Welcome to Week 10 of the NFL schedule. SB Nation Arizona is your source for all Arizona Cardinals-related fantasy football analysis. Need some last minute predictions, help setting lineups, or info on who to sit and who to start? We're here for you.
This week Tim Hightower makes his return to the list, rejoining Derek Anderson, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and an again uncertain Beanie Wells. We'll also take a gander at the Cardinals' opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, and their pass-catch combo of Matt Hasselbeck and Mike Williams.
Derek Anderson: For the first time since Week 1, Derek Anderson played through a whole game without throwing a single interception. I don't know whether that's promising or just depressing.
Still, the past two weeks have seen Anderson putting up some decent numbers, ending up with over ten fantasy points and a touchdown in both games. If D.A. can continue to minimize mistakes and manage the game efficiently - and that's a big if - the Cardinals offense will start to maintain some semblance of fantasy stability. It all lies on the shoulders of the big fella.
Seattle's secondary has been ripped to shreds in recent weeks, allowing both Jason Campbell and Eli Manning to eclipse the twenty point mark. With the Cardinals playing in front of the home crowd, and carrying a must-win mentality, it isn't to far-fetched to think that Derek will end up surprising some owners.
Fantasy Prediction: 17-29, 271 yards, 1 interception, 2 touchdowns
Larry Fitzgerald: With Fitz topping the 100-yard mark against the Vikings for the first time this season, he seems to have finally reemerged as a viable fantasy option. He has posted his two best performances the past two weeks, and appears to be developing some sort of chemistry with Derek Anderson.
Since Seattle's win over Arizona, their cornerbacks can't seem to cover anybody - getting repeatedly burned by deep threats Darrius Heyward-Bey and Hakeem Nicks. Logic says if they can do it, so can an incredibly gifted athlete like Fitz. Expect a big day from the Pittsburgh alum.
Fantasy Prediction: 7 receptions, 132 yards, 1 touchdown
Steve Breaston: Breaston is likely starting to frustrate some fantasy owners this year with his hit-or-miss style. The fourth-year receiver has seemingly been in flux every week, eclipsing the 10-point mark in three games, but coming in under the 3-point mark in his other two.
With such a large discrepancy, it is difficult for fantasy players to predict which Breaston will show up on Sunday. That being said, similar to Larry Fitzgerald, Steve's match-up this weekend is quite advantageous. Along with getting crushed by deep routes in recent weeks, the Seattle secondary has been gashed across the middle, allowing possession receivers like Steve Smith to put up decent numbers.
After a poor showing last week, the laws of hit-or-miss say that Breaston is due for a good game. With all the attention focused on Fitzy, Steve should see plenty of targets and opportunities to put his stamp on the game.
Fantasy Prediction: 8 receptions, 83 yards, 1 touchdown
Beanie Wells: The Cardinals' running back situation is impossible to predict with all the smokescreens put up by the coaching staff. After saying all last week that Beanie Wells would be able to start on Sunday, the Ohio State alum found himself riding the bench the entire game, only finishing with 1 rush for -2 yards. Ken Whisenhunt clearly doesn't care about getting any Christmas invitations from Wells-owning fantasy players.
And here we are again. Wells has been limited in practice all week and is officially questionable for Sunday's game.
Wiz was quoted saying "It'll be like last week. We cut down on the run game (plays) this week from the standpoint of volume so he is a lot more comfortable with what he have in and hopefully that allows us to play him in that role if we have the opportunity Sunday."
Whatever that means. At this point, you have to take everything the coaching staff says with a grain of salt. Go with your gut on this one. Mine says that Beanie barely sees the field.
Fantasy Prediction: 6 carries, 23 yards, 0 receptions, 0 touchdowns
Tim Hightower: Tim makes a surprise comeback to this list after being firmly trapped in the Whisenhunt doghouse. Two weeks ago, coming off of a game in which he received one rushing attempt, it seemed as though Hightower was going to missing-in-action for some time. Yet, just as soon as the exiling started, Timmy rises off the bench to get the rock thirteen times in Minnesota. It just doesn't make sense.
Nonetheless, the dirty secret about Hightower is that he hasn't posted a single relevant fantasy day since Week 2. With a possible three-headed back situation looming this week, that streak should continue regardless of the availability of Beanie Wells.
Fantasy Prediction: 14 carries, 43 yards, 1 reception, 4 yards, 0 touchdowns
And let's look at some more mediocre fantasy players, this time from the northwest.
Matt Hasselbeck: Still recovering from the Charlie Whitehurst debacle, forecasts say Seattle is luckily going to get their starting quarterback back for this week's divisional matchup in the desert.
After starting the season on fire - accumulating 38.62 fantasy points in his first two games - Hasselbeck has cooled off significantly, totaling 46.92 points in the last five weeks. Last time around against Arizona, the veteran struggled to get anything going for most of the game, ending with an unspectacular 10 points.
This time around won't be any different. Hasselbeck has a long history of injury, and recent weeks have been no exception. In his first game back since suffering a concussion, Matt will be forced to re-acclimate himself to the offense on-the-fly against a deafening home-field advantage. Probably best not to start him unless you have no other options.
Fantasy Prediction: 21-36, 187 yards, 1 interception, 1 touchdown
Mike Williams: The reemergence of Mike Williams has been one of the feel-good stories of the season. The Seahawks' leading wideout has accumulated 400 yards receiving - already surpassing a career high set in his rookie season. Williams, always blessed with an excellent combination of size and strength, finally seems to understand the dedication it takes it be successful in the NFL. After working hard to prove that he deserved another chance, the former USC standout has shown glimpses of the eye-popping talent that got him drafted tenth overall in the 2005 draft.
Last time out the 6'5" Williams abused the small secondary of the Cardinals, catching a career-high 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Unless DRC and Greg Toler have grown a few inches in the past couple weeks, history will most repeat itself. Mike makes for a solid WR3 or flex option on Sunday.
Fantasy Prediction: 9 receptions, 93 yards, 1 touchdown
Note: All point totals are based off of YahooSports.com's default fantasy scoring system.