Seattle’s big-play offense outgunned Arizona 23-20 as the Seahawks piled up 384 yards with 317 coming on 18 plays of 10+ yards. Seattle stitched together two lengthy drives, including a 90-yard march highlighted by three explosive plays, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba and company exploited a thinning Cardinals secondary. Arizona’s defense, thin at corner, yielded chunk gains and two scoring drives, while the offense failed to generate a telltale fourth-quarter takeaway or a decisive late-score surge.

For fantasy managers, Smith-Njigba’s second-half surge and Walker III’s workload on the decisive drives stand out, as does Darnold’s efficiency in the late drive. Arizona’s pass rush showed signs with Campbell and Sweat recording sacks, but the unit again missed opportunities for takeaways. Special teams had its moments, but a late field-goal miss and a conservative burn-the-clock approach kept this one in Seattle’s favor.

Arizona's cornerback unit is feeling the impact of a wave of injuries. Murphy-Bunting and Starling Thomas were already out, and Williams, Melton, and Will Johnson left Week 2 with injuries. With a Week 3 trip to San Francisco on the horizon and midseason tests vs Green Bay and Dallas looming, the Cardinals are relying on Kei'Trel Clark, Elijah Jones, and Denzel Burke to soak up snaps. Bryce Young’s 328-yard, 3-TD day against Arizona underscored the risk, making the health of the secondary pivotal for fantasy angles.

Kei'Trel Clark has earned upside with increased usage, while Burke’s heavy workload could become a seasonal turning point if Melton and Johnson don’t return soon. This situation creates volatility for Cardinals players and could open opportunities for opponents in upcoming matchups.

Denver overwhelmed Arizona with a flash-fast first half, piling up 323 yards in the opening frame and striking long on multiple big plays. Evan Engram was a key catalyst for the Broncos, helping drive a 97-yard sequence in 2:02 that included a 58-yard catch-and-run and a 27-yard scoring pass to Tony Franklin, followed by a 70-yard, eight-play march that put the game out of reach. After Arizona tied it at 7, Denver answered with another rapid stretch, aided by a 35-yard run from Jaleel McLaughlin and a string of chunk gains that culminated in a late-second-quarter field goal. The Broncos’ aerial efficiency was evident, with Stidham and Ehlinger pairing for 402 yards on 30-for-39 passing.

Arizona showed fight and learning moments, including a defensive note from Jonathan Gannon on adjustments, rookie Will Johnson’s debut snaps, and a handful of positive plays on defense. Denzel Burke supplied a pass breakup, Owen Pappoe and Patrick Jenkins logged the lone sack, and P.J. Mustipher and Anthony Goodlow added some disruptive plays in the backfield. In specialty, Blake Gillikin boomed punts and Chad Ryland showcased leg strength in warmups, while Emari Demercado and Xavier Weaver provided a few bright returns. The night yielded clear growth for the Cardinals’ young corners and linebackers, even as Denver’s pace and explosiveness left their defense chasing.

Arizona’s second preseason clash with Denver centers on the Cardinals evaluating a bulk of depth pieces while starters sit. Clayton Tune is the focal point after halftime, auditioning for NFL teams as a potential practice-squad candidate or late waiver claim behind Jacoby Brissett. Simi Fehoko brings a guaranteed-money edge and length, while Xavier Weaver has flashed during the opener and remains in a tight roster duel for the fifth or sixth WR spots. Up front, undrafted Josh Fryar and edge players Jordan Burch and Xavier Thomas could seize snaps with Jones’ injury creating opportunities. At corner, Elijah Jones, Kei’Tre Clark, and Denzel Burke are battling for remaining roles, while BJ Ojulari’s PUP status could tilt the competition. The game doubles as a roster-barometer for the Cardinals’ depth chart and a glance at Broncos’ readiness for Week 1 depth.