RB James Conner, ARZ (2 Viewers)

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Rookie fever has a lot of folks kicking dirt on Conner’s grave prematurely IMO.

For redraft or a win-now dynasty squad he’s one of my favorite value targets along with McLaurin, & Amari Cooper.

At this point we don’t know what Benson can or can’t do on the field. We just saw Conner have a fantastic stretch run, and we know he can pass protect at the NFL level.

I don’t doubt Benson will get worked in, but I think Conner will surprise with a solid FF season.

 

[efactor]

Agree completely

Picked him up in dynasty pretty cheap because of his age. Love the offense with Kyler healthy and adding Marvin Jr. Conner should have a lot of TD opportunities this season.

Benson isn’t particularly scary to me. Will get some work obviously but Conner is a true bell cow RB in 2024 IMO. See him consistently in the 6th round in redraft mocks. Yes please.

 

[menobrown]

Rookie fever has a lot of folks kicking dirt on Conner’s grave prematurely IMO

From what I've seen his drop has been minimal, like he went from a mid 6th to a mid 7th.

I drafted Benson in 3 dynasty leagues but have no doubts it's Conners job. Odds are he'll miss some time and he's 29 in the last year of his contract so those are reasons to draft Benson, not for this season while Conner is healthy. Gannon seems very fond of him, I got no illusions at all over who is the main RB. Feel like most feel this way, guess some people are worried about slight dip in usage.

Benson's speed should be a really nice world pairing with him and a non-zero chance that they ultimately extend Conner after this season despite his age.

 

[dipandglide]

I'm with meno. You aren't drafting Benson for this year. He's a handcuff at best in '24 with the hopes of taking over a majority role in '25

Conner is whatever in redraft. He's a value or breakeven play where he's being drafted. You are loving life if you draft him and he's healthy for the stretch run. But you can say that about all RBs.

 

[C & C]

non-zero chance that they ultimately extend Conner after this season despite his age.

Yep, my guess is he is resigned, but expectations are for a split in 2025 if it does happen.

 

[Faust]

Cardinals' RB James Conner says career year 'not the ceiling'

 

[BobbyLayne]

Conner and Mostert seem like values bc they get dinged about age concerns. But when I look at the two RB rooms, hard not to envision them both having very significant roles.

Different kind of back but it seems like Conner being unappreciated is an annual thing a la Thomas Jones. I know he always gets dinged up (25 games missed in seven years, 8 in the last two) but seems like a lock for 235 or so touches.

Super efficient last year. Age 29 season but he has shown no signs of decline, and Benson is a work in progress.

 

[RenegadeRoy]

Super efficient last year.

Should also, at least on paper, be a better offense this year.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Super efficient last year.

Should also, at least on paper, be a better offense this year.

[insert favorite July statement about it being the players second year in the OC’s offense]

Should be concentrated targets for MHJ & McBride. Not sure why Conners involvement in the pass game declined last year; he’s still effective in pass pro and Demercado was nothing special.

 

[Faust]

The Coachspeak Index
#Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon on James Conner:

“He’s been fantastic. He’s improving his game. He looks very explosive out there. Fresh, big, strong. He’s gonna have a good year.”

x.com

x.com

 

[spurs44]

Conner and Mostert seem like values bc they get dinged about age concerns. But when I look at the two RB rooms, hard not to envision them both having very significant roles.

Different kind of back but it seems like Conner being unappreciated is an annual thing a la Thomas Jones. I know he always gets dinged up (25 games missed in seven years, 8 in the last two) but seems like a lock for 235 or so touches.

Super efficient last year. Age 29 season but he has shown no signs of decline, and Benson is a work in progress.

Same rhetoric every year on Connors and every year he proves them wrong. Injury oncern albeit a few games every year but Bensun might help him play a full year. There should be enough for both. Conners will probably get 60/40 over Benson. But I'd be worth getting Both as this offense should be greatly improved.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Conner and Mostert seem like values bc they get dinged about age concerns. But when I look at the two RB rooms, hard not to envision them both having very significant roles.

Different kind of back but it seems like Conner being unappreciated is an annual thing a la Thomas Jones. I know he always gets dinged up (25 games missed in seven years, 8 in the last two) but seems like a lock for 235 or so touches.

Super efficient last year. Age 29 season but he has shown no signs of decline, and Benson is a work in progress.

