CHRISTIAN KIRK

The Jaguars were criticized by many analysts for their signings of Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram last offseason. They have made up one of the NFL's best pass-catching trios.

Let's try to focus on a few stats for which we are thankful this week. It's hard to overstate just how silly that completion percentage truly is; Kyler Murray led all passers in deep accuracy last year at 49.3%. And yet, for various Josh McDaniels and/or Hall of Fame Game-related reasons, people were running away from Jacobs in fantasy drafts. He's seen a ridiculous 44 targets over his last three games, hauling in five touchdowns while averaging 8.7 receptions and 137.7 yards per week. He's seen 39 targets during that stretch, scored five touchdowns and topped 80 receiving yards four times.

Jaguars return specialist Jamal Agnew is inactive for Jacksonville’s game against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — (AP) — Two Giants defenders tackled Jacksonville's Christian Kirk inside the 1-yard line as time expired, preserving New York's 23-17 victory over the Jaguars on Sunday to match its best start since 2008. Jacksonville had a final shot and reached the New York 1-yard on Trevor Lawrence’s pass to Kirk. But Julian Love and Xavier McKinney stopped Kirk short of the goal line, even as Jaguars players tried pushing the pile into the end zone. The Giants leaned on their ground game — despite being down two starting offensive linemen and its starting tight end — to win another close one. ... Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson missed one series in the first half with a right shoulder injury.

Two Giants defenders tackled Jacksonville’s Christian Kirk inside the 1-yard line as time expired, preserving New York’s 23-17 victory over the Jaguars to match its best start since 2008.

Can we finally start Tony Pollard.

There are all kinds of reasons that logical decision-making falls by the wayside in fantasy football (see some of them here). With Kirk, it's more telling that he also had six catches for 117 yards in Week 1 on 12 targets. Josh Allen had his worst fantasy game of the season, with zero touchdowns, two interceptions and four sacks. Week 1 was disappointing, but still ok; Smith-Schuster saw seven targets and compiled six catches for 79 yards. In fact, he went 5-for-5 for 41 yards and the score yesterday which helped exactly no one who plays fantasy football.

Trevor Lawrence threw two touchdown passes to Christian Kirk, and Jacksonville dominated short-handed Indianapolis 24-0 on Sunday for its eighth consecutive home victory in the series.

Fantasy managers should remain patient … Devin Duvernay scored two touchdowns last week but saw just four targets on 18 routes; he shouldn't be anywhere near fantasy starting lineups. Flaws remain, but Wentz is playing indoors this week against a Lions defense that allowed an NFL-high 7.6 YPA and 31 passing scores last season. Only one run defense was graded worse in DVOA than Washington's in Week 1, and D'Andre Swift has missed multiple practices with a sprained ankle. He was first in route run involvement rate, which resulted in a career-high five catches. If he continues to see this type of route involvement with Russell Wilson now his QB, a nice fantasy season will follow.

Our analysts reveal their boldest fantasy predictions for Week 2. At home facing a pass-funnel Colts defense that’s tough to run against, Kirk is looking at another double-digit-target day Sunday, helping him finish as a top-10 fantasy wideout this week. The market curiously views Jones as a lower-end RB1 or even a RB2 this week, which is a mistake. Jonathan Taylor's backup shines in Week 2Matt Harmon: Jonathan Taylor had an awesome receiving role in Week 1 but Nyheim Hines was still heavily involved. I'll say Hines finds the end zone at least once, catches seven-plus balls and returns top-12 running back value in Week 2.

Kenny Pickett’s second preseason performance was as impressive as his first, and it came against better competition.

Throughout these past few weeks, fantasy football analyst Liz Loza sifted through every division and highlighted the biggest fantasy issues facing each team within. However, his fantasy output steadily increased while in Baltimore, improving from 8.8 fantasy points per game in 2019 (WR45 overall) to 11.3 FPTS/gm in 2021 (WR21 overall). Remembering what they most recently witnessed, fantasy heads appear skittish about Akers' situation, as he's currently the RB17 coming off the board. Samuel's rushing opportunities sky-rocketed down the stretch, as he averaged 6.6 rushing attempts per game from Weeks 10 through 18 (DNP in Week 13). FF: 72-922-5Engage with Liz on social @LizLoza_FFListen to the Yahoo Fantasy Football ForecastThis article originally appeared on Yahoo Sports at https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy-football-2022-can-you-draft-cam-akers-as-an-rb-1-and-more-nfc-west-questions-164637193.html

If the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Kyler Murray are still fighting these days, it's awfully hard to tell. The Cardinals pulled off a draft-day trade Thursday night to help their star quarterback, acquiring receiver Marquise Brown from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the No. 23 overall pick. Brown and Murray were college teammates at Oklahoma and will now be reunited in the desert.

The Jacksonville Jaguars chose Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker with the top pick in the NFL draft.

Let the dealing begin — if mostly unofficial.

