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Kyler Murray’s Return Boosts Cardinals’ Fantasy Outlook in Week 11

The Arizona Cardinals are set to welcome back their star quarterback Kyler Murray in Week 11, after he missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Murray’s return will have a positive impact on the fantasy outlook of the Cardinals’ offense, as they face the Atlanta Falcons in Mexico City on Monday night.

Murray is a fantasy stud when healthy

Murray has been one of the best fantasy quarterbacks in the league when he is on the field. In his last full season in 2022, he led the Cardinals to the playoffs while also throwing for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also rushed for 423 yards and another five touchdowns, making him a dual-threat weapon.

This season, before he got injured in Week 8, Murray was averaging 23.4 fantasy points per game, ranking fourth among quarterbacks. He had thrown for 1,849 yards and 14 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. He had also added 197 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.

Murray’s upside is undeniable, and he can elevate the fantasy production of his teammates as well.

Kyler Murray’s Return Boosts Cardinals’ Fantasy Outlook in Week 11

Murray’s return will benefit Hopkins, Moore, and Conner

The Cardinals have some talented weapons on offense, but they have been missing Murray’s presence in the last two games. Colt McCoy, who started in Murray’s absence, did a decent job, but he was not able to replicate Murray’s explosiveness and creativity.

One of the players who suffered the most from Murray’s injury was DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals’ top receiver. Hopkins had been a consistent fantasy performer with Murray, averaging 15.6 points per game in PPR formats. However, with McCoy, he saw his targets drop from 9.4 to 7 per game, and his points drop to 11.9 per game.

Rondale Moore, the rookie receiver who had shown flashes of brilliance with Murray, also saw his fantasy value decline with McCoy. Moore had averaged 10.8 points per game with Murray, but only 7.8 points per game with McCoy.

On the other hand, James Conner, the Cardinals’ lead running back, thrived with McCoy under center. Conner had scored five touchdowns in the last two games, and averaged 23.5 points per game. Conner had been a solid fantasy option with Murray as well, averaging 14.1 points per game, but he saw his workload increase with McCoy.

With Murray back, Hopkins and Moore should see a boost in their fantasy value, while Conner should remain a reliable RB2 with touchdown upside.

Murray faces a favorable matchup in Week 11

The Cardinals will face the Falcons in Week 11, in a game that will be played in Mexico City. The Falcons have been one of the worst defenses in the league, especially against the pass. They rank 28th in points allowed per game (28.7), 25th in yards allowed per game (378.9), and 31st in passing touchdowns allowed per game (2.4).

The Falcons have also been vulnerable to mobile quarterbacks, allowing the third-most rushing yards per game to the position (29.8). They have given up big fantasy performances to quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts (28.9 points), Tom Brady (29.6 points), and Dak Prescott (36.2 points).

Murray should have no problem exploiting the Falcons’ defense, and he could have a monster game in his return. He is a must-start fantasy quarterback in Week 11, and he could be the difference-maker for many fantasy teams.

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