The Arizona Cardinals stumble into Week 8 of the NFL season on a dreadful five-game losing streak and unfortunately things may get worse before they get better. The schedule-makers were not kind to the Redbirds, as the team travels into Baltimore to battle the 4-2 Ravens this Sunday. With the help of our friends at numberFire.com, we've analyzed the (extremely limited) prospects for the Cardinals' primary fantasy football options, including Larry Fitzgerald, Kevin Kolb, and Beanie Wells. So join SB Nation Arizona as we present our Week 8 Sit-or-Start projections.
START
Larry Fitzgerald
numberFire.com Projections: 4.85 receptions, 70.64 yards, 0.45 touchdowns, 9.72 fantasy points
Analysis: The Baltimore secondary has given up four double-digit fantasy games this year to the likes of Jacoby Jones and Brandon Gibson. While Fitzgerald may not be having a world-beating season, he's still Larry Fitzgerald. If you have the cajones to bench the human highlight reel, then by all means go for it. I, on the other hand, do not share that courage.
SIT
Kevin Kolb
numberFire.com Projections: 149.63 passing yards, 0.82 touchdowns, 0.74 interceptions, 9.97 fantasy points
Analysis: Even after last week's two touchdown performance, it's hard to feel safe with Kolb as your starter. The former-Eagle is enormously inconsistent, splitting three games apiece over-under the 15-point threshold through seven weeks. Add to the fact that the Ravens have held opposing quarterbacks to an average of 8.51 points per game -- tops in the league -- and Kolb looks like a shaky play at best.
Beanie Wells
numberFire.com Projections: N/A
Analysis: How quickly things change. Just last week we were singing Beanie's praises as the sole contributor to the Cardinals offense, and now he barely earns a spot on this countdown. Hampered by a sore knee, Wells is listed as a game-time decision on the official injury report. Even so, with the Ravens second-ranked rushing defense glaring across the sidelines, neither Wells nor his replacement, Alfonso Smith, should even come close to touching your starting lineup.
Early Doucet
numberFire.com Projections: 2.72 receptions, 31.43 yards, .22 touchdowns, 4.55 fantasy points
Analysis: Early Doucet has actually turned himself around over the past two weeks. After a disappointing slump to start the season, the youngster has emerged with back-to-back games of at least nine points and five catches. Were it not for an uncertain quadriceps injury, he would likely be in the "Start" column. Monitor this situation closely if you're pressed for receivers.
Todd Heap
numberFire.com Projections: 1.46 receptions, 17.74 yards, .19 touchdowns, 2.95 fantasy points
Analysis: After a one week absence, Todd Heap makes a glorious return to the rankings, even if he is a game-time decision. But it really shouldn't matter much because were you actually going to start him? The Ravens give up a league-low two points a game to tight ends. Heap is projected to get two points. Need I say more?
Cardinals Defense
numberFire.com Projections: 16.33 points allowed, 1.41 sacks, 1.19 turnovers, .10 touchdowns, 5.40 fantasy points
Analysis: The Arizona defense has collected point totals of 4, 2, and 1 in their last three games. Meanwhile, the Baltimore offense comes in off an abysmal performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. Reason stands to believe the purple birds are going to be fired up while the red birds are their usual selves. Stay away.
Jay Feely
numberFire.com Projections: 0.78 field goals, 0.67 extra points, 3.32
fantasy points
Analysis: Jay Feely has yet to crack the double-digit mark this season and it doesn't look like he'll do it anytime soon. We've said it before and we'll say it again -- the Cardinals offense is too unpredictable to depend on and, unfortunately, the kicker will always suffer as a byproduct in that situation.
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