Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore is in line for a big role increase in 2022. What is Moore’s fantasy football outlook, and where does his current ADP sit heading into 2022 fantasy drafts?
Rondale Moore’s fantasy outlook for 2022
The Cardinals may have lost Christian Kirk to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, but Kliff Kingsbury already had plans on how to replace their former slot playmaker. As a former second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Moore was expected to contribute early and often.
Moore did find some success as a rookie, catching 54 passes for 435 yards and one touchdown. But with Kirk now gone, fantasy managers are hoping for a huge boost.
They have a reason to be optimistic. Kingsbury has already stated Moore’s role will grow considerably in the offense. The possibility of Moore simply sliding into Kirk’s role is intriguing since the former Cardinal led the team with 77 receptions, 982 yards, and five touchdowns.
At best, Moore’s usage will resemble that of a normal receiver instead of a glorified running back getting screens and dump-off passes. Moore averaged just 8.1 yards per catch on 6.8 targets per game last season. His catch rate was an insane 84.4%, but that was fluffed by how many short targets he saw.
Kirk departs a valuable role but not an explosive one. He was targeted 10 times within the red zone and caught six, but only for 42 yards and two scores. Moore, meanwhile, caught eight of nine targets for 16 yards and zero touchdowns.
Seeing as Kirk ended 2021 as the WR28, that’s a fair general range to hope Moore can achieve. His touchdown total and overall catch efficiency will need to match Kirk’s impressive achievements considering his role within the offense. That might prove to be impossible.
How the Cardinals’ depth at receiver impacts Rondale Moore’s fantasy projection for this season
Projecting Kirk’s numbers onto Moore isn’t that easy, of course. The Cardinals added stud speedster Marquise Brown to help quarterback Kyler Murray. Superstar receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss six games due to a PED suspension but will be a force when he returns.
Also, factor in tight end Zach Ertz’s return and running back James Conner’s role as TD vulture, and there’s a crowded room for Moore to make an impact after Week 6 ends. Veteran A.J. Green will feel the squeeze as well despite his surprising contributions in 2021. He added 848 yards and three scores on 54 receptions.
Arizona’s offense can continue to be one of the league leaders in plays thanks to their tempo and talent. Moore will need that in order to replicate Kirk’s production. If he stumbles in his role, it’s possible Arizona will relegate his responsibilities and move on to more talented outside targets.
Take Moore as a flier for a flex option. He’s unlikely to be a star in the red zone, but he can produce yards if given the target volume. Moore should be a fine backup taken towards the end of drafts.
Moore’s ADP for 2022
There’s no other high-floor player like Moore going around No. 131 overall and WR52. His ADP is ridiculously low, even if he doesn’t have the ceiling like George Pickens. But those who might be a better play at that price are few and far between.
Moore will provide great depth for your roster and could be a sneaky candidate to thrive more than I thought if his red-zone numbers take a leap. Even if I’m bearish on that, I still want a player involved in a terrific passing attack that gets everyone involved.
It’s not crazy to think Moore will lead the Cardinals in receptions this season. Getting that type of potential this late in the draft is a no-brainer. You can afford to take risks earlier and later if you roster Moore. That’s a nice luxury to have.