Chargers @ Cardinals
Final Score: Cardinals 17, Chargers 15
Writer: Darian Hudock (@DarianQB_List)
It was a slow burn, but eventually, Monday night’s game between the Chargers and Cardinals got to a point of tension where the game was exciting. In the end, the Cardinals’ defense did what they had the entire night and made the plays needed to secure the win. Kyler Murray scored a TD on the longest rush the Chargers have allowed all year and James Conner showed his strength on many strong runs throughout the game. Ultimately the stagnant offense of the Chargers was their death sentence, with the Cardinals’ defense holding them to zero touchdowns throughout the night. It was a point of positivity for the struggling Cardinals, but a moment of reminder to the Chargers that their old-school style may not fit with the new NFL.
Two Up
- Will Dissly – Target hog, was constantly fed the ball while the Chargers seemed to have no other options to catch the ball
- James Conner – Very strong game, at some points literally carrying defenders down the field
Two Down
- Marvin Harrison Jr. – When the broadcast highlights plays calling you out for lazy play, something is going wrong
- Cardinals WRs – The ARZ offense is struggling mightily, if you’re not a TE or RB you’re probably in for a rough time
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: 27/39, 349 Yards | 2 Rushes, 8 Yards
My #1 takeaway after Monday night’s game against the Cardinals was how impressive Herbert’s arm strength is. Countless times throughout the night he beat defenders on quick passes that lesser QBs would have turned into pick-6s. Unfortunately for Herbert, this didn’t amount to much. His best chance at a TD was punched out of his WR hands and OC Greg Roman’s archaic playcalling allowed the Cardinals to crowd the line and prevent any passing lanes. In the future, something needs to change in the offense for Herbert to be a usable fantasy QB outside of the deepest of formats.
Running Back
JK Dobbins: 14 Rushes, 40 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 26 Yards
It was a tough night for Dobbins. The Cardinals obviously set out to stop the run and the Chargers coaching staff never seemed to adjust. This led to Dobbins running into stacked boxes the entire night and failing to earn meaningful yards. His most productive carry only earned 11 yards, a far cry from what we’ve come to expect. What I will add is it was nice to see Dobbins get some receiving work, something he isn’t known for. The Chargers offense is in a rut, but Dobbins remains a bright spot amidst the grey.
Kimani Vidal: 3 Rushes, 10 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 9 Yards
Fantasy managers hoping Vidal would see more work after a promising week 6 debut will surely be disappointed watching Monday night’s game. Vidal only entered the game to spell teammate JK Dobbins and finished the night with a disappointing output in a game where the Chargers were begging for playmakers.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Ladd McConkey: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 46 Yards
It was a rough start to the game for Ladd, dropping his first two targets en route to an empty first half. Later in the game McConkey sured up his hands and was able to deliver some nice plays with the ball in his hands. He looked quick and shifty, consistently looking to create more than the play offered him. If we see his 2nd-half production throughout an entire game, we could be looking at exceptional fantasy production.
Joshua Palmer: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 63 yards
In a game where the Chargers were missing two of their top four WRs, Palmer too struggled with injury throughout the game. Despite his struggles, Palmer came through in the clutch, including two strong receptions in a two-minute drill to end the first half. The Cardinals’ defense played an incredible game, and Palmer was just another of the WRs to struggle at their hands.
Will Dissly: 11 Targets, 8 Receptions, 81 Yards
Dissly was consistently the most productive Chargers pass catcher on Monday night. He made strong catches in coverage and earned the trust of Justin Herbert early in the game. Whenever the team needed a conversion he was there, whenever Herbert was in trouble he was there. The Cardinals’ defense was locked down on their injured WR corps, and Dissly made the most of his increased opportunity.
Semi Fehoko: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 45 Yards
Early in the game, it appeared Fehoko was primed for a big game. He was working the middle of the field in between the zone and providing Herbert with a stable target to hit. Unfortunately, that early production didn’t translate throughout the rest of the game. Fehoko is entrenched deep in the Chargers depth chart and doesn’t warrant fantasy consideration at this time.
Jalen Raegor: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 41 Yards | 1 Rush, -1 Yard
Does a catch for 41 yards even count if you fumble at the goalline giving the ball to the other team? Apparently yes, but Raegor didn’t do anything outside of that despite a respectable usage rate after being elevated off the practice squad this week.
Arizona Cardinals
Quarterback
Kyler Murray: 14/26, 145 Yards, TD, INT | 6 Rushes, 64 Yards, TD
It was an up-and-down night for Kyler and the rest of the Cardinals’ offense. After struggling through the entire first quarter and mustering only 2 completions, Kyler quickly led the team down the field for a touchdown drive early in the 2nd quarter. Kyler showed inconsistency with his accuracy throughout the night but was able to find a safety value in his TE Trey McBride. Kyler capped his night with a 44-yard scamper that saw him go untouched down the sideline after a Chargers defender took a bad angle on the tackle attempt. Managers will be happy with the rushing production but will want to see better passing from Kyler moving forward.
Running Back
James Conner: 19 Rushes, 101 Yards | 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 51 Yards
Conner deserves a game ball after the Monday night win. He was the backbone of the Cardinals’ offense and displayed an old-school toughness to his running style that wore down the defense throughout the night. Conner dominated the backfield touches, receiving a true bell-cow workload both on the ground and through the air. At some points, Conner put the team on his back, literally carrying defenders down the field to move the chains on a key drive late in the game. With his elite workload, Conner remains a top option for fantasy managers.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 21 Yards
Twitter is not going to be friendly on MHJ after this game, especially after the MNF broadcast showed plays specifically highlighting what appeared to be a complete lack of effort from Harrison. MHJ was a complete non-factor in this game, although not entirely his fault. He was shown breaking free of defenders on multiple occasions where QB Kyler Murray was unable to take the time needed to identify the breakdown in coverage. Even when it appeared the Cardinals were focused on forcing him the ball, he was unable to come down with catches in traffic consistently and ended with a disappointing night.
Trey McBride: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 51 Yards
In a game where the entire passing offense struggled, McBride was able to command an elite 27% target route and provide Kyler Murray with his only reliable option throughout the game. He consistently made difficult catches in contested coverages or used his athleticism to beat his defender and create space. In a baren TE wasteland, a player like McBride who can win in multiple ways is ever so important.
Michael Wilson: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 15 Yards
It’s hard out there for the Cardinals pass catchers. Wilson was ultimately unable to do much with his three targets on the night. Future matchups against less stingy defenses should benefit Wilson in the future.
Greg Dortch: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards, TD
Similar to the remainder of the Cardinals’ pass catchers, Dortch was unable to get much going against the tough Chargers defense. His TD catch was impressive though, a nice out route that saw him clearly burn his defender to provide an easy target for Kyler Murray.