Is Rondale Moore playing tonight vs. the Rams?

Rondale Moore has been dealing with an ankle injury and has been on light practice all week as a result — is he playing in tonight’s game? Will he be available for the Cardinals Wild Card round rematch against the Los Angeles Rams?

Update 01/17/22: Arizona WR Rondale Moore is officially active and will play tonight against the Rams.

Is Rondale Moore playing tonight vs. the Rams?

The Cardinals have had great news all week in regards to injuries, with J.J. Watt, Marco Wilson, and Chase Edmonds all returning to the lineup. However, we have not had any word on Moore, and it appears he will be a true game-time decision.

Moore has not played since Week 15, when he suffered the ankle injury in the Cardinals’ shock loss to the Detroit Lions. Having now missed three games in a row, the rookie wide receiver will desperately try to get back on the field. With DeAndre Hopkins already ruled out, the Cardinals need other guys to step up. That’s something both Christian Kirk and A.J. Green have managed to do.

That said, adding Moore back into the mix would only be a good thing. He offers elite speed and a different dynamic at the position for Arizona.

Moore’s rookie season with the Cardinals

Moore attracted everybody’s attention at his Pro Day when he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash along with a 42.5-inch vertical jump. At 5’9″, his athletic ability impressed, and the Cardinals selected him in the second round.

Moore showed serious potential in his first two games. He managed a combined 182 yards receiving and averaged almost 17 yards per catch in those two contests. That included a long touchdown from Kyler Murray in a Week 2 matchup against Minnesota.

However, Moore has failed to find the end zone since. He failed to log even 10 yards receiving in any of his last three games before getting injured, despite playing on almost 40% of Arizona’s offensive snaps. It seems the Cardinals are still trying to work out how to use him most effectively.

That reduced production cannot be solely blamed on Moore, however. The entire Cardinals offense struggled in the latter half of the season after a very strong start.

Fantasy expectations for Moore

Fantasy managers with Moore on their roster may have ended the season a little disappointed with his output. He was one of the hottest commodities after the first two weeks. Moore wasn’t drafted highly, if at all, in most leagues and would be fighting for reps in a crowded room of talented receivers.

Yet, once he recorded those opening two games, everybody bought in, traded for him, or added him to their roster. The fact that Moore then failed to replicate that production all season, and only managed 30+ yards on two occasions the rest of the year, is a bit of a knock.

Maybe we’re asking too much of him too soon. Moore possesses everything he needs to be a great talent in the Tyreek Hill-type role the Cardinals so desperately want to recreate. I’d be buying him low on the fantasy market this offseason.