2026 Team Outlook: Arizona Cardinals

1. TE Trey McBride, ARI - Stud (low risk)

McBride's rookie year was spent largely in a complementary role behind Zach Ertz, and he made the most of his limited opportunities — catching 29 of 39 targets for 265 yards and a touchdown. He saved his best work for late in the season, with a four-catch, 55-yard performance in Week 15 and a seven-catch, 78-yard, one-touchdown breakout in Week 17. The 2023 fantasy market presented a coin flip between Ertz and McBride, and the younger option proved to be the right call. McBride was relatively quiet through the first seven weeks (15 catches, 170 yards on 21 targets), but once he took over the starting role in Week 8 (announcing himself with a 10/95/1, 95-yard performance), the Cardinals’ offense ran through him. Over his final 10 games, McBride caught 66 of 85 targets for 655 yards and three touchdowns, with three additional standout outings (8/131, 8/89/1, and 10/102) and a floor of six catches in seven of those starts. That second-half surge proved to be a preview of what was coming. McBride turned in a monster 2024 campaign, catching 111 of 147 targets for 1,146 yards and finishing as the second-best fantasy tight end in PPR formats with 249.80 points. The lingering limitations were a lack of touchdowns. He didn't find the end zone until Week 17 and finished with just two scores and modest big-play production at 10.3 yards per catch. Still, his volume and reliability were elite. Over his final 10 starts (78/824/2 on 102 targets — 17.86 fantasy points per game), McBride topped 15.00 points six times (9/124, 12/133, 12/96, 9/87, 12/123/1, and 7/65/1). A concussion sidelined him for Week 4, his only missed game of the season.

McBride soared in the Cardinals’ passing attack last year by setting new highs in catches (126), receiving yards (1,239), and targets (169). More importantly. He became an elite scoring threat (11 TDs). His yards per catch (9.8) regressed slightly. Arizona gave him double-digit targets in eight matchups, which led to six impact tight end games (8/72/1, 10/74/2, 9/127/1, 10/115/1, 12/134/2, and 10/76/1). He had a floor of six catches in 12 of his 17 starts. Fantasy Outlook: McBride had 51 more targets than the second-best tight end last year, with only three wide receivers having more chances (Ja’Marr Chase – 185, Amon-Ra St. Brown – 172, Puka Nacua – 176 chances, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba – 170 chances). Eight running backs and wideouts scored more fantasy points in PPR formats. Despite his elite outlook and previous success, McBride is the 27th- ranked player drafted (2nd tight end) in the National Fantasy Football Championship. His ADP (26) puts him in the early third round in that format. His edge at tight end is massive, creating a fantasy advantage even with some pullback in his stats. I’ll set his bar at 110 catches for 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns.

12. RB Jeremiyah Love, ARI - Solid/Safe Pick

Over his final two seasons at Notre Dame, Love carved out a rotational role in the backfield while consistently making an impact when called upon. Across 28 games, he flashed genuine big-play ability (averaging 6.9 yards per carry and 9.4 yards per reception) and proved to be a reliable finisher near the goal line, accounting for 40 touchdowns. Love arrives at the combine measuring 6'0" and 210 pounds, with a 4.36 40- yard dash that confirms what the tape already shows. For a team looking to add a dynamic playmaker late in the offensive puzzle, Love is one of the more intriguing backs in this class. He runs with his eyes up and a natural patience behind his blockers, capable of 91 0.213 645 0.15 7.09 124 3 Arizona Cardinals

setting up blocks before exploding through creases with a burst that very few backs can match. Once Love reaches the second level with space to operate, he's a home-run threat, the kind of player who can turn a modest gain into a highlight-reel score. Love's also not afraid of contact, finishing runs with physicality and competitive effort. His one habit to monitor is a tendency to leave his feet early when trying to hurdle defenders, which could expose him to some punishing hits in the NFL. As a receiver and pass protector, Love projects well to the professional game. His ability in the passing game, in particular, was underutilized at the college level. There's a legitimate reason to believe his ceiling as a receiving back expands considerably once he's in an NFL system built to deploy his skillset. Fantasy Outlook: In late June, Love ranks 12th at running back in the National Fantasy Football Championship with an early third-round ADP (26). The Cardinals also signed Tyler Allgeier in March, which should cap the ceiling of Arizona’s rookie running back stud. I’ll set his bar at 275 touches, leading to 1,400 combined yards with 10 scores and a run at 50 catches.

28. WR Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI - Gamble (high risk)

Over his final two seasons at Ohio State, Harrison was as consistent as any receiver in college football, catching 144 passes for 2,532 yards and 29 touchdowns on 236 targets. His production was remarkably balanced year over year (77 catches, 1,295 yards, and 14 touchdowns; then 67 catches, 1,237 yards, and 15 touchdowns), and he topped 100 receiving yards in 15 separate games, often doing so by scoring and big plays rather than volume. Harrison averaged 17.2 yards per catch across both seasons, a figure that underscores his ability to generate chunk plays on a consistent basis. His college resume made the projection easy. Harrison combines elite size (6'3" and 210 pounds) with exceptional hands and route-running polish that should translate immediately at the NFL level. His ability to win at all three levels of the field, paired with a natural feel for the red zone, drew comparisons to franchise cornerstones like Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, and Andre Johnson. Arizona made the bet official, selecting him fourth overall in the 2024 Draft with the expectation of locking in a true WR1 for the next decade. His rookie season came with some growing pains. Despite being drafted as the ninth wide receiver off the board in PPR leagues, Harrison finished 30th at the position in fantasy scoring with 197.50 points, a notable gap between expectation and reality. The primary culprit was a 53.4% catch rate, which ranked poorly given his 118 targets (21st among receivers). He cracked 100 yards in just two games (4/130/2 and 6/111/1) and posted mid-range fantasy scores in six others (17.40, 15.50, 16.40, 17.00, 15.60, and 17.30 points). The net result

