Evan Silva’s Matchups: Cardinals at Texans

Arizona @ Houston

Team Totals: Texans 27, Cardinals 21

Kyler Murray returned from his near-full-year absence in spectacular Week 10 fashion, flaming the Falcons for 7.8 yards per pass attempt and a 6/33/1 rushing line. On his fourth-quarter 13-yard run that set up Arizona’s game-winning field goal, Murray traveled 74 yards and topped 20 MPH, according to Next Gen Stats. Indeed, Kyler looked back to full form and plenty comfortable in a non-Kliff Kingsbury offense that stretches the field vertically rather than horizontally. The Texans have been middling in terms of fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks but are coughing up the league’s eighth-most yards per pass attempt (7.0), and Murray’s rushing capability obviously heightens his floor and ceiling. Indoors in a game with shootout potential, Kyler is a surefire QB1 in his second start of 2023. … Back from I.R. in last week’s victory, James Conner banked 16 carries on a 63% snap rate against Atlanta. Conner was absent from the passing game but did run the most routes in Arizona’s backfield, ahead of Keaontay Ingram. I’m valuing Conner as a largely touchdown-reliant RB2/flex play. … I’m also stashing mid-week waiver pickup Michael Carter. Conner’s injury history is extensive, and Carter is capable in all phases. He could emerge as a legit stretch-run RB2 should something happen to Conner.

Murray’s Week 10 target distribution: Trey McBride 9; Rondale Moore 8; Michael Wilson 6; Marquise Brown 4; Geoff Swaim 2. … On an absolute tear, McBride has a 21/248/1 (11.8 YPR) receiving line over Arizona’s last three games and was Kyler’s immediate go-to guy in his first game back.