Taken at No. 4 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. was also selected rather highly in fantasy football drafts aplenty while riding a full-speed hype train this offseason.
His NFL debut on Sunday hardly lived up to expectations, though, as he turned in just one reception for a meager four yards in the Arizona Cardinals’ 34-28 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Don’t bang that panic button just yet, as Cards offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is doing his due diligence.
“Certainly, he is on the forefront of our minds in terms of getting him the ball,” Petzing said Tuesday, via the team website. “I think (the Bills) did some things to take him away and certainly I could’ve called some plays to get him more involved early, but I thought it was a good start. We have some work to do.”
Petzing made it known that getting Harrison the ball more was “the plan” and shouldered that responsibility, pointing out it wasn’t quarterback Kyler Murray‘s obligation to feed Harrison or anyone else one the offense.
“One of the things I try to stress with Kyler is that it’s not his job to get certain people the ball or worry about how a guy is doing in the flow of the game,” Petzing said. “I’ve got to do that with the way I call the game, and he’s got to make the best decision based on the look, the coverage, how the routes are run.”
Murray targeted tight end Trey McBride a team-high nine times Sunday, which equated to five catches for 30 yards, while receiver Greg Dortch saw eight targets for six receptions and 47 yards.
Harrison finished with three targets — third on the team.
Petzing was surprised at just how much attention the Bills defense was devoting to Harrison, but regardless, the final stat line of one catch for four yards was glaring for a wideout seen by many as a can’t-miss prospect.
The Cardinals have their home opener in front of them on Sunday, as they host the Los Angeles Rams. There is little doubt the home fans — and fantasy owners — will be clamoring for more Marvin than they saw in Week 1. Thus, Harrison being at the forefront of Arizona’s offensive game plan and not just his OC’s mind will most certainly be a storyline to watch in the team’s first NFC West game of the season.
