A concussion cut short Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Week 6 outing on Sunday. It’s difficult timing for Arizona on multiple levels. For starters, the former first-round pick was playing well, reeling off two straight double-digit fantasy point performances. In addition, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s health remains questionable. Backup passer Jacoby Brissett will need all the help he can get to earn a win.
If MHJ’s injury forces him out of action, will any Arizona wide receiver get a boost in fantasy football? Two names currently stand out: Zay Jones and Michael Wilson. Neither of these two pass-catchers are household names. Still, for a desperate Cardinals squad, they could command plenty of targets. Which of these two waiver wire targets are worth prioritizing in Week 7?
Marvin Harrison Jr. injury: fantasy football impact
Prior to his injury, Harrison Jr. was beginning to fulfill his lofty potential. Through six games, the Ohio State alum hauled in 22 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Those aren’t outstanding numbers, but they easily paced a mediocre Cardinals wide receiver room. Now, outside of tight end Trey McBride, Arizona doesn’t have any players opposing defenses need to consider double-teaming.
Even if Murray misses another game, Jacoby Brissett is one of the NFL’s best backup quarterbacks. If anything, the veteran’s lack of mobility should lead to even more pass attempts on Sunday. He seems to have found some chemistry with Jones, as well. The pair connected on five catches for 79 yards last weekend against a stellar Colts defense. After logging just over half of Arizona’s snaps this season, the wideout took the field 79% of the time vs. Indianapolis.
It’s been a while since Jones was fantasy-relevant. However, we did see the 30-year-old deliver an 82-catch, 823-yard campaign with Jacksonville in 2022. Still, the biggest plus in his favor is Brissett’s presence under center. If both end up starting in Week 7, Jones should find himself targeted early and often.
With that being said, Jones wasn’t the only one that delivered a season-high output on Sunday. Michael Wilson snagged four reception for 44 yards. It’s an unremarkable stat line on paper, but it does hint at a bigger role going forward. The 25-year-old has been a reliable third option in Arizona, notching at least 548 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons.
At 6’2″ and 213 pounds, Wilson has the potential to make an impact in the red zone. In addition, he’s still a relatively young player. The Cardinals and their front office will want to know what they have in the youngster. In addition, the Stanford alum has trailed only Harrison Jr. in snaps at wide receiver this season.
Neither Jones or Wilson are set-it and forget-it fantasy football options. However, if Harrison Jr. misses time, the duo should play a significant role in Arizona’s Week 7 plans. The Cardinals could find themselves trailing next Sunday when they host the Packers. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance both receive five or more targets.
Ultimately, I’m inclined to go with Wilson over Jones this week. That’s especially true if Murray is healthy. The former is a third-round pick that the team is still high on. In comparison, the latter has spent the past few seasons as an injury-prone role player. Even if Brissett starts, expect youth to win out. All Wilson will need is a handful of catches to return flex value against Green Bay.