Same rhetoric every year on Connors and every year he proves them wrong. Injury oncern albeit a few games every year but Bensun might help him play a full year. There should be enough for both. Conners will probably get 60/40 over Benson. But I'd be worth getting Both as this offense should be greatly improved.

I’m expecting more like 75/25 Conner.

It’s interesting to see Henry’s ADP vs Conner. Conner had just ~100 fewer yards than Henry last year and is a year younger.

 

[spurs44]

Conner and Mostert seem like values bc they get dinged about age concerns. But when I look at the two RB rooms, hard not to envision them both having very significant roles.

Different kind of back but it seems like Conner being unappreciated is an annual thing a la Thomas Jones. I know he always gets dinged up (25 games missed in seven years, 8 in the last two) but seems like a lock for 235 or so touches.

Super efficient last year. Age 29 season but he has shown no signs of decline, and Benson is a work in progress.

Same rhetoric every year on Connors and every year he proves them wrong. Injury oncern albeit a few games every year but Bensun might help him play a full year. There should be enough for both. Conners will probably get 60/40 over Benson. But I'd be worth getting Both as this offense should be greatly improved.

I’m expecting more like 75/25 Conner.

It’s interesting to see Henry’s ADP vs Conner. Conner had just ~100 fewer yards than Henry last year and is a year younger.

Yeah, after I thought about it I'd settle on 70/30.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Conner and Mostert seem like values bc they get dinged about age concerns. But when I look at the two RB rooms, hard not to envision them both having very significant roles.

Different kind of back but it seems like Conner being unappreciated is an annual thing a la Thomas Jones. I know he always gets dinged up (25 games missed in seven years, 8 in the last two) but seems like a lock for 235 or so touches.

Super efficient last year. Age 29 season but he has shown no signs of decline, and Benson is a work in progress.

Same rhetoric every year on Connors and every year he proves them wrong. Injury oncern albeit a few games every year but Bensun might help him play a full year. There should be enough for both. Conners will probably get 60/40 over Benson. But I'd be worth getting Both as this offense should be greatly improved.

I’m expecting more like 75/25 Conner.

It’s interesting to see Henry’s ADP vs Conner. Conner had just ~100 fewer yards than Henry last year and is a year younger.

Yeah, after I thought about it I'd settle on 70/30.

Sold!

 

[Faust]

@32BeatWriters
“Running back James Conner put on a show for the fans at the Cardinals' annual red and white practice. In 11-on-11, without tackling, he had hard run after hard run, showcasing a variety of inside and outside moves. He didn't seem to miss a beat running behind an interior of an offensive line that has been reshaped all week”

@joshweinfuss

espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…

x.com

x.com

 

[kyoun1e]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

 

[kyoun1e]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

You could do a lot worse there.

 

[Ray Barboni]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

I’m drafting him a lot as well .. mocks of course. But he’s easily falling to me as my #2 RB - and I love him there. I’m actively getting 3 WR’s, Achane and Conner with my first 5 picks

 

[Jamesinaz]

I live in AZ and watch a bit of the Cardinals. Not a huge homer but hey they are on TV. All I can say is outside the numbers Conner produces (which are good as you all know) he adds a bit of toughness and grit to that offense that is missing when he is out. I think the coaches appreciate that

If he slips to me in a late enough round I will take him. I am also watching a bit of the news on Benson and he might have a really great career ahead of him but as of today this is Conners backfield so long as he is healthy and producing as in the past. IMO of course.

 

[kyoun1e]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

I’m drafting him a lot as well .. mocks of course. But he’s easily falling to me as my #2 RB - and I love him there. I’m actively getting 3 WR’s, Achane and Conner with my first 5 picks

Yeah Conner in round 5.

I think I'm out on Achane though. Kept tinkering with him as my #1 RB in round 2 and I just don't think I can do it.

I'm usually going RB (B. Hall or Bijan), WR-WR, TE (Andrews, McBride, Kincaid) and then Conner. If K. Walker is available there I'll usually grab him.

Have to make sure you get T. Benson before you hit triple digit draft numbers though.

