Kyler Murray’s time may be done in Arizona. Jacoby Brissett will start once again, and fantasy football managers should be thankful. The veteran signal-caller has looked good in his limited time with the Cardinals. This matchup against the Cowboys presents a juicy opportunity for multiple Cardinals players to feast. Much-needed fantasy points are on the line, but who can you trust on Monday Night Football in Week 9?
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Monday Night Football Preview: Cardinals @ Cowboys (-3) O/U: 53.5
Fantasy Football Players to Watch
Clear Starts: Trey McBride, Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson
Jacoby Brissett – QB, Arizona Cardinals
Is Kyler Murray getting benched? Murray has missed time due to injury, but may reportedly have a role in this game. Perhaps he is still slightly hurt – enough to not handle a full game – but it may just mean they trust Brissett more. That’s not hard to believe after watching each of them this season. With Brissett under center, the Cardinals nearly beat the Colts and Packers.
This week’s matchup against the Cowboys is a great opportunity for him. Dallas is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing QBs, and they’re first by a wide margin. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 20 passing TDs and 2,069 yards. Brissett scored over 23 fantasy points in his two starts this year and can do just as well this week. Dallas is favored at home, and Arizona’s defense is not great. This could be a shootout.
Brissett has already impressed against some stronger defenses. He should continue to impress on Monday Night Football.
Zonovan “Bam” Knight – RB, Arizona Cardinals
Bam Knight, Michael Carter, Emari Demercado. Will we ever get a real read on this backfield? It seems now that Knight will be the feature back, but the rest of the group will be in the mix. Knight averaged 12.5 carries and 3 targets over his last two games.
Dallas allows the second most fantasy points to RBs, but game-script may not be in Arizona’s favor. Dallas features one of the best offenses in the league, and this game is in Dallas. Jacoby Brissett can do well enough to keep things close as he has in his prior two starts. However, a mixed backfield and game-script concerns limit rushing upside. Knight ran 11 times for 34 yards and a TD in Week 6. He followed that up with 13 carries for 57 yards in Week 7. Those games were against top-10 rushing defenses, though.
The Cardinals offense has looked much better with Brissett under center, and scoring opportunities could be plentiful. Dallas is susceptible both on the ground and through the air, so red zone trips may be abundant.
Bam Knight can be started in a great matchup, but this backfield has been confusing. Knight doesn’t get much receiving work, but he should have his best game of the season on Monday Night Football.
Marvin Harrison Jr. – WR, Arizona Cardinals
Since the Cowboys are the best QB matchup, it should be no surprise that they’re the best WR matchup in fantasy too. Dallas has allowed a whopping 15 TDs to WRs.
It’s hard to justify benching anyone against the Cowboys. Their games average 62 points, which means almost anyone can have a big fantasy day. Harrison has not had the greatest sophomore season, but he is still averaging slightly more receptions and yards than in his rookie year. His target numbers are a concern, only exceeding 6 once this season. Trey McBride consistently out-targets him, and that may not change anytime soon.
Harrison’s stats with Brissett have been a letdown, but you have to start him in this incredible matchup. Just don’t expect the highest-end of WR1 numbers if the game does become a shootout as expected.
Jaydon Blue – RB, Dallas Cowboys
With CeeDee Lamb’s return from injury, there aren’t many players to pay attention to in this offense. You’re starting Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson almost every single week. Almost all of the rushing and receiving work will be concentrated on them going forward. That doesn’t mean that everyone is irrelevant, though.
Should Javonte Williams miss any time, Jaydon Blue could step into a massive role. He’ll be the RB1 on one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Blue is a 5th-round rookie, but there really isn’t anyone else for the team to use at RB. Miles Sanders is out for the season, and no other RB has more than 2 carries for Dallas this year. Blue has 22 carries in 4 games this year. He has ramped up his usage and production over the last two weeks, too, averaging 7.5 carries and 29 rushing yards.
Javonte Williams is averaging 15.5 carries and over 4 targets per game. Even if those numbers were to dip a little if Blue took over as the feature back, he would immediately step into a 15+ opportunity role. He’s a player to stash if you can afford the bench spot. Dallas has a middle-of-the-pack RB schedule for the fantasy football playoffs.
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