr. had a decent game in Week 11. Harrison would get three receptions in the first quarter alone, as it seemed like the team wanted to get him the ball early. He looked solid as he found separation from a defender and could move up the field once he had the ball in his hands. He had a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch in the late second quarter of this game. Unfortunately, the positive game script prevented Harrison Jr. from seeing more than five targets. Harrison Jr. still isn’t a completely trusted player for fantasy, but at least an upside Flex play.
Trey McBride: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 71 yards receiving
Tight end Trey McBride was a beast in this game against the Jets. McBride would be second in yards; every catch was wild to watch. McBride would show off his strength with contested catches and breaking tackles. McBride continues to make big plays in this Arizona offense, but he did have one broken play when he was wide open for 24 yards. He remains a TE1 in fantasy.
Michael Wilson: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards receiving
Michael Wilson had solid catches in this game. He saw Murray’s first attempt, but it was his only non-catch of the game. Wilson would quickly find separation for his catches in this game. Wilson didn’t see a red zone threat, which is a surprise since he has been a touchdown magnet. He remains a touchdown-dependent WR4 in fantasy.
Greg Dortch: 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yards receiving
He had one catch that was off a bad play and lost a yard on the play. Dortch has not been relevant since Week 1.
Elijah Higgins: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards receiving
Back-up tight end Elijah Higgins has a small role in this Cardinals offense. Higgins showed off his strength by bouncing off the defender and attempting to tackle him. Higgins isn’t a start-worthy tight end unless McBride is off the field.