When talking about the Arizona Cardinals' offense, there are the easy headliners (Kyler Murray, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride). There will be plenty for the Detroit Lions' defense to handle, in what's expected to a high-scoring game Sunday afternoon.
Greg Dortch is a name only Cardinals' fans and fantasy football managers may have any awareness of at all, and even on the latter front his appeal has been fleeting/inconsistent over the last couple year. So far this year, he has eight catches for 58 yards on 10 targets over two games.
The Cardinals have been a heavy "13" personnel team so far this season (three tight ends), running that personnel grouping 19 percent of the time (h/t to Pride of Detroit). But it's worth wondering if they'll have to open things up a little bit more on Sunday, and have Dortch on the field as their primary slot receiver more than they have thus far.
Lions expected to have to deal with Greg Dortch on Sunday vs. Cardinals
In their wide receiver-cornerback matchups to target or avoid for fantasy purposes in Week 3, Pro Football Focus had Dortch vs. Lions' cornerback Amik Robertson as a matchup to target. In fairness to Robertson, he played just 18 snaps in Week 2 and the Lions have not played a ton of nickel in two games. But PFF's data is undeniable.
"Dortch’s 75.2 PFF slot receiving grade ranks 11thamong 31 NFL slot receivers with at least 25 slot-receiving snaps. The electric Dortch is quietly in the position’s upper third in per-play productivity and ties for secondamong Arizona pass-catchers in first-read targets (eight).Among 31 NFL slot receivers with at least 25 slot-receiving snaps, Dortch ranks 12th in deep-target rate (12.5%), ties for 11th in both catch rate (75.0%) and yards per route run (1.88), ties for sixth in contested catch rate (66.7%) and ranks fifth in target rate (32.0%)."
"Dortch has yet to record an explosive pass play, but Detroit’s slot-coverage unit has surrendered 10, tying for the third most among teams through two weeks."
PFF called into question the Lions' disbursement of slot snaps through two games, which has heavily favored Robertson-to their detriment.
"Detroit’s coaching staff has inexplicably allowed Robertson to lead the team’s three-man slot-coverage rotation, with a 43.2% snap plurality, despite Branch’s successes. The platoon also includes safety Kerby Joseph, whose 16.2% slot-coverage snap rate closely trails Branch’s 17.6% clip."
"Detroit’s slot-receiver coverage unit grades out as the 17th-best unit (64.7 PFF coverage grade), allowing the 11th-highest expected points added per play (0.072) figure, the 15th-most yards per coverage snap (5.95) and the 11th-highest explosive pass plays allowed rate (tied, 13.7%) while being targeted at the fifth-highest rate (83.6%)."
Dortch popped up the Cardinals' injury report after suffering a hamstring injury during Friday's practice. Late-week soft tissue injuries are never ideal, so his status for Sunday instantly became a huge question mark.
On Sunday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Dortch is expected to play.
Cardinals WR Greg Dortch, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a hamstring, is expected to play vs. the Lions, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 22, 2024
So with plenty of rightful focus on Harrison and McBride, the Lions' pass defense will also likely have to deal with Dortch on Sunday. Some adjustment to who plays in the slot is in order, at minimum, otherwise a sneaky weapon for the Arizona offense seems headed for a difference-making day if he's in uniform and avoids in-game setbacks with his injury.