Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has felt like a bit of a forgotten man in the fantasy football world after suffering a torn ACL back in 2022, but his return to the field in a talented, depleted offense last year was quite encouraging.
With the addition of dynamic rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft, what can fantasy managers expect from Murray in 2024?
Kyler Murray’s 2024 Fantasy Outlook
- Total Fantasy Points: 333.6
- Passing Yards: 3,997.6
- Passing TDs: 23.8
- Interceptions: 11.1
- Rushing Yards: 555.3
- Rushing TDs: 5.7
These are PFN’s consensus projections, correct as of August 15. The most up-to-date projections can be found in our Who Should I Draft Tool.
Should You Draft Murray This Year?
Murray’s fantasy profile requires a large amount of context, given the nature of his last two seasons. He missed six games in 2022 and nine games in 2023 due to an ACL injury sustained in December 2022.
Murray’s Fantasy Production
- 2023: 1,799 passing yards, 244 rushing yards, 13 total TDs (QB27)
- 2022: 2,368 passing yards, 418 rushing yards, 17 total TDs (QB19)
- 2021: 3,787 passing yards, 423 rushing yards, 29 total TDs (QB10)
- 2020: 3,971 passing yards, 819 rushing yards, 37 total TDs (QB3)
- 2019: 3,722 passing yards, 544 rushing yards, 24 total TDs (QB6)
The passing production was remarkably consistent over the first three years of Murray’s career, which makes his projected mark of 3,977 passing yards very reasonable. Sure, his best fantasy seasons came with DeAndre Hopkins around, but the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. to Arizona’s offense should provide Murray with a very capable go-to option in the passing game.
Fortunately for the Murray believers out there, he showcased no significant ill after-effects of the ACL injury regarding his efficiency as a ball carrier. His 5.55 yards per carry over his eight games last season is right in line with his career average of 5.8. This suggests we can still expect Murray — who turns 27 years old in August — to be among the best dual-threat weapons under center in 2024.
MORE: Fantasy Team Names | Fantasy League Names
Adding Harrison should provide a huge upgrade to whom Murray was forced to target last year with Hollywood Brown as a top receiver. The emergence of TE Trey McBride as a plus-level pass-catching option and the offseason acquisition of Zay Jones should provide Murray with a solid collection of weapons this season.
The ancillary options outside of those three players — namely Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch — do present some intrigue. However, the only question I have regarding the Cardinals’ passing attack regards the explosive plays in the vertical attack.
Undoubtedly, Harrison will provide a downfield element to the passing attack, but we’ll have to if any of these other players can help unlock Murray’s high fantasy ceiling as a passer this season.
Murray’s ADP at No. 73 overall in the seventh round as the QB10 off the board has fantasy managers still believing in the upside we all saw from him during his first three years in the NFL.
KEEP READING: Fantasy Football Strategy
For some additional context, Murray is being drafted ahead of Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Tua Tagovailoa — who all finished as top 10 fantasy quarterbacks last year.
Murray has the dynamic dual-threat capabilities to be a legitimate QB1 overall threat when the 2024 season is all said and done. Bringing in a true blue-chip prospect like Harrison will do nothing but help his passing production and could help him reach new heights as a passer.
Ultimately, Murray’s upside justifies the very reasonable price point for a player who has a plausible path to a QB1 overall fantasy finish.