Trey

McBride

McBride popped up on the injury report with a knee issue Wednesday. He was able to practice in a limited capacity, indicating the issue is minor and that he should still be able to play Week 15. McBride has at least 12 targets in each of his last three games and stands as the top option in the passing game for Kyler Murray. Expect him to suit up barring setbacks as a fantasy TE1 against the Patriots.

McBride drew a shocking 14 targets to lead the Cardinals and now has 41 targets over his past three games. It didn’t amount to much, with Kyler Murray routinely missing McBride on fairly routine throws in the first half before a handful of fourth quarter grabs for the tight end as Arizona chased points late. McBride still, somehow, does not have a touchdown catch on the season. One would think he’ll find the end zone paint before the season is out, perhaps as soon as next week against the Packers.

It’s the second straight game in which McBride has had a dozen receptions — a remarkable feat for a wide receiver, much less a tight end. McBride, who now has five games with at least eight receptions in 2024, tied Marvin Harrison, Jr. for the team lead in targets against Minnesota, operating as Kyler Murray’s preferred underneath target, especially in high leverage situations. With an outside shot to finish as fantasy’s No. 1 overall tight end, McBride should again be an elite option in Week 14 against Seattle, against whom he had 133 scoreless yards in Week 12. With zero TDs on the season, McBride remains the NFL’s most prominent touchdown regression candidate.

McBride set a career high and Cardinals tight end record with 12 catches against the Seahawks. He saw 15 targets, good for a 40.5 percent target share on the day, consistently getting open in the flat and while peeling off blocks. The Cardinals offense failed to push the ball down field, meaning McBride was the favored target over the middle of the field, though once again not scoring a touchdown. With nine targets more than Kyler Murray’s next most-targeted receiver, McBride is the Cardinals’ top pass-catcher. He is a TE1 for Week 13 against the Vikings.

McBride was seemingly always open when Kyler Murray was under duress. He makes a strong case for the overall TE1 spot in fantasy. McBride’s best play of the day came on a shallow crossing route in which he got open against Sauce Gardner. Gardner wrapped him up post-catch but McBride spun him off before hurdling the next would-be defender after turning up-field and was eventually driven out of bounds. McBride is on bye in Week 11.

McBride nearly scored on a long gain down the middle, eventually being tackled on the Bears’ two-yard line. Jonathan Gannon made sure to give McBride another opportunity, sending McBride in motion from left to right, and back again before Murray handed the ball off to McBride on the way back. A foot race between the tight end and Bears S Kevin Byard III ensued, which ended in a successful stiff arm and a score just before they reached the pylon. The athletic tight end is a high-end TE1 against the Jets in Week 10.

McBride finally gave fantasy managers a breakout performance with a season-high in receptions and his first game over the century mark of the season. Playing catchup in the second half, Arizona was forced to throw more and Kyler Murray found his footing at the perfect time. The Cardinals scored 21 points in the final two quarters thanks in large part to McBride stepping up. He caught seven passes for 106 yards in the final 30 minutes of action. McBride is still looking for his first touchdown of the year but is one of the few tight ends who is used like a No. 1 receiver. He will remain near the top of the TE1 rankings for his Week 9 game against the Bears.

McBride led the team in targets but was out-gained by running back James Conner. While the third-year tight end continues to display elite athleticism on a weekly basis, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s pass offense remains unimaginative and flat, most notably constraining McBride to low upside routes over the middle of the field and to the sideline. Until that changes, McBride unfortunately feels restricted to low end TE1 production.

It was McBride’s best game of the season. He now has 17 targets over two games since returning from his early-season brain injury, functioning as the team’s top pass catcher while Marvin Harrison Jr. does wind sprints downfield. Kyler Murray’s propensity to check down should serve McBride well. The touchdowns should eventually come for McBride, who has 28 receptions without a score in 2024. McBride will be a top fantasy option once again in Week 7 against the Chargers.

The Cardinals wasted little time putting McBride to work as he ripped off a 22-yard reception on the offense’s first play of the game. He posted a conservative 5-31 line the rest of the way and could have had a bigger day if not for a dropped touchdown in the end zone on a nicely thrown pass by Kyler Murray. It wasn’t a dominant performance, but McBride did more than enough to provide fantasy managers with the weekly TE1 finish they’ve come to expect. His nine targets also led the team. McBride will remain on the TE1 radar in Week 6 against the Packers.