clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2011 Fantasy Football Sit/Start Projections, Week Four: Beanie Wells Injury Status Dangerous

The suddenly struggling Arizona Cardinals aim to right the ship in Week 4 of the NFL season, as they host a renewed New York Giants squad within University of Phoenix Stadium. With the aid of our partners at numberFire.com, we've analyzed the Cardinals' top fantasy football options leading into the do-or-die Sunday matchup. While Larry Fitzgerald and Kevin Kolb remain interesting options, Beanie Wells' mysterious injury status continues to cast doubt into owners stressing over last-minute projections to find out who to sit and who to start.

START

Kevin Kolb
numberFire.com Projections: 211.14 passing yards, 1.22 touchdowns, 0.98 interceptions, 9.02 rushing yards, 13.04 fantasy points
Analysis:
The New York Giants have allowed two 300-yard passers in three games this season, while struggling to prevent the big-play. After what we saw last week against Seattle, it's quite likely the Cardinals will be down early on Sunday and quickly find themselves trapped in a shootout to play catch-up. While all this is a bad indication for Arizona fans, it could mean a big game from Kevin Kolb.

Larry Fitzgerald
numberFire.com Projections: 5.82 receptions, 82.24 yards, 0.47 touchdowns, 11.12 fantasy points
Analysis:
Last week marked the 24th time of Larry Fitzgerald's eight-year career that he nabbed touchdown passes in consecutive regular season games. That's ridiculous. In all, with 15 catches, 259 yards, and two touchdowns already to his credit through three weeks, Fitz is on pace to far eclipse his disappointing 2010-2011 campaign. Don't even think about benching him.

Jay Feely
numberFire.com Projections: .85/1.07 field goal attempts, 1.55 extra points, 4.43 fantasy points
Analysis:
In the past two weeks the Giants have given up 20-points to opposing kickers, due in part to the nature of their bend-but-don't-break defensive approach. Look for that to continue on Sunday, as the Cardinals are becoming quite adept at the stall-around-the-forty-yard-line approach. Good news for Feely owners, but bad news for everyone else.

SIT

Beanie Wells
numberFire.com Projections: 12.95 rushes, 49.70 yards, .54 touchdowns, 1.42 receptions, 12.76 receiving yards, 9.56 fantasy points
Analysis:
This one all depends on the status of Beanie Wells' injured hamstring. In two games this season, the former first round pick has proven himself worthy of featured back status, yet his questionable designation is worrisome. Fresh of a smashing at the hands of LeSean McCoy, the New York front seven is the most venerable they've been in years, but it's hard to believe that Wells -- if he even plays -- will receive the lion's share of the carries. Wait and see on this one.

Early Doucet
numberFire.com Projections: 2.61 receptions, 33.36 yards, .19 touchdowns, 4.68 fantasy points
Analysis:
At this point it's almost impossible to recommend any Cardinal wide receiver except for Larry Fitzgerald. After a disappointing two-point performance in week two, Doucet came back in week three with a five-point afternoon. Not what you want from a starter. Eventually someone in the tandem of Doucet and Andre Roberts will step up and claim their spot in the offense, but until then stay away.

Todd Heap
numberFire.com Projections: 3.24 receptions, 37.77 yards, .22 touchdowns, 5.07 fantasy points
Analysis:
Last Sunday was somewhat of a breakthrough for Heap, who increased his reception total on the season by 200 percent with a six-catch, 61-yard performance. Still, until the former Sun Devil can maintain some kind of consistency, it's hard to deem him worth starting. The fact that the Giants have given up just 4.30 points to opposing tight ends in the past two games doesn't help either.

Cardinals Defense
numberFire.com Projections: 24.70 points allowed, 2.13 sacks, 1.80 turnovers, .15 touchdowns, 6.64 fantasy points
Analysis:
Outside of a first week thrashing from Washington, the New York Giants have been fantasy kryptonite for opposing defenses, allowing just seven total fantasy points to the position via dominating victories over the St. Louis Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles. With the way the Arizona defense has been playing thus far in the season, expect that trend to hold up.

For all your fantasy football needs from around the NFL, visit SB Nation's fantasy hub and blog Fake Teams.