Analyze Kyler Murray's matchup for week 10
Murray is questionable with a mid-foot sprain that has cost him three straight games and could limit his mobility, making him a high-risk, low-reward QB2 against a Seahawks defense that has historically bottled up dual-threat QBs.
Seattle’s defense ranks in the top half of the league against fantasy QBs and knows Murray’s tendencies from countless NFC West battles. The Seahawks’ pass rush is healthy and will test his foot on turf, while their linebackers have the speed to shadow him if he scrambles. Historically, Murray’s success versus Seattle has hinged on his legs; without that full burst, the Cardinals’ offense becomes one-dimensional and turnover-prone.
Before the injury, Murray was already posting QB2 numbers, and the Cardinals have since gone 1-2 with Jacoby Brissett under center, indicating the entire offense—not just the QB—is struggling.
Murray’s mid-foot sprain is the type of injury that lingers and directly saps the explosive plant-and-cut ability that fuels both his rushing upside and pocket escapability. After missing three consecutive games, timing with receivers and conditioning are also legitimate concerns. Even if active, expect Arizona to limit designed runs and have a quick hook if the game gets out of hand, capping both floor and ceiling.
From a schematic standpoint, Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durden has dialed up the sixth-highest blitz rate over the past month, per PFF, and the Seahawks’ secondary is allowing the fourth-lowest passer rating on throws under 20 air yards. That combination pressures immobile QBs into rushed decisions while squeezing the intermediate windows Murray needs if he can’t extend plays with his legs. On the ground, Seattle has surrendered only one rushing TD to quarterbacks all year, and that came on a goal-line sneak—hardly the explosive 20-yard scamper that usually buoys Murray’s fantasy weeks.
Finally, game script works against a full rebound. The Cardinals are 6.5-point road underdogs with an implied team total of just 19 points, so negative game flow could lead to garbage-time stats, but it also invites pass-rush pins in obvious throwing downs. If Murray re-injures the foot or simply looks rusty, the coaching staff has already shown willingness to pivot back to Brissett. For fantasy managers, that creates a low floor without the usual ceiling. Bench Murray in one-QB leagues and treat him only as a desperation QB2 in two-passer formats until he proves the foot—and the explosiveness—are back.