Gardner Minshew Throws Three Touchdowns in Relief as the Cardinals Stun Dallas in Overtime: Arizona's Quarterback Call and Jeremiyah Love's Ankle

The Arizona Cardinals made a quarterback change in the middle of Sunday's game in Dallas, and it turned a likely loss into one of the wildest wins of Week 8. Trailing 17-3 in the third quarter, Arizona benched starter Jacoby Brissett for Gardner Minshew, who threw three touchdown passes and led the Cardinals to touchdowns on his first four drives. Chad Ryland's 42-yard field goal in overtime finished a 33-30 win at AT&T Stadium.

The win came with a cost. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love left in the first quarter with an ankle injury, the latest setback in an injury-interrupted first season, and Tyler Allgeier stepped in to run for 147 yards. Arizona visits Seattle in Week 9, and both the quarterback job and the backfield are now open questions for fantasy managers.

How the comeback unfolded

Brissett struggled from the start, completing 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards with an interception. Minshew entered late in the third quarter and was close to flawless: 17 of 23 for 188 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 137.3 passer rating. The tying drive covered 80 yards in eight plays and just over a minute, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Wilson with six seconds left in regulation.

Arizona finished with 467 total yards to Dallas' 261, a lopsided margin that says as much about the Cowboys' defense as it does about the quarterback swap. Still, the difference in how the offense moved with Minshew was obvious, and it was his first action of the season.

Who starts in Seattle?

Head coach Mike LaFleur declined to name a Week 9 starter after the game. Multiple reports, however, indicate the expectation inside the building is that Minshew will remain the starter going forward, and he is in line to start at Seattle unless something changes during the week. Rookie Carson Beck is the third quarterback.

For fantasy purposes, plan as if Minshew starts. The matchup is not friendly. Arizona opened as a big road underdog in Seattle, and the Seahawks host the Bears on Monday night before turning around to face the Cardinals. A trailing game script helps quarterback volume, but Seattle's defense is far tougher than the one Minshew just carved up. He is a two-quarterback and superflex starter and a fringe streamer in one-quarterback leagues, best used only if you lost Lamar Jackson and need a body.

The backfield: Allgeier's opportunity

Love's ankle is the more important fantasy story. He left Sunday's game after tweaking his ankle on a carry late in the first quarter. He had just returned from a two-game absence with an ankle injury, and a preseason ankle problem cost him time as well. Arizona has not announced a diagnosis or a Week 9 status.

Allgeier made the most of the opening with 11 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown. That is not a sustainable rate, but the role is what matters. If Love misses time, Allgeier becomes the early-down and goal-line back on an offense that just put up 33 points. Bam Knight, the other back in the rotation, left with a concussion, which narrows the competition further.

The ranking for Week 9, depending on Love's status:

1. If Love is out: Allgeier is a volume-based RB2 and a strong flex. Start him. 2. If Love is limited: Allgeier is a flex with touchdown upside, and Love is a risky RB2 who could be pulled early. 3. If Love is full go: Allgeier returns to handcuff status, but should stay rostered.

The receivers

Wilson caught the game-tying touchdown and is the receiver who benefits most from a quarterback who throws with timing and anticipation. A Minshew offense historically spreads the ball to whoever wins quickly, which can make Arizona's secondary receivers more useful than they were with Brissett. Wilson is a WR4 with upside in Week 9, and any Cardinals pass-catcher is a better play in a game where Arizona is likely to trail.

The Verdexed angle

Comeback wins from a backup quarterback create a classic overreaction in both fantasy and betting markets. Minshew's line came in a little more than a quarter of football against a defense that allowed 467 yards. What is real is the change in offensive approach and the injury-driven shift in the backfield.

The betting angle for Week 9 is whether the market adjusts enough for the quarterback change. Arizona opened as a big underdog in Seattle before the starter was settled, and a confirmed Minshew start could move that line. Verdexed's model view on the game will be posted on the Week 9 picks page and the NFL predictions page; check it after the quarterback decision and Love's injury report.

What to do in your league

1. Add Allgeier in any league where he is available. He is a top-three running back add this week. 2. Add Minshew in two-quarterback and superflex leagues. In one-quarterback leagues, only stream him if you are covering for an injury. 3. Hold Love. An ankle that keeps flaring up is concerning, but he is still the most talented back on the roster and the long-term starter. 4. Watch Wednesday's practice report for Love's participation and listen for LaFleur's quarterback announcement. Both decisions move multiple fantasy pieces at once.