Kyler Murray is Must-Add for Fantasy Football Players
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray got his first taste of practice last week, and now entering Week 8, the possibility of him returning approaches realistic territory.
Everybody in the desert knows the talent Murray possesses, but so too do fantasy football players.
Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke broke down why he believes Murray - who is available in 23% of ESPN leagues - is a must-add for fantasy football players:
- "NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Cardinals will take their time with Murray, so he very likely won’t be playing this upcoming week, but he should return in one of the two following games."
- "The Cardinals’ coaching staff will want to see if Murray is the team’s long-term quarterback or if they should draft a signal-caller, so we can expect Murray to be the starter for the rest of the season once healthy."
- "Murray has averaged at least 18.6 PPR points per game in all four of his seasons, but his fantasy production — including his rushing workload — was on the decline in 2022."
- "This is his first season with the new coaching staff, which adds uncertainty."
- "He might be the only quarterback available off the waiver wire the rest of the season who has several top-five finishes as realistic outcomes."
PFF wasn't the only outlet to suggest Murray as a guy to target on waivers:
FantasyPros
"The practice window for Kyler Murray is open to return from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the putrid Cardinals, who have seen gritty Joshua Dobbs turn back into a pumpkin. Yes, you should pick up Murray off waivers. He is a matchup-proof fantasy superstar. I am also excited to see him work in an actual NFL offensive scheme, instead of a gimmicky high school joke as with former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The next three games for Arizona are against very tough defenses, but I’m not worried."
Rotoballer
"The Cardinals have been surprisingly competitive through seven weeks with Joshua Dobbs at quarterback. Arizona made Murray one of their team captains this season, an act that would seem to indicate he's likely to play in 2023. You'll find a few players who have a higher ceiling than Murray on your waiver wire.
"We are currently playing fantasy football in the age of the quarterback. Years ago, the strategy of waiting on a quarterback was excellent because there were so few that were true difference-makers. Those days are gone. Quarterbacks are putting up video game numbers and they’ve never been as valuable as they are today. Murray is one of those quarterbacks."
Bleacher Report
"Kyler Murray won't help you in Week 8, as his rehab from a torn ACL may not finish by then, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Murray's return could come in the following two weeks.
"So, if you have roster space, and your quarterback position is anything less than elite, this is the time to make your waiver claim.
"Murray wasn't great last season and has never played for this Cardinals coaching staff, so there is certainly some risk here, but the potential reward is enough to outweigh it. When he's at his best, he can be among the most dynamic fantasy options at the position.
"Travel back to 2020—the last time he played 16 games in a season—and he was all-caps ELITE. He was the second-highest scorer in all of fantasy football, per FantasyPros, thanks to a brilliant blend of passing (3,971 yards, 26 touchdowns) and rushing (819 yards, 11 touchdowns) production."
