Arizona Cardinals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Arizona Cardinals are opening kicker Matt Prater's (knee) 21-day practice window to return from Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Prater had surgery in October to fix the meniscus in his left knee and will be back on the practice field for the first time since Week 6. Given the 40-year-old veteran's long absence, there's no guarantee that he will return to game action this Sunday in Carolina versus the Panthers. If the Cardinals like what they see from Prater in practice this week, though, they'll have to activate him from IR by Saturday if they want him as their placekicker this weekend. Chad Ryland has filled in for Prater the last 10 games and has made 22 of his 26 field-goal attempts and all 18 of his extra-point tries. Prater will be a risky fantasy play if he returns, while Ryland should be considered a streaming option in deeper leagues if Prater is held out.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride set the record for most catches (87) in a single season without catching a receiving touchdown in the Week 15 win over the New England Patriots. McBride had another great performance, catching nine passes for 87 yards despite still not finding the end zone. McBride's record-setting catch came at the one-yard line, coming so close to ending the drought. Despite not being able to find the end zone through the air, McBride has still had a stellar fantasy season, ranking as a top-three tight end in fantasy football at the moment. It's hard to pinpoint one reason why McBride hasn't caught a touchdown pass this season, but with three weeks remaining in the season, there's still time to break through. The Cardinals will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, and McBride will, once again, be a lock in the starting tight end spot for fantasy managers.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson had a very quiet day in the Cardinals' 30-17 win over the New England Patriots. The wide receiver involvement in the Arizona Cardinals offense has been inconsistent all season, and the Cardinals' wide receivers have become touchdown-reliant from a fantasy football perspective. Wilson finished the game with just two catches for 9 yards on two targets. The Patriots' cornerbacks did a good job limiting the Cardinals' receivers from creating separation, and with the Cardinals taking an early lead, they shifted to a run-first approach and found success moving the ball that way. Wilson has become boom-or-bust all season, and this week, he happened to bust. Heading into Week 16, given the favorable matchup for the Cardinals against the Carolina Panthers, Wilson could receive streaming consideration at the flex spot, although it would be a risky play.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was held to just two catches in the 30-17 win over the New England Patriots. Despite a 23-yard catch-and-run on the game's first possession, Murray and Harrison Jr. could only connect one more time. The Cardinals did include Harrison Jr. in their game plan; however, Murray and Harrison Jr. just couldn't connect more than twice on the six targets Harrison Jr. received. Two of those targets came in the red zone, with shots to the end zone that New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez defended well. Now, heading into Week 16, it still appears that Murray and Harrison Jr. cannot find a way to get on the same page. Harrison Jr.'s touchdown upside, especially against the struggling Carolina Panthers, still keeps him in the conversation for a starting spot heading for fantasy football.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner delivered another massive performance in the 30-17 win over the New England Patriots. It is no secret that the Cardinals' offense goes as James Conner goes, and in this matchup, the Cardinals' rushing attack was firing on all cylinders. Conner's official stat line was 16 carries for 110 yards, two touchdowns, and five catches for 28 yards. He is the workhorse of the Cardinals' offense, adding another 20+ touch game to his total for the season. Backup running back Trey Benson (ankle) left the game with an injury, increasing Conner's already high workload. As the Cardinals continue their playoff push, they will continue to rely on Conner, who will have a rushing advantage when the team travels to Carolina in Week 16.