Game status update: Brown is officially active for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.
Game day update: Marquise Brown is expected to play on Sunday vs. the Steelers, per Adam Schefter.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown is in a weird spot on the injury report heading into Week 13. Beset by a heel injury, he was not able to practice at all this week. Still, the team listed him as questionable, adding at the end of the week that he was trending toward playing.
That’s a tough spot for fantasy football decisions. If he does suit up, will he be close enough to 100 percent to produce? Or is it going to be a decoy situation?
The Cardinals are on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, with a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.
Marquise Brown injury
Fantasy football analysis
Last week, Brown had his best game last since Kyler Murray returned to the starting quarterback job. Targeted 12 times, he came away with six catches for 88 yards against the Rams in Week 12. That was the first time he’s had more than 50 yards in a game since Week 5.
If Brown can’t play this week, I wouldn’t be surprised to see tight end Trey McBride and wide receiver Greg Dortch to lead the Cardinals in receiving. There’s a chance Rondale Moore could have a larger role too, though that’s harder to bank on in fantasy.
NFL DFS analysis
Brown has the potential for a great matchup this week against the Steelers, who have given up the eighth-most yards per target to opposing wide receivers. He’s a solid WR3 play at $5,200 in DraftKings leagues this week.
Betting analysis
The Cardinals are 6.5-point underdogs to the Steelers, but with Brown and Murray finally having established a connection, I like the potential for Arizona to cover, if Brown can play. The over on 41 points feels like stretch either way.