 

[Ray_T]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

maybe so. but there are two, young RB on the roster and at some point one of them may unseat him. that risk premium is the reason you are getting him at the draft for less than his percieved statistical value. and the guy the team drafted is pretty good. My guess is they want him to be the starter next year, but sometimes plans do change. it could happen later, or sooner. and Conner runs hard and does get hurt. so when he misses games, its a pretty good bet one of the young ones will get their shot.

so yes, he is undervalued, but when you put those risks into the equasion, the current ADP makes a lot more sense

 

[kyoun1e]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

maybe so. but there are two, young RB on the roster and at some point one of them may unseat him. that risk premium is the reason you are getting him at the draft for less than his percieved statistical value. and the guy the team drafted is pretty good. My guess is they want him to be the starter next year, but sometimes plans do change. it could happen later, or sooner. and Conner runs hard and does get hurt. so when he misses games, its a pretty good bet one of the young ones will get their shot.

so yes, he is undervalued, but when you put those risks into the equasion, the current ADP makes a lot more sense

Right and that's why you have to secure T. Benson if you draft Conner.

 

[Ray_T]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

maybe so. but there are two, young RB on the roster and at some point one of them may unseat him. that risk premium is the reason you are getting him at the draft for less than his percieved statistical value. and the guy the team drafted is pretty good. My guess is they want him to be the starter next year, but sometimes plans do change. it could happen later, or sooner. and Conner runs hard and does get hurt. so when he misses games, its a pretty good bet one of the young ones will get their shot.

so yes, he is undervalued, but when you put those risks into the equasion, the current ADP makes a lot more sense

Right and that's why you have to secure T. Benson if you draft Conner.

Yes, if you believe hes next up. for sure.

 

[Ray Barboni]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

I’m drafting him a lot as well .. mocks of course. But he’s easily falling to me as my #2 RB - and I love him there. I’m actively getting 3 WR’s, Achane and Conner with my first 5 picks

Yeah Conner in round 5.

I think I'm out on Achane though. Kept tinkering with him as my #1 RB in round 2 and I just don't think I can do it.

I'm usually going RB (B. Hall or Bijan), WR-WR, TE (Andrews, McBride, Kincaid) and then Conner. If K. Walker is available there I'll usually grab him.

Have to make sure you get T. Benson before you hit triple digit draft numbers though.

Yea I’m mocking from the 3 spot. So after going WR-WR, Achane is typically there for me in the early 3rd. I’ll take his upside if I know I can usually get Conner to stabilize in the 5th.

 

[kyoun1e]

In PPR, ADP has him as a round 5 RB. Surprised he's this low. If healthy, that guy is a TD machine and this offense should be improved.

Sure he misses a couple games every year, but that's why you make sure you grab T. Benson later.

Tempted to reach for him a little in the RB dead zone.

I dealt for him in dynasty on a win-now roster. Added 3 olds this offseason trying to go back to back in Conner, Deebo, & Cooper.

Conner is super undervalued right now.

I'm mocking and have a hard time resisting drafting him late in the 4th as my #2 RB.

I’m drafting him a lot as well .. mocks of course. But he’s easily falling to me as my #2 RB - and I love him there. I’m actively getting 3 WR’s, Achane and Conner with my first 5 picks

Yeah Conner in round 5.

I think I'm out on Achane though. Kept tinkering with him as my #1 RB in round 2 and I just don't think I can do it.

I'm usually going RB (B. Hall or Bijan), WR-WR, TE (Andrews, McBride, Kincaid) and then Conner. If K. Walker is available there I'll usually grab him.

Have to make sure you get T. Benson before you hit triple digit draft numbers though.

Yea I’m mocking from the 3 spot. So after going WR-WR, Achane is typically there for me in the early 3rd. I’ll take his upside if I know I can usually get Conner to stabilize in the 5th.

Interesting. I'm mocking from the 3 spot as well.

I'm going RB-WR-WR instead. Just can't pass up B. Hall or Bijan. Then usually go Nico and Kupp if he's still there (instead of Achane). That's why Conner as my #2 is so damn attractive in round 5 (although I tend to get antsy at that 4/5 turn and if there is a run on RBs I'll go Conner earlier.

 

[RaidersAreOne]

Can people sell me on Conner? I have never been a big fan of his.

 

[RenegadeRoy]

Can people sell me on Conner? I have never been a big fan of his.

Workhorse 3-down back in an offense that should be cookin this year with very little backfield competition. The team likes him. I think he suffers from being "boring" in terms of fantasy, but in reality he has a decent floor and a good ceiling.

 

[menobrown]

Can people sell me on Conner? I have never been a big fan of his.

I did not used to be either but I've changed my mind.

I'm a Steelers fan, when they drafted him I called him a spare. Only time I'd really ever owned him during most of early part of his career was the year Bell sat out and I had just happened to grab him as a handcuff.

