Kyler Murray

Week 13 at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Cardinals got destroyed last week by the Rams, but Kyler Murray still put in a decent fantasy performance. He threw for 256 yards and a touchdown, and he added a touchdown on the ground. While he only had one rushing attempt for two yards after 84 rushing yards over his previous two starts, it was good to see him find the end zone. He now has three rushing touchdowns in three starts since returning from injury.

This week, Murray faces a Pittsburgh defense that ranks 23rd in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Expect another busy day for Murray with a better-than-average shot at another rushing touchdown. His rushing production gives him a high floor each week, and managers can consider him a fringe-QB1 option this week.

Week 11 at Houston Texans

Kyler Murray returned to action last week for the first time this season and looked very much like the version of him we saw before his injury late last season. He threw for 249 yards and a pick, but he also ran for 33 yards and a touchdown, leading the Cardinals to a close victory over the Falcons.

This week, Murray has a great matchup against a Houston defense that ranks 27th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks and has been involved in consecutive shootouts the last two weeks. Murray looks healthy and ready to resume his role as a top-level fantasy producer, and we have him ranked as a QB1 this week. Start him.

Fantasy Upside
As Field Level Media put it, "From slash-and-dash QB1, Kyler Murray falls to draft-and-stash territory with his uncertain return date from ACL surgery." Veteran backup Colt McCoy and fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune will compete for the job in the meantime. Murray, who missed two games with a hamstring strain in November before the season-ending knee injury, was unimpressive in 11 starts after signing a five-year, $230.5 million extension ($160M guaranteed) in July 2022. He averaged 215.3 passing yards, 38.0 rushing yards and accounted for 17 touchdowns (three rushing). He posted two 300-yard games but threw two picks in one and zero TDs in the other. To be relevant again, he'll need somebody -- with Marquise Brown the most likely candidate -- to step up at wideout after the off-season release of DeAndre Hopkins.

Fantasy Downside
It's all about uncertainty. The Cardinals placed Murray on the active/physically unable to perform list to open camp. The question is: Will he begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, which would cost him the first six weeks of the season? The two-time Pro Bowler allowed earlier in July that Week 1 was his goal. That is a long shot, realistically. Incoming HC John Gannon said the last week of July that Murray will be ready “when he tells me.”

2023 Bottom Line
The concerns go beyond Murray's health. The Cardinals are not good. It's possible they're looking to tank (and maybe even replace Murray with USC QB Caleb Williams). And while he regressed as a passer last season, Fantasy Pros reminded readers that Murray still finished QB2 in fantasy scoring in 2020, and "at his best he's a difference-making quarterback who can rack up fantasy points with both his arm and his legs." Might be worth the very-late round flier he'll cost you.