Week 3 vs. Chicago Bears
Larry Fitzgerald struggled last week against an elite Rams secondary, catching only three passes for 28 yards. With Sam Bradford struggling at quarterback and tough defensive matchups, it’s been a rough start for the veteran. Fitzgerald will have better games this season, but playing the matchups might be a good idea, especially while Bradford remains behind center.
This week, Fitzgerald will face a Bears defense that’s young, fast, and relentless. While Fitzgerald is talented enough to challenge the Chicago cornerbacks, the offensive line is ill-equipped to provide Bradford with enough time against Khalil Mack. Fitzgerald should rack up targets, but he’s a risky start in a tough matchup given how bad the Cardinals passing game has been through the first two games. He’s a WR3 option in most leagues.
Week 2 at Los Angeles Rams
Larry Fitzgerald caught seven balls for 76 yards in a tough game against Washington. Fitzgerald seems to put together respectable numbers each week, regardless of the situation, and this was a prime example of his steady production. He accounted for 49.6 percent of the team’s passing yardage—a number that should continue in a passing offense with limited weapons.
This week, Fitzgerald may struggle against the Rams. Their two elite corners and relentless defensive line shut down the Raiders' passing game on Monday night. Expect Fitzgerald to still get his targets and put in modest production, but he’s more likely to finish in the low-end WR2 territory this week due to the matchup.
Week 1 vs. Washington Redskins
It’s a testament to his longevity that Larry Fitzgerald has managed to remain a consistent fantasy option into his mid-30s. Fitzgerald just turned 35 and is coming off three straight seasons with over 1,000 yards. Fitzgerald may not be an elite fantasy option anymore, but he remains a fringe WR1 in most weeks and a solid WR2 in others.
This week, Fitzgerald is straddling that line again, as he’ll face a Washington defense that features a premier cover cornerback in Josh Norman. Fitzgerald has averaged 9.5 targets per game over the last three years, so that should help him overcome a difficult matchup, but expect more WR2 numbers than WR1 production this week.
Fantasy Upside
Fitzgerald is entering his 15th season and will be playing for his fourth head coach in Steve Wilks. The veteran raved about Wilks and his staff, including OC Mike McCoy. As ESPN.com's Mike Clay recently noted, during the past nine seasons, three-quarters of the touchdowns scored in McCoy's offenses have been passes (including at least 76 percent in five of the past six years). That should be good news for Fitzgerald, who just gets better with age, posting his best regular seasons in years 12, 13, and 14, with 109, 107, and 109 catches. If the season goes as planned, Sam Bradford will become the 15th quarterback to throw a touchdown pass to Fitzgerald, although rookie first-round pick Josh Rosen is also in the QB mix. Think about this: If Fitz has a 2018 season similar to his last three, he'll finish the year with close to 200 more receptions and 500 more receiving yards than any wideout who ever played in the NFL other than Jerry Rice. While Rice played with Steve Young and Joe Montana for most of his career, Fitzgerald has lined up alongside less-talented throwers, the best of which (Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer) only account for 51 percent of his career games.
Fantasy Downside
Fitzgerald will be working in a new scheme and it's not clear if McCoy will use Fitzgerald in precisely the same way as Bruce Arians, who moved the veteran into the slot, did in recent seasons.
2018 Bottom Line
The concerns at this point are minor. His age is worth noting, but in the five seasons he's played since turning 30, Fitzgerald has only missed three games due to injury, all of which occurred in 2014. Beyond that, the lack of a strong wide receiving corps in Arizona hasn't limited Fitz in the past and it seems unlikely to be an issue again. The biggest worry? There will be no discounts for fantasy managers this season.
Week 17 at Seattle Seahawks
Larry Fitzgerald is the only fantasy option worth considering in Arizona with all the injuries the team has suffered. Despite Drew Stanton at quarterback last week against the Giants, Fitzgerald still ended up with 9 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted on 44% of Stanton’s pass attempts and remains a consistent fantasy performer.
This week, Fitzgerald may have a harder time against the Seattle defense. However, the Seahawks are missing Richard Sherman and the Cardinals will still rely heavily on him, so his targets should continue to be significant. Fitzgerald is a borderline WR1 option as the season comes to a close and he should have a high floor as usual.
Week 16 vs. New York Giants
Larry Fitzgerald caught 5 passes for 60 yards last week against Washington, but was targeted a team-high 10 times. Despite shaky quarterback play for much of the season, Fitzgerald is tied for fourth in the NFL with 92 receptions, and he needs only 18 yards this week for his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and ninth of his career. Fitzgerald’s targets give him a high floor, especially in PPR formats.
This week, Fitzgerald has a lot of upside against the Giants, despite having Drew Stanton back at quarterback. The Giants allowed 4 touchdown passes to Nick Foles and the Eagles last week, and Fitzgerald has 15 catches and 183 total yards in Stanton’s two starts this year. Though it’s hard to trust the Arizona offense, Fitzgerald should put up reliable WR2 numbers again as one of the most consistent receivers in the game.
Week 15 at Washington
Larry Fitzgerald had only 44 yards against the Titans last week in a terrible game for both offenses. However, he was targeted 7 times and he continues to be the primary option in the Arizona passing game. Fitzgerald is fourth in the league with 87 receptions this season, and he has a touchdown in two of his last four games.
This week, Fitzgerald faces a vulnerable Washington defense that just gave up 243 yards and a touchdown to the Chargers' top two receivers last week. Expect steady numbers again from the veteran, as he continues to see heavy targets. He’s a high-floor, borderline WR1/WR2 this week.
Week 14 vs. Tennessee Titans
Larry Fitzgerald is still putting up solid numbers at age 34. He had 10 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown against the Rams last week, and he’s second in the NFL with 82 receptions on the season.
The Titans give up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year, and with the volume of catches Fitzgerald racks up, he should be considered a viable WR1 this week, especially in PPR formats. He’s a high-floor option in all leagues as the only reliable offensive weapon in Arizona.
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Larry Fitzgerald only caught 3 passes for 12 yards last week against a tough Jaguars secondary, but he was still targeted 8 times on the day. Fitzgerald has a high floor in most weeks because of how many receptions he gets. He’s currently third in the league with 72 catches, and he averages 9.6 targets per game.
This week, Fitzgerald faces a Rams defense that has only allowed 6 touchdowns to opposing receivers this year, so he may struggle again. However, the matchup is better than last week, and with the number of targets he gets, he should still put up solid enough WR2 numbers in most league formats.
Week 12 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Larry Fitzgerald had a nice game against the Texans last week, catching 9 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Despite the struggles Arizona has had on offense and at the quarterback position, Fitzgerald continues to be a steady fantasy option. He’s sixth in the NFL in receiving yards this year, and is second only to Antonio Brown with 69 receptions.
This week, Fitzgerald has a tough matchup against a surprisingly stout Jaguars defense. Jacksonville has only allowed 1 touchdown to opposing wide receivers this season, limiting Fitzgerald’s upside. He still has WR2 potential because of the amount of targets he gets, but temper your expectations against such a tough defense.
