The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 1 matchup between the Commanders and Cardinals.
Find a breakdown of every Week 1 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Arizona | Rank | @ | Washington | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Spread | -7 | ||
| 15.75 | Implied Total | 22.75 | ||
| 20.0 | 21 | Points/Gm | 18.9 | 24 |
| 26.4 | 31 | Points All./Gm | 20.2 | 8 |
| 67.3 | 3 | Plays/Gm | 67.1 | 4 |
| 63.2 | 13 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 58.7 | 2 |
| 4.8 | 29 | Off. Yards/Play | 4.9 | 28 |
| 5.5 | 21 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.2 | 10 |
| 37.94% | 27 | Rush% | 47.19% | 10 |
| 62.06% | 6 | Pass% | 52.81% | 23 |
| 41.49% | 10 | Opp. Rush % | 44.19% | 20 |
| 58.51% | 23 | Opp. Pass % | 55.81% | 13 |
- Arizona led for just 13.6% of their offensive snaps in 2022, the lowest rate in the league.
- The Cardinals averaged a league-low 4.3 yards per play on first downs in 2022.
- Arizona averaged a league-low 5.1 yards per passing play in 2022.
- Washington allowed a league-low 27.8% of passing plays to result in a first down or touchdown.
- The Cardinals had a league-low 49.6% success rate against opposing passing plays in 2022.
- Arizona allowed a first down or touchdown on 29.1% of all early-down passing plays (first and second down), 31st in the league.
- Washington allowed opponents to convert a league-low 26.3% of their third down plays in 2022. The league average was 34.6%.
- Washington forced a turnover on just 6.6% of opponent possessions in 2022, the lowest rate in the league. The league average was 11.1%.
Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Sam Howell (TRUST): Howell made just one start last season in Week 18, finishing as the QB7 (18.3 fantasy points). He is going to push the ball downfield and offers some mobility. In that game, he rushed five times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
No Week 1 starter took more preseason dropbacks than Howell did (44), and he was strong in the exhibition games.
Howell completed 28-of-37 passes (75.7%) for 265 yards (7.2 Y/A) with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Howell opens the year as a huge home favorite against what is projected to be the worst team in the NFL this season.
Arizona was already a target as a pass defense in 2022, allowing 15.4 passing points per game (27th) while also ranking 27th in points allowed per pass attempt (0.442).
You likely do not need to stream in leagues out of the gates, but Howell has top-12 upside in Week 1.
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