was a receiver who was a losing fantasy start roughly half the time. The building blocks were there (eight touchdowns and 14.3 yards per catch), but the floor remains a work in progress. Last year, with five games with Kyler Murray, Harrison had 20 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns (12.52 PPR fantasy points per game). His scoring average put him on pace for a top 15 wide receiver finished if repeated across his final 12 matchups. Over his next four starts, Harrison caught 14 of his 30 targets (46.7%) for 219 yards and two scores (11.98 FPPG). The back half of Harrison's season didn't go well due to missed time with appendicitis, a heel issue, and a late-season foot injury. The Cardinals only had him on the field for 85 plays over their last eight games, leading to seven catches for 83 yards on 11 targets. His catch rate climbed to 56.2%. Fantasy Outlook: Harrison has yet to hit his WR1 stride, and the success and development of Michael Wilson adds a third wheel to the top-tier target rotation in Arizona. He ranks 32nd at wide receiver in the early draft season in the National Fantasy Football Championship with a favorable ADP (57). I see value in his profile in 2026, as a 65/900/7 season more than pays for his fantasy bills this year.

29. PK Chad Ryland, ARI - Deep-league Only

Over two seasons at Eastern Michigan and Maryland, Ryland developed into a top-tier kicker. He made 38 of his 45 field goals (84.4%) while missing one of his 87 extra-point tries. The Patriots added him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Over 30 games with Arizona, Ryland made 53 of his 65 field goal attempts (81.5%) while going 10-for-14 from 50 yards or more. He has two missed extra points in his 88 tries since arriving in the NFL.

Fantasy Outlook: Arizona had 33 field goal tries last season while scoring 40 touchdowns. Ryland projects to be a waiver wire kicker who should offer matchup value at times this year.

30. QB Jacoby Brissett, ARI - Deep-league Only

At age 32, Brissett came into 2025 with a game-manager quarterback profile. He went 19-34 over his 53 starts and 87 games, with weakness in his completion rate (61.1%) and yards per pass attempt (6.5). Over this span, Brissett delivered 53 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, with success in the run game (245/977/15). An injury to Kyler Murray last year led to Brissett having the best passing opportunity of his career. Across his 12 starts, he averaged 40.3 passes per game, leading to 3,532 combined yards (294 per game) with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His completion rate (65.1%) came in well above his career path, along with a bump in his yards per pass attempt (7.0). From a fantasy perspective, Brissett Teams RATT YDS Run% ATT YDS Pass% Plays Yards Arizona Cardinals 366 1583 0.357 659 4354 0.643 1025 5937

scored 283.30 fantasy points in four-point passing touchdown formats and had a top-tier quarterback ranking in fantasy points per game (23.60). The development of Brissett came with the trust of Michael Wilson in tight one-on-one situations, and he responded with an impressive eight games (56/775/6 on 88 targets). Despite his development, Brissett went 1-11. Fantasy Outlook: In late June, Brissett is the 28th-ranked quarterback. A new coaching staff puts the pressure on wins, suggesting a short leash. Arizona should have a pass-favoring offense again this year, so his fantasy value could be playable early in the year.

33. QB Carson Beck, ARI - Dynasty Only

Over five seasons at Georgia, Beck was a member of two National Championship rosters, but never as the starter. In 2023, he paced the SEC in completions (302), attempts (417), and passing yards (3,941) while completing 72.4% of his throws, an impressive mark of efficiency. His downside was a modest 24 touchdown passes against six interceptions. Beck went 37-6 as a college starter, but his biggest moments came up short: a 27-24 loss in the 2023 SEC Championship Game and a 23-10 defeat to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl the following season. He followed those disappointments with a transfer to Miami, where he finally got his shot at a title as a starter in 2025. Beck delivered statistically (3,813 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 72.4% completion rate), but the Hurricanes fell just short in the championship game, losing to Indiana 27-21. Physically, Beck closely mirrors Fernando Mendoza at 6'5" and 235 pounds. He processes the field quickly, showing the ability to work through multiple levels of his progressions with a compact, efficient release. Where Beck can get into trouble is on deeper throws — his

eyes can tip off safeties, giving help coverage time to rotate and close. Defenses that apply pressure and disrupt his timing will look to force him off his first read and generate mistakes. Worth noting is a torn ACL suffered in 2024 that appeared to sap some velocity from his throws; the hope is that arm strength returns to its prior level this season. Beck is also a minimal factor in the run game, having rushed for just 288 yards on 189 career carries with seven scores. His concern at the next level is context. Beck operated in polished, talent-rich offensive environments throughout college, and a step back in line play or receiving weapons could expose some early growing pains as a pro. Fantasy Outlook: In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, Beck ranks outside the top 24 quarterbacks. He has the talent to win the Cardinals' starting job in Week 1 in 2026, so the fantasy market will watch his summer progress on the field before adding him to their rosters.