Arizona Cardinals 2026 Fantasy Football: The Tanking Team With Two Players Worth Drafting
Here is something you don’t hear very often in the NFL: a team with the longest odds to win the Super Bowl, one of the toughest schedules in the league, a quarterback who was in a contract holdout, and zero primetime games that still somehow has two players fantasy managers need to seriously consider drafting. That’s the Arizona Cardinals in 2026. They are rebuilding in the most transparent way possible, and they did it by spending the third overall pick on a running back. Because when you’re bad, you need a guy who can carry the ball 25 times a week regardless of what’s happening around him. Jeremiyah Love is that guy. And Trey McBride is already the best tight end in football. Let’s talk about both.
They Are Doing This on Purpose
The Cardinals went 3-14 last season. Jonathan Gannon got fired. Kyler Murray got cut and landed in Minnesota. In comes Mike LaFleur, former Rams offensive coordinator, first-time head coach with a mandate to build something sustainable in the desert. LaFleur’s coaching pedigree is legitimate. He came up under Sean McVay, whose offensive coaching tree reads like an NFL head coaching directory: Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, Liam Coen in Tampa. The system works. The question is whether the personnel in Arizona can execute it while the team figures out its quarterback situation.
Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, OH hosts the Hall of Fame Game on August 6 against the Carolina Panthers the first real football of the 2026 season. Arizona then opens the regular season September 13 in Los Angeles against the Chargers.
The Quarterback Situation Is a Mess, and That’s Okay If You Draft the Right Players
Jacoby Brissett is entering his 11th NFL season and second with the Cardinals. He set career highs last year with 3,366 passing yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 starts and the team went 1-11 in those games. Jacoby signed a 1-year contract with the Arizona cardinals for $15.5 million restructured contract with the Arizona Cardinals for the 2026 season, with potential incentives raising it to$21 million. Gardner Minshew provides experienced backup coverage. Third-round rookie Carson Beck who transferred from Georgia to Miami and dealt with elbow issues is the long-term developmental piece. ESPNESPN
The bottom line for fantasy purposes: whoever is throwing the ball in Arizona is going to throw it a lot, because this team trails by a lot, and they trail by a lot because the defense is not good. That is actually useful information when evaluating the skill players.
Just Draft Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love went third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Over his final two college seasons, he carried the ball 362 times for 2,497 yards and 35 touchdowns, adding 55 catches for 517 yards and five scores in 28 games. He is 6’0″, 214 pounds, ran a 4.36 forty, and was a home run threat every time he touched the ball at Notre Dame. He finished second in the country in breakaway yards in 2025 and earned 15 or more yards on 11.6 percent of his attempts. FantasyLifeCBSSports.com
The concern is the environment. Arizona scored fewer points than almost anyone last season, and the backfield includes Tyler Allgeier and James Conner alongside Love. Current fantasy projections have Love at 993 rushing yards, 414 receiving yards, and 8.3 touchdowns for roughly 246 PPR points strong RB2 numbers with upside if he takes over the goal-line role Allgeier held last year. Yahoo’s projection has him at 247 carries, 1,072 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns, 45 receptions, and 339 receiving yards across 15 starts. Every running back drafted in the top five over the last decade produced top-12 fantasy numbers as a rookie. Love is on that list now. FantasyLifeNBC Sports
Fantasy verdict: High-end RB2 with RB1 ceiling. Draft him in the second or early third round of fantasy drafts. In dynasty rookie-only drafts, he is the 1.1 overall.
Trey McBride Is Quietly the Best Tight End in Football
Last season, Trey McBride set the all-time NFL record for receptions by a tight end, hauling in 126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets. He finished as the undisputed TE1 in fantasy by more than 80 points over the field. Ten of those eleven touchdowns came with Brissett at quarterback. Arizona is running the same quarterback, the same tight end, and a new offensive system that features 12 personnel sets which means two tight ends on the field at once and elevated target volume for McBride even in a more run-balanced scheme. The main debate heading into 2026 is whether McBride or Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers should be the TE1 off the board in fantasy drafts. That is a debate worth having. Both answers are correct depending on your league format and roster construction. RotoWireNFL
Fantasy verdict: Legitimate TE1. Expect some volume regression from 169 targets, but the touchdowns and red zone share remain elite. Draft him in the third round and do not overthink it.
Marvin Harrison Jr. Is Still Searching
Third-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was the fourth overall pick in 2024 and has not yet lived up to that draft capital. He has topped 100 receiving yards twice in two NFL seasons. The new offensive system and a legitimate passing threat at running back which forces defenses to honor the run could open things up for Harrison. But he remains a boom-or-bust WR3 until he proves otherwise. Michael Wilson is the WR2 and a depth add in the deepest of leagues.
The 2026 Arizona Cardinals Schedule
Arizona opens the season at the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, with the home opener in Week 2 against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals play six of their first nine games on the road. Arizona has zero primetime games and zero international games in 2026 — one of only five teams completely shut out of the national spotlight. The bye week falls in Week 14 — the latest bye in franchise history, falling on December 13. Arizona Sports + 2
| Week | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Chargers | Away |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | Home |
| 3 | San Francisco 49ers | Away |
| 4 | New York Giants | Away |
| 5 | Detroit Lions | Home |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams | Away |
| 7 | Denver Broncos | Home |
| 8 | Dallas Cowboys | Away |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks | Away |
| 10 | Los Angeles Rams | Home |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | Away |
| 12 | Washington Commanders | Home |
| 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | Home |
| 14 | BYE WEEK | — |
| 15 | New York Jets | Home |
| 16 | New Orleans Saints | Away |
| 17 | Las Vegas Raiders | Home |
| 18 | San Francisco 49ers | Home |
Fantasy note: The Week 14 bye is brutal for fantasy managers. Most leagues use Weeks 14-16 as the playoff rounds. Having Love and McBride both on bye in Week 14 could be a problem. Plan accordingly when building your roster.
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Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business. As a result, the brand has become the go-to draft board for fantasy leagues across the country, as featured on Thrillist.
FAQ
Who is the Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback in 2026?
Jacoby Brissett is the named starter. Gardner Minshew is the veteran backup. Third-round rookie Carson Beck is the developmental piece for the future.
Is Jeremiyah Love worth drafting in fantasy football?
Yes, Love went third overall, has elite athleticism and receiving ability, and every top-five running back pick in the last decade produced top-12 fantasy numbers as a rookie. He is a strong RB2 with upside in the second or early third round of fantasy drafts.
Is Trey McBride a good fantasy tight end in 2026?
Absolutely. McBride set the all-time NFL record for receptions by a tight end in 2025, catching 126 passes for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is a legitimate TE1 despite some expected volume regression in a more balanced offense.
What stadium do the Arizona Cardinals play in?
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Do the Cardinals have any primetime or international games in 2026?
No — Arizona is one of five teams with zero primetime games and zero international games scheduled in 2026.
When is the Arizona Cardinals’ bye week in 2026?
Week 14 — the latest bye week in franchise history, falling on December 13.
How long has Commish Kit been making fantasy football draft boards?
Since 2002 — Commish Kit started in Daly City, California, and moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, making 2026 its 24th season in business.
