Welcome to our 2025 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Preview. In this article we will break down what players for the Cardinals have fantasy impact before you draft.

Is 2025 Kyler Murray’s “Make‑or‑Break” Season?

🚩 Recap of 2024 & Coaching Direction

Head coach Jonathan Gannon took over in 2023, posting a 4–13 record during a season where Kyler Murray missed almost all games due to an ACL tear. With a healthy roster in 2024, expectations rose—but the offense fell short. Ranked just 12th in points per game, the Cardinals leaned on a balanced, conservative approach with limited upside. Despite solid efficiency (10th in EPA/play), they finished 18th in pace and pass rate over expected. Gannon’s defense also underwhelmed—among the league’s worst in EPA allowed and pressure rate—leaving both his and Murray’s futures under scrutiny.

2024 Team & Fantasy Overview

• Offense: 23.5 points/game (12th), 358.2 yards/game (11th)
• Plays/game: 60.9 (21st), Dropbacks/game: 38.7 (20th)
• Balanced attack: 27.2 rush attempts/game (11th)

Fantasy-wise, Murray barely justified his QB1 versus expectations: he ended as QB10, excelling on the ground with 572 rushing yards and 5 TDs, but failed to elevate his passing numbers—even with Marvin Harrison Jr. joining the offense. Tight end Trey McBride shined underneath, but limited volume held Harrison Jr. back despite high ADP.

Passing Game Breakdown

• Mere two games with ≥2 passing TDs; Murray never hit both 300+ yards and multiple TDs in the same game.
• Deep passing attempts were scarce (10.2%), and mid-range (10–19 yards) opportunities limited (20.1%)—ranking in the bottom quartile league-wide.
• Arizona generated just 4.9 “explosive” pass plays per game (23rd in NFL), with its short-to-intermediate, checkdown-heavy scheme capping upside.NBC Sports

Offseason Outlook: High Stakes for Gannon & Murray

2025 is being framed as a pivotal campaign. For Murray, the questions are familiar: Can he break out as a true top-five fantasy QB or is he capped by conservative game-planning? For coach Gannon and OC Drew Petzing, it’s a proving ground—failure in execution could cost playoff hopes and fantasy value alike.

Emerging 2025 Narrative

Despite a middling 2024, Murray enters 2025 riding momentum as a projected fantasy breakout candidate. SportsLine simulations suggest he could outperform even Patrick Mahomes in fantasy value—despite trailing in ADP. With continuity in the core offensive group—McBride, Harrison Jr., and Murray—optimism is building, but there must be growth in Murray’s aerial output to match his rushing ceiling.

NFL strength of schedule rankings after 2025 NFL schedule release:

• 1. New York Giants (.574)
• 2. Chicago Bears (.571)
• 2. Detroit Lions (.571)
• 4. Philadelphia Eagles (.561)
• 5. Dallas Cowboys (.557)
• 5. Green Bay Packers (.557)
• 5. Minnesota Vikings (.557)
• 8. Washington Commanders (.550)
• 9. Baltimore Ravens (.533)
• 10. Pittsburgh Steelers (.526)
• 11. Kansas City Chiefs (.522)
• 11. Los Angeles Chargers (.522)
• 13. Cleveland Browns (.519)
• 14. Cincinnati Bengals (.509)
• 15. Denver Broncos (.505)
• 16. Las Vegas Raiders (.502)
• 17. Los Angeles Rams (.491)
• 18. Houston Texans (.481)
• 18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.481)
• 20. Atlanta Falcons (.478)
• 21. Miami Dolphins (.474)
• 21. Seattle Seahawks (.474)
• 23. Buffalo Bills (.467)
• 23. Jacksonville Jaguars (.467)
• 25. Indianapolis Colts (.464)
• 26. New York Jets (.460)
• 27. Arizona Cardinals (.457)
• 27. Carolina Panthers (.457)
• 29. Tennessee Titans (.450)
• 30. New England Patriots (.429)
• 31. New Orleans Saints (.419)
• 32. San Francisco 49ers (.415)

Our 2025 Player Projections:

QB- Kyler Murray- 374 Completions, 552 Attempts, 22 Passing TDs, 12 INTs, 90 Carries, 600 Rush Yards, 5 Rush TDs

RB- James Conner- 250 Carries, 1150 Rush Yds, 10 Rush TDs, 50 Receptions, 350 Rec Yards, 4 Rec TDs

RB- Trey Benson- 130 Carries, 550 Rush Yds, 4 Rush TDs, 22 Receptions, 160 Rec Yards, 2 Rec TDs

WR- Marvin Harrison Jr- 150 Targets, 85 Recs, 1200 Yards, 7 Rec TDs

WR- Zay Jones- 20 Targets, 13 Recs, 150 Rec Yards, 2 TDs

WR- Michael Wilson- 75 Targets, 50 Recs, 535 Rec Yards, 4 TDs

TE- Trey McBride- 150 Targets, 120 Recs, 1,100 Rec Yards, 7 TDs

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