Cardinals, Michael Wilson Closing In on Extension After Breakout Year
Wilson is coming off 78 catches for 1,006 yards and 7 TDs, and a report says a deal 'could come down in the next day or so.'
Locked-in role and heavy route volume make him a WR3 with upside.
- 78 rec, 1,006 yds, 7 TD in 2025 (17 games)
- 593 routes run — 3rd-most in the NFL
- 221 PPR points last season (2025)
- Our WR rank: #46 overall, #10 at position
- 163 catches, 2,119 yds across first two seasons
Michael Wilson is about to get paid, and Cardinals fantasy managers should be paying attention. Per an ESPN report, there's real "movement" in extension talks between Arizona and the fourth-year receiver, with a deal potentially landing within a day or so. That's the kind of news that turns a rotational question mark into a locked-in piece of the offense.
The timing makes sense. Wilson broke out in 2025, hauling in 78 passes for 1,006 yards and seven scores across 17 games — good for 221 PPR points and a spot at WR46 in our overall rankings (WR10 at the position). His 593 routes were the third-most in the entire league last year, which tells you everything about how much this team already leans on him.
Why the Volume Matters
Routes are the foundation of everything for a fantasy receiver, and Wilson's are elite. You don't finish third in the NFL in routes run by accident — that's a full-time, every-down role. Stack that on top of 163 catches and 2,119 yards over his first two seasons, and you've got a player Arizona clearly views as a long-term building block worth committing money to.
Wilson himself downplayed the contract situation earlier this offseason, saying the money stuff would take care of itself. Looks like he was right. An extension removes any lingering distraction and signals the front office plans to funnel targets his way for years, not just weeks.
The Fantasy Fallout
The trend is your friend here. Over his last five games of 2025, Wilson averaged 8.5 fantasy points above his season mark — he was heating up, not fading. A new deal only reinforces the role that produced those numbers.
Bottom line: this is a buy-low window before the market fully catches up. Wilson is a steady WR3 with weekly WR2 upside given his route volume, and the extension news locks in the floor. If you can grab him at a discount from a manager who slept on his 2025 finish, do it now.
