James Conner Fantasy Football Outlook (2022)

By Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros), Thu, Sep 1st 2022, 10:27am EDT

The Cardinals re-signed their RB1 from a season ago to a three-year, $21 million extension this offseason, locking him in as their guy for the foreseeable future. It's a great signing for fantasy football because it puts Conner firmly in the top-12 running back conversation, especially with Chase Edmonds landing in Miami.

The ex-Steelers running back finished the 2021 season tied for second in goal-line carries and third in touchdowns (18). Conner received extensive work in the passing game with Edmonds out of the lineup from Weeks 9-14 and Week 18. Conner averaged 26.2 fantasy points and 5.5 targets per game in those six games while running a route on 61% of the Cardinals' dropbacks. His RB finishes in half-point scoring during those weeks: RB1, RB16, RB8, RB11, RB2, and RB3.

So although the idea behind Conner as the team's clear-cut bell cow is enticing, I have lightened my stance after thinking more about Williams' role. Obviously, I think he's the favorite to be the guy if Conner goes down, but he may have more stand-alone value with his receiving background. Eno Benjamin profiles as a receiver as well, so it's not crazy to think that one or a combination of both shoulder Edmonds' role from last season.

That would hinder Conner's fantasy RB1 upside although he was a top 20 running back in half-point scoring last season - 29th in points per game - even before Edmonds got hurt. Worth mentioning that he had more rushing touchdowns (eight) than receptions (five) through the first eight weeks of the season.

It eerily reminds me of Kenyan Drake's second-half surge in 2019 that led him to be vastly overrated the following season under the same coaching staff.

However, his ADP (RB17, 32nd overall) mostly reflects the concerns making him appropriately valued.