Fantasy Insider Report: Cardinals Will Rely More on Zach Ertz

With Kyler Murray still not 100% and DeAndre Hopkins gone, Arizona will lean heavily on its veteran tight end.

The Athlon Sports 2023 Fantasy Football Annual magazine reached out to team insiders at all 32 NFL clubs to ask them three key fantasy questions heading into the season. As we count down to training camp, Sports Illustrated will publish their answers here. Today’s team: Arizona Cardinals.

To order your Athlon Sports 2023 Fantasy Football, click here.

When do you expect Kyler Murray back on the field? Will he be productive when he returns?
Murray has been grinding hard to make a quicker-than-expected return, but the Cardinals have been adamant about taking their time and making sure he’s 100% ready before playing. He could miss as many as the first five or six games. Considering he’s learning a brand new offense, and the team is expected to run the ball more, Murray’s comeback might not sparkle at first, but he should figure things out and put up some decent numbers during the second half of the season.

With DeAndre Hopkins gone from the team, how do you see his targets being distributed among the current Cardinals receivers?

It will end up being a catch-by-committee process but expect Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to be tasked with getting the brunt of the targets in Hopkins’ absence. That will especially be the case when Kyler Murray returns to the lineup at some point. Look for Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch to play bigger roles in 2023 as well.

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Zach Ertz will turn 33 this season. Will he continue to be a strong fantasy TE, or will Trey McBride see more of the action?
McBride is still figuring out what his game is going to look like at this level. Ertz, once he’s fully cleared to return from his ACL surgery, will immediately be Arizona’s No. 1 tight end target again. The Cardinals’ offense might not put up dazzling points or a ton of yards, but Ertz should end up as a trustworthy fantasy pick who will finish with decent numbers.

— Bob McManaman, Arizona Republic