Larry Fitzgerald is Arizona's No. 1 offensive option. (AP)

FOXBORO — For the Patriots’ defensive backs this week, it’s all Larry Fitzgerald, all the time.

The Cardinals wide receiver is one of the best pass catchers in the league — the 29-year-old has caught at least 80 passes a season the last five years, including five seasons of 90-plus catches. The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder brings an array of skills to the field, which will be a handful for the New England secondary.

“It’ll be tough,” said safety Steve Gregory. “He’s just a great all-around receiver. He’s been doing it at a high level for years now and you definitely have to know where that guy is on the field, because he can hurt you at any moment.

“He’s made his name off of being covered but going up and catching the ball over other guys. He’s that type of receiver, regardless of whether a guy is in position or not, he has a way to change and move his body in the air to go get the ball. So we have to be ready for that.”

“He really has it all. He runs good routes. He’s a good blocker. Incredible hands downfield. Speed,” said cornerback Marquice Cole. “He’s pretty much the total package when you look at a receiver.”

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Monday that Fitzgerald “might end up being the best [receivers] ever,” a point cornerback Devin McCourty didn’t dispute on Wednesday.

“He’s one of the top receivers if not the top receiver in the NFL,” said McCourty. “For us in the secondary, it’ll be an incredible challenge this week to go out there and compete against him. For us, the biggest word for us is compete. Without a doubt, he’s going to make some plays, but we have to try to go out there and challenge him.

“We know what he’s capable of, but it’s just going out there and trying to contain and being able to compete with him.”