2025 Team Previews: Arizona Cardinals

All ADP data is courtesy of Fantasy Pros.

** = target in drafts at this ADP

Relevant Players

Trey McBride, TE (ADP: 27, TE2): McBride’s breakout was one that many people saw coming. He was the TE3 at the time of the Cardinals’ preview last season, coming off an 81-catch season, and I talked about how he had the upside of Sam LaPorta and Travis Kelce but was going a nice amount after them, so I’d be happy with him at ADP. Now, he’s fresh off 111 receptions and 1,146 yards so the ADP has understandably skyrocketed even more.

McBride is an awesome player, and for sure is a difference maker at the position. He also only scored three total touchdowns last season, absurdly low for how much usage he saw, so that’s due for big time positive regression. I have no issue with his ADP, however, I think that TE is lowkey deeper than most realize in 2025. I personally would not want to pass up some of the available RBs and WRs at this point in the draft, because I think McBride is being drafted close to his ceiling. But if you want to snag an upper echelon TE that allows you to set and forget, he’s your man. I prefer him at his ADP to Brock Bowers even earlier.

**Marvin Harrison Jr., WR (ADP: 42, WR17): Harrison let people down after being billed as a generational prospect, son of a Hall of Famer, and carrying the highest ADP ever for a rookie WR. He got lapped in production by several fellow rookies that made up a vaunted WR class he was supposed to rule over. I covered it here, but I’ll reiterate that our disappointment was our fault – and Arizona’s coaches to a degree – not his.

His final line – 62 receptions, 885 yards, eight touchdowns – are solid rookie season numbers. If he didn’t have a Top 15 ADP we’d be all hyped up about his ascension potential in Year 2. What he actually did on the field was cook man coverage at a 73.1% clip (75th percentile), clear 80% vs. zone (72nd percentile) and manhandle press coverage (76.1%, 80th percentile). And Harrison did all this while lining up almost exclusively on the outside and on the line of scrimmage with nine routes being his second-most run route (15.4%) and his lowest success rate. Of course, it always helps when the elite receivers move around the formation to create layups and mismatches, but it sort of seemed like the Cardinals didn’t understand what they have in him.

Harrison has X receiver chops, but he’s not your boundary freak with mutant contested catch skills or truly elite speed. Harrison is a technician of the highest order; he posted a ridiculous 87.5% success rate on digs, 81.6% on slants, 84.2% on posts and 74.1% on outs. This guy did fine with what they gave him, especially as a rookie, but if they open their minds to moving him around and utilizing his ability to win so many ways at all levels, we’re going to see him make a Drake London-like leap and he’ll become a first or second round fantasy pick. I can see that happening very quickly this year, and with him being treated as a clear WR2, sign me up for that WR1 upside.

**James Conner, RB (ADP: 47, RB19): Conner is 30 now, at the proverbial age cliff, so this ADP makes sense. But Conner had his healthiest season ever in 2024, and it was the most productive year of his eight-year career. Conner’s not a flashy player, and that’s probably why he’s perennially underrated, but he’s cleared 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the last four seasons, and 1,100 in three of the last four. He was over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in 2024, with nine touchdowns, and he still has the same cast of characters in the RB room that allowed him to compile 291 opportunities (carries + targets). He’s a proven workhorse and the Cards have shown zero desire to get away from him being in that role, so this ADP seems like a fine price to pay for that kind of security.

Kyler Murray, QB (ADP: 90, QB9): Murray seems like an absolute steal at this ADP with his rushing upside, but you’ve got to be careful. He’s a well-known injury risk, and someone who gets nicked up and sees depleted production at times even when he plays through his bruises. He also has a lower rushing floor than you’d think, and that’s where he can be dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong, Murray’s rushing ceiling is elite. His 2020 rushing line of 819 yards and 11 touchdowns is still in the range of possibilities. But last season he ran a career-low 4.6 times per game, and we have to hope that was him regaining faith in his durability after a bad injury vs. a trend. Rushing is critical to Murray being a championship-caliber fantasy QB, because while his highlights are dope, he’s never been that prolific a passer. He has failed to hit 225 yards per game through the air in any of his last three seasons, and has never had a 30-TD season. That’s alright when you’re one of the league’s premier rushers at the position, but if he’s going to be a notch below the top rushing QBs, then the path to fantasy stardom disappears. Now, even last year he still rushed enough that a back-end QB1 is his floor. That’s around where his ADP is right now, so he's still probably a value at this ADP. I am losing some faith though that a Lamar Jackson kind of leap is coming, so he’s in Justin Fields territory for me. This is a mild value, but moreso where he should be.

Interesting Sleeper(s)

Michael Wilson, WR (ADP: 270, WR84): Beyond the Top 4 names in this offense, there isn’t much to talk about. This is as straightforward a team to analyze as there is, but one name who still remains interesting is Wilson. Wilson did a whole lot of nothing last year despite a WR room that provided a path to production behind Harrison. His 2023 Reception Perception profile painted the picture of a promising X receiver, but instead of him developing further there, he became a forgotten man as the Cardinals shoehorned Harrison into Wilson’s role. They should have had Harrison roaming the formation, while Wilson mostly played at X. Hopefully they do more of this, because it would benefit both Harrison and Wilson, and potentially grant us another fantasy relevant WR.

Notable Players

Greg Dortch, WR (ADP: N/A): Dortch merits a mention as a potential full-PPR dart throw. He’s a pure slot receiver, but he has had brief flashes in the past of target-hound potential. It’s very unlikely, especially with Murray at QB, but I do like his game.

Handcuffs

Trey Benson, RB (ADP: 146, RB51): Benson is a third round pick whom many felt might threaten Conner’s stranglehold on workhorse duty. That didn’t happen. Arizona didn’t make any major moves at the position, so Benson is probably still the handcuff to roster. Benson also is very talented, so he could force a bit more of a timeshare if he’s really playing well this summer, but that’s not something I’d bet on.