The Arizona Cardinals may be without Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday for Week 12 and that would be a big hit for the team and fantasy owners should look at John Brown and Michael Floyd as start options at WR if he misses time, as Drew Stanton will need those players to step up while Fitzgerald heals from a sprained knee.
According to Pro Football Talk, Fitzgerald missed practice this week after he sustained the knee sprain against the Lions last week and there is a chance he will miss the game this weekend. The report says that Fitzgerald is "iffy" and while he was able to play to through the injury on Sunday, the Grade 2 status of the sprain could keep him off the field or could limit him against the Seahawks. That game will be in Seattle and will be even tougher to win for the NFC West leading Cardinals if they have to play without Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald said that he is hoping to play through the injury and with the Seahawks on the schedule, he will be needed in the lineup. Fitzgerald has been playing better in recent weeks after a slow start, but if he misses time, the emergence of John Brown will only help the Cardinals make up for his absence. Fitzgerald likely will not practice the rest of the week and even if he does play, there is a good chance that he will not be 100 percent.
Fitzgerald has 46 catches this season in 10 games for 658 yards and two TDs and he came into the season after an improved year in 2013 from his 2012 numbers. Fitzgerald went up in receptions, yards and touchdowns, going from four TD catches to 10 and he also had 11 more receptions. Fitzgerald has not had a 1000 yard season since 2011 and if he misses time he will be in danger of missing out again. Fitzgerald is a tough receiver and he has not missed time in quite a while and that would be a surprise for the Cardinals.
John Brown is a smart start option for fantasy owners if Fitzgerald can't go, as he has been one of the best sleepers in the league this year. Brown has been strong as a rookie, going for 34 catches for 468 yards and five TDs and he has been excellent over the past two weeks, making 10 receptions in that time. Brown had a TD two weeks ago against the Rams and in the game last week he had five catches for 69 yards against a tough Lions team.
Floyd comes in after scoring two TDs last week and he could be developing a nice rapport with Stanton. This season Floyd has not been as consistent as he was last year, but there is still plenty of time to get his numbers up. Floyd only has three catches in the last two weeks, but he scored two times in that span and those were his first touchdowns since back in Week 7 of the season. The Cardinals would love to have Fitzgerald, but they need him for the long haul so fantasy owners should look at Brown and Floyd.
