The Arizona Cardinals might be the most surprising team in the NFL this season. They are three games clear of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, and if they can beat Seattle Sunday and the 49ers lose, the Cardinals could lock up the division by next week.
Cardinals vs. Seahawks start/sit advice: Andre Ellington, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Wilson
Who would have thought the Cardinals would be three games clear of the field in the NFC West?
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Arizona running back Andre Ellington is on the week's injury report, as he has been all season, but he's not expected to miss Sunday. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, meanwhile, is banged up with a knee injury. It's not yet clear whether he'll play Sunday or not, and he'll be a game-time decision. Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch is also on the injury report with a back issue, but he's at no risk to miss the game.
Seattle will play host Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the fantasy prospects:
CARDINALS
Start ‘em: The Cardinals have an absolutely brutal down-the-stretch schedule, which will hurt the fantasy prospects for Andre Ellington, but for now he’s still an RB1. ... The Cardinals’ defense has put up double-digit fantasy points three games in a row, and is a must-start.
Start 'em?: If there are only two wide receivers available for Arizona, John Brown and Michael Floyd both look like passable options, but not special ones. They are low-end flexes.
Sit 'em: He looked decent against a tough defense in his first game back at the helm last week, but Drew Stanton is still a player to avoid against a strong defense in Seattle. ... Even if he plays Sunday, Larry Fitzgerald looks like he'll be hindered enough that you shouldn't even consider using him. ... John Carlson gets to face a Seattle defense that struggles against tight ends, but overall he doesn't have much upside. ... Chandler Catanzaro's production has fallen off quite a bit from earlier in the season. Find a more promising kicker.
SEAHAWKS
Start 'em: His overall numbers are on the disappointing side, but so are a lot of other guys', and Russell Wilson has the highest floor of that group of quarterbacks. He's a low-end QB1. ... Marshawn Lynch is still a top-tier running back. .... The last time Steven Hauschka didn't put up eight fantasy points in a game, it was Week 3. And he had seven. ... The Seahawks' defense hasn't been all it profiled as, but it's still good enough to be an every-week must-start.
Start 'em?: You'd have to be pretty needy, but if you have to look to Seattle's receivers, Doug Baldwin is at least defensible as a flex play.
Sit 'em: Even against a team that struggles against tight ends, Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet are off the radar.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Andre Ellington, Arizona defense, Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Steven Hauschka, Seattle defense
Start if you’re desperate: John Brown, Michael Floyd, Doug Baldwin
Bench: Drew Stanton, Larry Fitzgerald, John Carlson, Chandler Catanzaro, Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet
