Arizona Cardinals: 2009 Fantasy Football Rankings

Arizona Cardinals—2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule—Printable—Downloadable

Arizona Cardinals 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule

At one point I thought the Seattle Seahawks would challenge the Cardinals for the NFC West division title this season, but unfortunately Seattle has been bit by big injuries again in 2009.

If the Seahawks can't stay healthy, the Cardinals may have another cake walk to the western title once again.

Below are three sections of interest concerning the Cardinals that are worth paying attention to for fantasy owners coming into the season.

First, we have listed the fantasy players whom we believe are worth paying attention to this season.

Next is strength of schedule against the run, pass, and points against.

Lastly, we have a few games selected that will be key in telling how this team will perform for the 2009 season.

Fantasy Players

QB: Kurt Warner

QB: Matt Leinart

RB: Chris "Beanie" Wells

RB: Tim Hightower

WR: Larry Fitzgerald

WR: Anquan Bolden

WR: Steve Breaston

K: Neil Rackers

Strength of Schedule

Vs. run: eighth-easiest schedule

Vs. pass: third-easiest schedule

Vs. points given up: fourth-easiest schedule

Most teams that have a terrific fantasy football season and make it to the Super Bowl have hard schedules the next season. But much like the Patriots a season ago, the Cardinals will have a very nice schedule to play against coming off their Super Bowl loss.

Unlike the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams, who all have great schedules but shaky offenses, this offense actually has the big-time players to have a great fantasy season this year.

Games of Interest: Fantasy Playoffs, Weeks 14-16: 49ers, Lions, Rams

It's hard to ask for a better schedule for a team to have in the fantasy football playoffs than the one the Cardinals will have this year.

All three of the teams they will face could very well be waiting until next year, as they are losing franchises.

Unlike last season when the Cardinals spent their time with the Patriots and Vikings in the fantasy playoffs, they have a chance to do some real damage to help you win a fantasy title this year.

Look for Arizona players to be solid producers in your run for a championship, as they should win the division with these games.

It will be interesting to see if rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells will take over around this time of the season as the Cardinals' feature running back. If he does, you will most definitely want him on your team for this stretch run.

2009 Football Projection

My only concern for this team is if it wraps up the western title too fast and starts resting its players for the playoffs.

Going off memory from last season when the Cardinals won the division early, I can't remember them resting players very much. If they handle business the same way this year, expect a strong full season from your Arizona players.

One last piece of advice I can give you before you head into your fantasy football draft is make sure you select Matt Leinart as a late round handcuff to Kurt Warner. If Leinart has to take over for a stretch of time, he will have both a very nice schedule and team around him in which to thrive.

Fantasy Football Information Writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com