The Worksheet, a fantasy football overview by Rich Hribar, breaking down everything you need to know for the Week 4 Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers Sunday afternoon game.
| Arizona | Rank | @ | Carolina | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | Spread | -1.5 | ||
| 21.25 | Implied Total | 22.75 | ||
| 20.7 | 13 | Points/Gm | 20.7 | 13 |
| 29 | 31 | Points All./Gm | 19.7 | 12 |
| 74 | 2 | Plays/Gm | 54.3 | 31 |
| 57.7 | 5 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 69.3 | 28 |
| 4.8 | 28 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.1 | 23 |
| 6.7 | 32 | Def. Yards/Play | 5 | 11 |
| 31.98% | 30 | Rush% | 44.79% | 8 |
| 68.02% | 3 | Pass% | 55.21% | 25 |
| 39.31% | 15 | Opp. Rush % | 45.19% | 26 |
| 60.69% | 18 | Opp. Pass % | 54.81% | 7 |
- The Cardinals are the last remaining team in the league that has not yet run an offensive play with the lead this season.
- Arizona has been outscored 31-0 in the first quarter and 56-13 in the first half this season, the largest differentials in the league.
- The Panthers are averaging 4.7 offensive plays per drive, the fewest in the league.
- Carolina has converted 19.2% of their third down passing plays the lowest rate in the league.
- Arizona has converted 19.4%, 31st in the league. League average 35.5%.
- The Cardinals are averaging 4.9 yards per passing play, ahead of only the Bears (4.3).
- Arizona is allowing 8.0 yards per passing play, the most in the league.
Quarterback
Kyler Murray: After salvaging the opening two weeks with fourth quarter flurries, there was no such outcome for Murray this past week as he closed Week 3 as the QB21 (13.4 points).
Murray threw for just 5.4 yards per attempt, putting him below 6.0 Y/A in all three games this season. For fantasy, Murray has the most points scored below expectation (-18.1).
Things do not get much easier for him this week against a Carolina defense that has been live to open the year. Carolina is allowing 0.32 passing points per attempt (eighth), a 59.6% completion rate (eighth), and 6.2 yards per pass attempt (seventh). They have only faced Jacoby Brissett, Daniel Jones, and Jameis Winston, so apply all necessary grains of salt, but Carolina was also eighth in passing points allowed in 2021.
As a road underdog with a low team total, the implied outcome here is not flattering. Murray still offers plenty of upside and rushing ability to be handled as a QB1, but until this offense regains some efficiency and consistency, he is more of a floor play against viable defenses.
