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Don’t Trust the Box Score: The Cardinals Are Wasting a Superstar in the Making

Trust The Film

Fantasy football is all about the box score: Yards and TDs equal fantasy points, and fantasy points win your league.

But not every 5-100-1 is built the same. That’s why we use not only advanced analytics, but also film to identify talented players on the verge of delivering numbers.

Every week, I’ll bring my 21 years of experience analyzing college and NFL film to highlight when the box score doesn't match reality, showcasing a few players who performed significantly better or worse than the box score indicates.

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

Harrison has disappointed as both an NFL and fantasy player after being selected fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Even setting aside a mediocre rookie season -- he finished WR43 in PPR points per game -- the struggles have continued into Year 2. He has yet to post a top-12 WR week this season and currently sits at WR41 in points per game.

His film, however, has looked excellent over the last two weeks, peaking against the Packers. Despite producing only 2-58-0 in that game, Harrison continues to showcase his talent in an offense that can’t seem to get him the ball.

On this play, Harrison executes a perfectly timed double move. CB Nate Hobbs bites, creating a large cushion for an easy completion. 

Getting an NFL cornerback to bite on that route requires setup from prior plays and route variations, something Harrison achieved. His athleticism and burst force defenders to maintain inside leverage, fearing a deep post. That allows the double move to succeed.

Here, Harrison is tightly covered by Hobbs. He uses his length and strength to create space while turning back to the ball. Hobbs never gets his head around, allowing Harrison to secure the contested catch.

This area of his game has improved since last year. As a rookie, he often failed to track the ball or gave up if he felt covered. This season, he has learned to use his length to shield defenders and win in traffic. It’s paying off.

Perfect Routes, Bad Throws, Same Story

On this play, Harrison settles perfectly into the open zone ahead of the shallow cornerback, but Brissett’s pass sails off target.

Several plays from this game show Harrison in strong position, only for inaccurate throws to derail completions. He should have more catches. Kyler Murray’s return could help, even with his own inconsistencies.

Here, Harrison runs an in-breaking route with clean separation on a shallow move. He wasn’t the first read but still ran it full speed. If Brissett had progressed to Harrison as the second read, it likely would’ve been a completion.

Don’t Call Harrison a Bust Just Yet

Harrison’s athletic traits are clear on film. He consistently gets open and wins contested catches. There’s still hope for him to turn things around and become a fantasy asset.

The main problems this year have been the Cardinals’ scheme and quarterback play. Between Murray’s inaccuracy and injuries forcing Brissett into the lineup, Harrison hasn’t had much opportunity to post top-12 fantasy weeks.

The offense also hasn’t put him in ideal situations. He has played 28% of his snaps from the slot this year, up slightly from 27% as a rookie. Given his separation skills inside, a higher slot rate could help.

It might be too late for a big redraft surge, but don’t label Harrison a bust. If enough managers buy into that narrative, he could be a value next year.

Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Addison posted a 9-128-0 line last week against the Eagles on 12 targets from Carson Wentz, an impressive fantasy outing.

It marked his third straight game with more than 100 yards or a TD. Addison’s production has been a welcome boost coming off his three-game suspension to open the season. But the film suggests he has benefited more from coverage breakdowns than from pure route-winning skill.

On this play, Addison runs a Cover-2 beater, splitting the cornerback and safety. It’s not a difficult route, with Wentz doing the heavy lifting by placing the ball perfectly. Addison settles into the soft spot and makes the catch.

It’s a smart read of the defense, but the 4.4 PPR points he earned on this play overstate the difficulty of his contribution.

Here, Addison lines up in the slot from a bunch formation and runs a crossing route. CB Kelee Ringo hesitates in coverage, leaving Addison wide open with Ringo trailing to recover.

It’s another easy 25-yard gain created more by defensive error and positioning than by Addison’s route running.

On this play, Addison faces CB Cooper DeJean in man coverage and gets locked down. He fails to create separation and is outmuscled throughout the route.

When pressed or facing tight man coverage, Addison struggled in this game. His success came mostly against zone and off-man looks. That could serve as a defensive blueprint against him moving forward.

Addison’s Stability Might Be an Illusion

Addison has a productive role in Kevin O’Connell’s system, but his week-to-week consistency is questionable.

Wentz will remain the starter for now, though J.J. McCarthy’s return looms. Expect growing pains when the rookie takes over.

Don’t count on Addison as a reliable fantasy starter moving forward.

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

After scoring three TDs over the previous two weeks, Williams took a backseat against the Jaguars to Davante Adams’ three short TD catches. His 12-54-0 rushing line and 2-11-0 receiving line capped a quiet fantasy day.

The film still shows an elite running back, though. Williams’ vision, balance, and instincts remain strong, suggesting a return to top-15 form moving forward.

n this play, Williams runs off-tackle to the right as the offensive line collapses into the gap. He could have stopped or tried to bounce the run outside. Either choice likely results in no gain.

Instead, he stays balanced despite contact and powers forward for 6 yards. The play highlights his impressive contact balance and instincts to avoid overcompensating for a collapsing block.

Here, Williams has an open lane up the middle where the run is designed to go. But as soon as he takes the handoff, he recognizes that no blocker has reached the second level to pick up LB Ventrell Miller.

Williams cuts outside instead. CB Jourdan Lewis bites inside and gets left behind as Williams accelerates for a 10-yard gain. His field awareness and experience stand out, even in games where the box score doesn’t.

Williams catches a short checkdown in the flat with no shallow defender in the zone. He settles smoothly into space and turns upfield for 9 yards after the catch.

He still has the receiving chops to deliver more than 2 catches per game. With reliable hands and strong coverage awareness, he can turn short passes into big gains when blocking aligns.

Even Without Scores, Williams Remains a Weekly Anchor

Williams continues to overcome inconsistent blocking and still produce efficient runs. He remains a natural receiver and retains the skill set that’s made him one of the league’s best backs since his second season.

Ride out the quiet weeks. The touchdowns will come if the Rams’ offense keeps moving the ball.

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Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.