Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: ARI 24, NYG 20 (Line: NYG by 1)

UPDATE: Carson Palmer is questionable because of a shoulder injury but had limited work each day this week. He did not do a lot of throwing though. I am lowering his projections some but he may end up a game time decision. HC Bruce Arians said he thought that Palmer would play but has said definitively. Andre Ellington only practiced this week on Friday and was limited because of his foot. He is listed as questionable and may be a game time decision but based on last week, he’s worth waiting until game time to decide if you can use him. I am leaving his projections as is.

The Cardinals come off their close win over the Chargers last Monday and head to New York where the Giants are already trying to regroup after being manhandled by the Lions. Homefield always helps but the Giants still have the look from last year, the one that suggest something very fundamental is wrong. And it’s name may just be Eli.

The Cards held onto the win on Monday and looked good overall on offense. There was the problem of who was getting the action but overall the results won the game. The Cardinals are one of the many week four bye teams and have just this one road game in the first month of the season. Aside from facing their own division, the schedule is kinder this year.

QUARTERBACK : Carson Palmer was effective in his 304 yard, two touchdown opening week. He committed no turnovers and was never sacked. He spread the ball around to 11 different players and that was a change from last year when basically only two wide receivers mattered. Palmer used five different wideouts on Monday and threw at last one pass to four different running backs. The offense will continue to take form but it was a bit disconcerting from a fantasy perspective to see the big passing game really only benefit Michael Floyd.

RUNNING BACK : Andre Ellington was rumored to be out last week and possibly for many weeks with a foot injury. Instead he was able to play and gained 53 yards on 14 runs and added five catches for 27 more yards. Doctors say he cannot make his foot any worse by playing on it so he’ll spend this year with a sore foot each week. He broke several runs and appeared to be running with no limitation. Jonathan Dwyer was given seven runs to gain 20 yards but this offense remains mostly Ellington as the runner.

WIDE RECEIVER : Here is where the questions started. Michael Floyd ((5-119) had a big game and was targeted a team high seven times. The next best wideout was John Brown who turned five targets into two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown. Only two receptions but he looked fast and shifty on both. The rookie is already impressive and should grow into a bigger role as the year progresses.

The problem though was Larry Fitzgerald only ended with one catch for 22 yards on his four targets. While in years past the directive would have been “get it to Larry”, Palmer himself said the coverage dictated he go elsewhere on almost every pass play. This doesn’t sit well with Fitzgerald nor his fantasy owners. But the offense passed for 300 yards and did that without him. If teams want to roll coverage to take Fitzgerald out, the Cardinals are fine with just throwing to someone else.

TIGHT END : No fantasy value.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: Back at home, the Giants are bound to play better. But they had no answer for Calvin Johnson and the only time their defense was effective was against the run with the Lions gaining only 66 yards on 24 carries. The Giants are in turmoil and could be ripe for a home loss. Consider Palmer, Ellington, Floyd and Fitzgerald as reasonable starts though two duds in a row by Fitzgerald will set off alarms. This will be his best matchup for many weeks.

Big trouble in Gotham City. 2013 saw the Giants take a collective step backwards when the offense just looked old and stake and predictable and Eli Manning turned into an interception machine. Bring in a new offensive coordinator from Green Bay in Ben McAdoo and it still looks just as bad as last year. By now there are open questions if Eli Manning has just lost his edge for whatever reason. There is blame to spread around to be sure but Manning seems to remain in the middle of it. If last year wasn’t enough to send Tom Coughlin to the pasture, this year is shaping up to be the lock for retirement.

QUARTERBACK : Eli Manning faced an average (at best) defense of the Lions and only completed 18 of 33 for 163 yards and one score with the two obligatory interceptions. The struggles of the offseason are now in the regular season. All totaled, Manning only completed eight passes for 50 yards over all three starting wideouts.

RUNNING BACK : As a minor bright spot, Rashad Jennings rushed for 46 yards and a score on 16 carries and added four receptions for 50 more yards. Andre Williams only ran five times for nine yards and is not posing any threat to the workload for Jennings. So far his only limitation is playing in an offense that is going nowhere with the pass.

WIDE RECEIVER : This is just more of last year. It is inexplicable how the passing game has declined here and still shows no signs of improving. Jerrel Jernigan was the most targeted (7) and ended with four catches for 25 yards. Rueben Randle later said he was open several times but was not thrown the ball. He ended with only two catches for a single yard gained. Victor Cruz is reliving the nightmare of 2013 with only two catches for 24 yards. All the throws are short. Most are not caught. This unit is all hands off until it shows up in at least one game.

TIGHT END : The lone surprise on the offense was Larry Donnell becoming not only the primary tight end, but his five catches for 56 yards led the team and he caught the only touchdown. He is an undrafted free agent but now goes from no-name to #1 receiver after week one.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Cardinals will bring a solid defense to the game though on the road they typically are not as good. They held the Chargers to only 45 rushing yards on 18 carries so expect only moderate numbers from Jennings who is the only player that merits a fantasy start here. The Cardinals are softer against tight ends and Donnell had success last week but still has to be a risk to use considering no one knew him before the game.

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