Fantasy Fallout: Palmer's concussion could ground high-flying Cardinals

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Here are the fantasy implications of Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer being diagnosed with a concussion after Week 4's loss to the Los Angeles Rams:

With Arizona having a quick turnaround from Sunday's game to Thursday night's trip to San Francisco, it seems a definite possibility that Palmer may not be cleared from the league's concussion protocol in time to suit up.

Head coach Bruce Arians confirmed postgame that it would be "tough" for Palmer to play on Thursday.

While the 36-year-old hasn't been at his best this season, he's nevertheless thrown for 1,150 yards and six touchdowns through Arizona's first four games. Only the Saints had more passing yards than the Cardinals last season, and a potential Palmer absence would undoubtedly hurt the production of receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown.

Playing mostly out of the slot, Fitzgerald should remain the team's safest receiving threat, and he's likely the only one of the three who is considered an unquestioned every-week fantasy starter. After a slow start to his campaign, Brown caught 10 passes for 144 yards against the Rams, but all of that production came with Palmer under center.

Backup QB Drew Stanton entered late in the fourth quarter and went 4-for-11 for 37 yards and two picks. Two of those completions went to Fitzgerald for 28 yards.

Stanton hasn't played extensively since starting eight games in 2014 after another Palmer injury. In nine appearances that season, he averaged 190 passing yards per game and threw seven TDs to five interceptions, so it's safe to say he's not on the same level as Palmer as a passer.

Aside from averaging 4.7 yards per carry this season, RB David Johnson is also an adept pass-catcher. He's had at least three catches and 28 receiving yards each week, and has 14 catches for 210 yards overall. He'll likely be leaned on heavily in the passing game as a check-down option on top of his usual rushing work.

Since a Week 1 shutout of the Rams, the 49ers have allowed 107 points over three subsequent games, with running backs Fozzy Whittaker, Christine Michael and Ezekiel Elliott each posting at least 100 yards on the ground. A potential long-term Palmer absence would hurt Arizona's fantasy prospects, but it should be relatively smooth sailing against San Francisco, especially for Johnson.

Waiver Wire Targets

Stanton may not be asked to do much more than manage the game, so he doesn't represent a high-upside fantasy fill-in for Palmer. Some realistically-available waiver wire quarterbacks include:

• Brian Hoyer, Bears (at Colts): The journeyman passer has thrown for 300+ yards and two touchdowns in each of his two starts in relief of the injured Jay Cutler. Hoyer should keep the job as long as Cutler remains sidelined, and the Bears have a favorable matchup against the Colts.

• Carson Wentz, Eagles (at Lions): Wentz has started his career strongly, throwing for 769 yards and five touchdowns over his first three starts. The rookie hasn't thrown an interception, and with the Eagles coming off their Week 4 bye, has the advantage of being an every-week fantasy option.

• Derek Anderson, Panthers (vs. Buccaneers): In the event that Carolina's Cam Newton sits out after suffering a concussion of his own in Week 4, Anderson offers some upside as a passer. He threw for 172 yards and two TDs after entering in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to Atlanta, and showed strong chemistry with WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Greg Olsen when he started two games in 2014.