Arizona Cardinals rookie QB Clayton Tune is expected to start over Kyler Murray in Week 9 vs. the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Cardinals traded QB Joshua Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings earlier in the week before the trade deadline. Dobbs had been the starting QB all season with Murray sidelined still. With Murray set to return soon, the Cardinals let loose Dobbs and will shift to Tune, the 2023 fifth-round pick out of Houston.
Fantasy football impact
The Cardinals are dealing with another injury in the backfield. RB Emari Demercado has already been ruled out for Sunday due to a toe injury. So that means Tune will start with backup RBs Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones as the primary ball carriers. The Browns also have a strong defense, allowing the fewest yards per game in the NFL. Needless to say this doesn’t bode well for Tune in his first career start.
You should try and fade the Cardinals as much as possible this week. Ingram may not be a bad play in PPR given the type of volume he may get. He could see upwards of 40-45 snaps at RB and that could result in double-digit touches, especially if Tune can’t move the ball much. TE Trey McBride had a big game in Week 8 with 10 catches on 14 targets for 95 yards and a TD. It’s unlikely we see that type of week but Tune should get McBride plenty of targets on short routes and in the flat.
WRs Marquise Brown and Michael Wilson haven’t been viable options week-to-week in fantasy football this season. This week is the same deal until we see what Tune is capable of. Or once Murray returns to the lineup. That may make Brown and/or Wilson decent trade targets in fantasy before your deadline.