Kyler Murray’s first NFL playoff start quickly turned into a nightmare.

(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth) (Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes to Antoine Wesley and the Arizona Cardinals held on to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-22 in a matchup of playoff-bound teams Sunday. Most of those victories were as a Texas high school playoff star, but the past two have been as a pro after last season's 38-10 rout. Arizona pulled even with the Cowboys (11-5) while leaving both teams a Green Bay victory away from elimination for the NFC's first-round bye. The Cardinals' victory over Dallas in 2020 was the first game after Dak Prescott's season-ending ankle injury. The Cardinals shut down the struggling Dallas running game, holding Ezekiel Elliott to 16 yards on nine carries.

Kyler Murray threw two touchdown passes to Antoine Wesley and the Arizona Cardinals held on to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-22 in a matchup of playoff-bound teams.

James Conner ran for two touchdowns and caught a 45-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Colt McCoy as the short-handed Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-17.

APTOPIX Cardinals Browns Football Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) catches a 21-yard touchdown pass against Cleveland Browns cornerback Troy Hill (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) (Ron Schwane)NEW YORK — (AP) — The birds in the desert are still flying high. And as the NFL's only remaining unbeaten team, the Cardinals retained the top spot in the latest AP Pro32 poll. The Cardinals received all 12 first-place votes for 384 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals improved to 6-0 on the season with a 37-14 victory over the injury-riddled Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals improved to 6-0 on the season with a win over Cleveland on Sunday.

Byron Murphy intercepted two passes, including one he returned for a touchdown following a botched trick play, and the Arizona Cardinals rallied to beat the skidding Jacksonville Jaguars 31-19 on Sunday.

Urban Meyer probably should ask questions and take notes when Kliff Kingsbury brings his Arizona Cardinals to Jacksonville this weekend.

Kyler Murray scored five touchdowns and linebacker Chandler Jones had a career-high five sacks as the Arizona Cardinals simply dominated the Tennessee Titans 38-13 for a big road win to open the season.

Coupled with Tampa Bay’s 26-14 win over Minnesota (6-7), the Cardinals are back in a wild-card berth. we have to go out there and execute,” said Murray, who ran 10 times for 47 yards. “I don’t think we have any kind of a hangover from going out to Seattle last week," Giants coach Joe Judge said. The D limited New York to 159 yards in making Jones' return from a one-game absence with a hamstring injury miserable. The first one was set up by a 24-yard punt return by Christian Kirk to the Giants 38.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Seattle led all of regulation until Gonzalez made a 44-yard field goal as time expired to tie it at 34. Moments later, it appeared Seattle had won on the ensuing drive when DK Metcalf caught a 48-yard touchdown pass, but the play was called back because of holding on receiver David Moore. Christian Kirk caught an 8-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left to pull Arizona to 34-31. Seattle cruised 75 yards in just six plays, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Lockett.

Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray celebrates running the ball for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)ARLINGTON, Texas – Maybe Kyler Murray will lose a game on the home field of the Dallas Cowboys one of these days. Murray accounted for three touchdowns in his first game back home as a pro, Ezekiel Elliott set up the visiting team's first two TDs with fumbles and the Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-10 on Monday night. Kenyan Drake scored from the 1 after the second Elliott miscue, while Murray added a 1-yard TD run. Cowboys: Washington on Sunday in the first of two consecutive road games against NFC East opponents.

Washington (1-1) finally scored a touchdown with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter when Dwayne Haskins hit Terry McLaurin for a 24-yard score. The Cardinals' revamped defense had a big day, holding Washington scoreless until Dustin Hopkins hit a 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Murray's pass into coverage was picked off by Landon Collins, giving Washington great field position at the Arizona 19. He was completely alone in the back of the end zone on third down and Murray hit him for the 4-yard score to make it 7-0. ... Washington right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) was hurt just before halftime and gingerly walked off the field with the help of medical staff.

Hopkins and the Cardinals agreed to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday that will keep the three-time All-Pro in Arizona through the 2024 season. Hopkins said he worked on about 90% of the deal and had some help from advisers. Cardinals GM Steve Keim said it was a great process and he got to know the receiver even better during negotiations. It was our goal all along to get (Hopkins) extended, Keim said. I was like, man, if I could be in this offense, a pass-first offense one day, the sky's the limit, Hopkins said.

Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scrambles for seven yards in the fourth quarter during the game against the Arizona Cardinals. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)TAMPA, Fla. - Jameis Winston threw for 358 yards and one touchdown, helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rally to snap a four-game losing streak with a 30-27 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Murray threw for 324 yards and three TDs to Christian Kirk, whose 15-yard scoring reception put the Cardinals up 27-23 midway through the fourth quarter. Kirk also scored on receptions of 33 and 69 yards and finished with six catches for 138 yards. ... CB Patrick Peterson left the game in the fourth quarter with a calf injury and did not return.