Greg

Dortch

The two-score outing was the first of Dortch’s career. A summer hype darling as the Cardinals’ expected No. 3 wideout/slot man, Dortch caught six balls for 47 yards in Week 1. He then caught more than three passes just one more time all season before today, totaling 18 receptions after Week 6. Older than you would think (27 in May), Dortch now heads to restricted free agency, where he could be a non-tender candidate considering the way he fell out of favor this season. It’s also possible the Cardinals bring him back on a lesser deal. Were he to reach the open market, Dortch could still end up regarded as something of a diamond in the rough by a rival front office. He has 113 catches over the past three years.

Dortch broke off a 39-yard reception just before the end of the first half on a speedy catch-and-run. The chunk gain was somehow not even close to his most interesting play of the day. That was his six-yard carry. Dortch came across the formation in motion, took a handoff from Kyler Murray, and sprinted toward the end zone, only to cough up the football inches away from the goal line. Luckily for Dortch, right tackle Jonah Williams scrambled onto the football in the end zone for a touchdown. Dortch’s 60 yards were easily a season-high. He last topped nine yards in Week 6 and is not on the fantasy radar for Week 16’s matchup with the Panthers.

Dortch ran just eight pass routes on the day. He hasn’t had more than one catch in a game since mid-October after ceding WR2 duties to Michael Wilson early in the season. Dortch should remain on waiver wires until further notice.

Dortch remains a quiet option in the Cardinals’ passing game, catching one of this two targets on the day. He gets some gadget usage out of the slot, but is at best the No. 5 option in what has been a disappointing passing game. Dortch should remain off fantasy radars moving forward.

Dortch’s athleticism and gadget usage occasionally yields fantasy-friendly results but with four targets over the last three weeks, he is not worth starting in 12-team re-draft leagues. Dortch can be dropped.

Dortch scored last week but only caught one pass on two looks. He mirrored that performance versus the Dolphins but without the touchdown. Dortch is a low aDOT, low volume wideout. Fantasy managers can ignore him heading into Arizona’s Week 9 game against the Bears.

Dortch got the Cardinals on the board with a touchdown in the second quarter, taking a lead they would not surrender until under two minutes remaining to play in the fourth quarter. An eventual last-second field goal would send the Cardinals to 3-4, just one game back of the division-leading Seahawks as the midway point of the season approaches. Dortch does not see enough time on the field to be counted on in fantasy formats of all sizes.

Dortch had a costly fumble with the game still within reach for the Cardinals. He was pressed into ample playing time after Arizona lost Marvin Harrison, Jr. to a first quarter brain injury. Dortch, who was averaging 4.3 targets per game coming into Week 6, could be a deep-league option in Week 7 against the Chargers if Harrison remains sidelined with his concussion.

Fantasy managers who spent all offseason getting Dortch pilled are still waiting on their return. The Cards’ slot receiver topped out at 47 receiving yards in Week 1 and has managed just 84 yards over the last three weeks. Dortch came close to scoring on the Cardinals’ first offensive drive but fell just short of the end zone only to see Marvin Harrison Jr. score two plays later. Dortch shouldn’t be viewed as anything more than a WR5 in Week 5 against the 49ers.

Dortch piled up six grabs on eight targets in Week 1 but has been less involved ever since. That Marvin Harrison Jr. has emerged as a target-dominator over the past two weeks makes Dortch’s decline less than coincidental. Dortch still has some value as a FLEX play in PRR leagues, but he is, at best, a WR5 going forward.