Fantasy Football Notes: Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals had an amazing, and at times strange, 2008 season.

They clinched an NFC West Division title the first week of December, went on to lose their last three games of the regular season, and then put it all together in time to make a run to Super Bowl XLIII.

It was the team’s first division title since 1975 and they earned the right to host their first playoff game since 1947, when they were the Chicago Cardinals.

Arizona played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl in what was one of most entertaining championship games of all time.

The Cardinals scored 16 points in the fourth quarter to take a 23-20 lead. The last touchdown came on a 64-yard pass from Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald with 2:37 left in the game.

However, the Steelers made a comeback of their own, ending with a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes with 30 seconds left.

The catch was made in the back right corner of the end zone over three Arizona defenders. This was the difference maker and the Cardinals were denied their first-ever Super Bowl win.

During the regular season, Kurt Warner led the team in passing, throwing for 4,583 yards with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Tim Hightower led the team in rushing touchdowns with 10, but Edgerrin James led Arizona in rushing yards with 514.

Larry Fitzgerald caught 96 passes for 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns and Anquan Boldin had 89 receptions for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Defensively, the team was led by Karlos Dansby, who had 119 total tackles, four sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

 

KEY ADDITIONS:

Bryant McFadden (CB) - The addition of former Steelers’ cornerback Bryant McFadden is one that may have flown under the radar but will go a long way to shoring up the defense.

McFadden comes to Arizona having played in a similar defense as a Steeler and will be the second corner behind Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

This will allow Antrel Rolle to move to a full-time free safety instead of splitting time between safety and corner as he did last year.

 

KEY DEPARTURES:

Todd Haley (OC) & J.J. Arrington (RB) - So much of Arizona’s success last season was predicated on the passing game and, though much of the credit was given to Warner, a lot of it came from former offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

In the offseason Haley accepted the head coaching job in Kansas City, where he will face a big challenge in turning around the Chiefs.

The loss of J.J. Arrington will hurt because, although he was limited as a running back, he still provided a nice change of pace from Hightower and James and was efficient in the return game.

With the loss of Arrington, the depth and experience at the running back position is lacking, but the draft of rookie running back Chris “Beanie" Wells should make those in Arizona forget about Arrington.

 

ROOKIE TO WATCH:

Chris Wells (RB) - The Cardinals had to be falling out of their chairs when they saw former Ohio State running back Chris Wells fall into their laps with the 31st pick of the first round.

With the release of Arrington and James, Wells will be counted on right away to provide production from the running back spot.

He provides a nice complement to Hightower and, though Wells is a power-style running back, he played in an offense similar to that of Arizona his last two years at Ohio State.

He is comfortable in one-back, three-wide, and four-wide sets. Though, he’s had injury problems, he usually played through them.

His pass-catching will need to improve, however, for him to a be a full-time starter for the Cardinals.

 

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT:

Larry Fitzgerald (WR) - There’s a reason Larry Fitzgerald is considered one of best wide receivers in the league and it goes beyond his 96 catches, 1,431 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

Fitzgerald makes plays, he does it through double and triple teams, and he does it when the team needs it the most.

Oh yeah, he also did it last year when Arizona had little semblance of a running game, allowing teams to focus most of their attention on Fitzgerald.

One thing's for sure, Fitzgerald should be the No. 1 wide receiver taken in all fantasy football drafts this season. 

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