Larry Fitzgerald finished as the WR7 in PPR leagues in 2015
“He’s old.” “Michael Floyd is the next big thing.” “John Brown will breakout this year.” Enough. Although it is possible that all of the above statements could be true, Larry Fitzgerald is still the receiver to own in Arizona.
Start preparing for your draft now with our NFL Draft Simulator 
Successful fantasy owners assess risk, evaluate data and determine a possible range of outcomes before every decision they make. However, we often overanalyze and live by the “what-ifs,” causing us to miss the obvious. In 2015, Fitzgerald made a move to the slot and significantly rewarded his fantasy owners. He had a career-high 109 receptions (fifth), 1,215 receiving yards (ninth) and nine TDs (tied for 11th). Overall, he finished as WR11 in standard scoring leagues and WR7 in PPR leagues. After this production, why is Fitzgerald being drafted as the 27th WR after only a few months? Why do 76 percent of experts on FantasyPros believe he will not meet the expectations of his ADP?
Fitzgerald’s numbers were great, but, let’s be clear; the heart is not measurable. The Amazon original series, All or Nothing: A Season with the Arizona Cardinals, provided never-before-seen footage of an NFL team from season start to finish. If you watched, you realized that Fitzgerald was the heart and soul of that team. Patrick Peterson, Carson Palmer, and Tyrann Mathieu were all leaders, but Fitzgerald’s humble, workmanlike attitude was infectious and resounded to his teammates, coaches, and fans.
There was a sense of urgency in Fitzgerald’s approach in practices and games, and he delivered when it counted most. With the Cardinals’ season hanging in the balance, his two receptions, a 75-yard scamper, and five-yard shovel pass sealed the victory against Green Bay. He understands that his opportunities are fading and the time is now. His 2015 stats were great, but it’s evident that he is not going to go out quietly. After the season, he asserted, “I have a lot of good football left in me, feel great and can still play at a high level.” Also, he affirmed his motivation for a Super Bowl ring and another Pro Bowl, indicating he has a desire to further solidify his already great career.
In addition to Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer has an impressive list of dynamic players to distribute the ball to. John Brown, Michael Floyd, David Johnson, J.J. Nelson, Jaron Brown, Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington are all capable of producing big plays. These players will inevitably take opportunities from Fitzgerald. However, while working the middle of the field, he will be the most consistent and favorite red-zone target with his superior route running, wide catching radius, and strong hands.
Fitzgerald is currently 15th all-time with 13,366 career receiving yards and 11th in receptions with 1,018. If he replicates his production from 2015, he will finish the season seventh all-time in receiving yards and TDs and third all-time in receptions. In other words, he will be chasing history every time he runs onto the field.
It’s human nature to trade in our older possessions for newer, shinier things, but remember, they do not always work as well as the originals.
Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | RSS
Brad Cowger is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Brad, check out his archive and follow him @FP_BradCowger.
