Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy Football 2017: Early Expectations for Carson Palmer

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:34 p.m. ET

Fansided, Luis Tirado Jr./FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Heading into fantasy football in 2017, early expectations for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer aren’t good.

A few years ago, quarterback Carson Palmer was on top of the world. In 2015, Palmer orchestrated one incredible season for the Arizona Cardinals. It was no secret Palmer was on the rise that fantasy football season as he became one of the best value selections of the year at quarterback.

Two seasons ago, Palmer totaled 4,671 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He took his Cardinals to finishing just a game shy of making that year’s Super Bowl.

Last season, Palmer simply didn’t look like the same quarterback that lit up the fantasy scene in 2015. He regressed tremendously and was a turnover-prone player that many wondered if he’d even consider continuing his career due to his decline in play this upcoming season. Plus, at 37 years old, Palmer is likely in the last year or two of being an effective starter before the Cardinals have to start thinking about his future replacement.

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So then, what should fantasy owners expect out of Palmer heading into his 14th NFL season in 2017? Quite honestly, expect to see Palmer continue to decline. Unfortunately, both he and his trusty go-to receiving target wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald don’t have much but fumes left in the tank. It’ll be another long season of inconsistency when it comes to the Cardinals aerial game.

2015 should have been the year that they went the distance as they would have put up more of a fight against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 than the Panthers did. With how the NFL is, those golden windows of opportunity are few and far between as the Cardinals are on the outside looking in.

Palmer was rushed oftentimes last season and the Cardinals offensive line failed to keep him upright. To get sacked a whopping 40 times last season means Palmer truly felt the pain of some incredible pass rushers. In a dominantly passing league, it’s imperative to have a solid offensive line and quick offensive weapons ready to push the envelope. At 7-8 last season, the Cardinals have a ton of work ahead of them in order to be contenders again.

Fantasy owners should be very wary of Palmer for next season. If anything, it bodes well for the fantasy outlook of running back David Johnson, who will undoubtedly be a featured piece on an offense that is only getting older in the passing game. Overall, it’s best to steer clear of Palmer as he’ll continue to trend downwards in fantasy rankings at the most important position on a team. Fantasy owners are advised to look elsewhere for your QB1/QB2 than waste a spot with Palmer.