The fantasy football landscape shifts each week, bringing fresh opportunities and unexpected challenges that separate the prepared from the pretenders. Savvy managers know that last week’s performance tells only part of the story, and diving deeper into the underlying metrics reveals the accurate picture.
This week presents some intriguing decisions. Here’s insight about key Arizona Cardinals players heading into their matchup with the Dallas Cowboys to help you craft a winning lineup.
Kyler Murray, QB
Kyler Murray (foot) missed the two games before the Week 8 bye. While the thought is that he’s good to go for this ideal matchup on Monday night, there’s no denying that physical limitations hurt a player like this (31.5% of his points over his past three games have come on the ground) more than others.
From a strategic point of view, that has me thinking that we could see Dallas blitz Arizona at a high rate, forcing Murray to prove his health.
We, as Murray managers, are okay with that. Against the blitz this season, he’s completed 20-of-30 passes for 206 yards and two scores, good for a passer rating that is 32 points higher than what he produced in such spots a season ago.
The Cowboys’ struggles on defense are only magnified by their offense scoring in a hurry and maximizing possession time for both teams. We have seen Murray in nearly a month, and that creates a natural hesitation in clicking him into lineups, but as long as all health boxes are checked pre-game, I’m starting him where I have him and feeling great about it.
Trey Benson, RB
We knew there was a knee thing bugging Trey Benson coming out of Week 4, but we got news that arthroscopic surgery was required and that a trip to IR was the team’s decision.
Initial reporting has Benson potentially returning when first eligible in Week 10 against the Seahawks, good news for those who hoped that, following the James Conner injury, they had a bellcow at a bargain.
Game script factored in, but he wasn’t used in the same dominating fashion that Conner was, more serving as the plus-side of a low-end committee than a true feature back.
That’s about what I’m expecting when he comes back, though this window does give Michael Carter a good chance to prove capable of handling more two-down work, including a juicy matchup in Week 9 with the Cowboys.
Before landing on IR, Benson had back-to-back 13-touch efforts, both coming in losses. The volume isn’t going to overwhelm, though I do think he’s the favorite to end this season with the lead role in an above-average offense that will benefit from a game against the Bengals in Week 17.
I’m holding and considering a low-ball trade offer, should the manager with Benson be fighting to keep their season on track.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
After a nice 2025 debut, Marvin Harrison Jr. has one top-20 finish and just two weeks as a top-40 performer at the position.
Can we count on a bye to right the ship?
I don’t think so, but banking on a Dallas matchup isn’t a bad idea for those worried about the short-term over everything else.
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Harrison has a 30+ yard catch in the majority of his contests this season, and that counts for something. But with just two end zone targets during the five-game losing streak and one game with double-digit expected PPR points over his past six, this profile doesn’t come close to matching the pedigree.
You’re starting Arizona’s WR1 this week because his 5-6 targets hit differently in a matchup like this, but be aware that you’re holding a distressed fantasy asset that isn’t showing signs of emerging as the type of producer we’ve been hoping for.
Trey McBride, TE
Trey McBride is elite, and if you wanted to tell me that he was the only Tier 1 option at the position for the final two months, I wouldn’t put up much of an argument.
Arizona’s star has three straight games with an end zone target, five straight as a top-8 finisher at the position (PPR), and nine straight with at least seven looks.
At the tight end position, any of those factors would have my interest. If two of them were true, we are talking about a lineup lock. All four? All four lands put you atop the ranks and give you week-winning potential.
I probably didn’t need to list any of those trends to convince you to start him against a Cowboys defense that has allowed 30+ points in five of their past seven games, but it always helps to know just how good your guy is.
McBride entered the bye in great form and waltzes into the perfect spot. I say he sets a season high in yardage, but with the volume and the newfound touchdown equity, he’s got multiple paths to fantasy stardom.
In a battle of fantasy stars at the toughest position to fill, I like McBride to shine the brightest.