I went years without having him on a single team,dynasty or redraft.

I started to change my mind during the late part of the 2022 season. Just thought he looked really good, just ran with a little more juice then I recall him earlier in his career and was kind of exceptional in the passing game. But what really changed my mind if the FFPC format for dynasty playoffs is total point race the last two weeks of the fantasy season among 4 teams. That year I was in 6 final 4's and in each league someone else had Conner and he was a massive problem to me.

Got him last off-season, after he was a problem to me in multiple leagues, on my first dynasty team. He was basically a throw in where I traded Pollard for him and a future #1. I went on to win the league, would not have without him.

Last year I started to realize just how much Gannon loves him and is making him a centerpiece of sorts. I felt like he took a small step back in his third down role and he's a major injury red flag who you can kind of set your clock to missing a few games. But the injuries might actually be helping him a bit now as his workload over his entire career is not that exhaustive for his age. But still, would be way out of the his norm for him to not miss you a few games.

All that being said I'm not HIGHER then consensus. He's going as RB18 in most of my leagues, and I think that's about right.

 

[joey]

I just replied in the Mike Evans thread and it strikes me that an Evans/Conner combo in rounds 3 and 4 in redraft is a “boring” but super solid combo if you can swing it. They’re both my targets at least.

 

[BlackCrowes]

Can people sell me on Conner? I have never been a big fan of his.

RB1 from weeks 13-18 last year

 

[Chaka]

Can people sell me on Conner? I have never been a big fan of his.

Workhorse 3-down back in an offense that should be cookin this year with very little backfield competition. The team likes him. I think he suffers from being "boring" in terms of fantasy, but in reality he has a decent floor and a good ceiling.

He averages 1,140 yards and 9 TDs in 26 games played over the last two seasons (13 games each season).

He will absolutely miss time, but when he's in there he has been kind of a monster.

 

[RaidersAreOne]

Sold!

 

[Chaka]

Sold!

The only caveat with him is, personally if I draft him I would probably go after Trey Benson early.

 

[Faust]

The Coachspeak Index
#Cardinals OC Drew Petzing:

“James [Conner] is the bellcow in that room. That’s not a surprise to anyone.”

x.com

x.com

 

[kyoun1e]

Gotta love J. Conner right now. This offense is going to roll and he's the bellcow on it.

Question to owners: If you don't own Benson, are you trying to get him?

I'm thinking of paying up for Benson. He'll produce in this offense if Conner goes down (which is likely).

 

[kyoun1e]

Gotta love J. Conner right now. This offense is going to roll and he's the bellcow on it.

Question to owners: If you don't own Benson, are you trying to get him?

I'm thinking of paying up for Benson. He'll produce in this offense if Conner goes down (which is likely).

Petrified Conner will go down, but don't own Benson.

Have a great feeling about this AZ offense this year. You want pieces of it. Great, I own Conner, but wouldn't mind a Benson insurance policy. I'd think he'd perform as an RB2 if Conner gets hurt.

Would anyone here trade. B. Allen (B. Hall backup) for Benson? Assuming B. Hall stays healthy, probably selling B. Allen high for this insurance policy.

Could also try and sell Bigsby but don't think he'll go for it.

 

[kyoun1e]

Tough matchup this week.

Anyone dare bench him?

 

[Wrigley]

Tough matchup this week.

Anyone dare bench him?

No

 

[icehouse]

I say a prayer that he doesn’t get hurt every week

 

[icehouse]

Anything to this ankle injury?

 

[Pietaster2]

Anything to this ankle injury?

I wish we'd get an update so I can either hold or drop Tre Benson with my bench slot.

 

[The General]

He's the kind of player that will go up to the wire before they announce it.

 

[kyoun1e]

Anything to this ankle injury?

Will have to see the practice report.

All I've read is there was "taping" on the sidelines. Whatever that means. And it's unclear if he was out of the game because of a blowout or not.

Regardless, this week's matchup stinks. and the offense doesn't appear to be clicking.

What I find strange is why is he suddenly not getting reception opportunities? Feel like in years past he got plenty of cheap PPR points here.

 

[Gally]

All I've read is there was "taping" on the sidelines. Whatever that means. And it's unclear if he was out of the game because of a blowout or not.

He was being taped up and then he was jogging/testing out his ankle on the sidelines. He definitely tweaked his ankle so it may have been a combo injury/blowout as to why he sat. It's not completely one or the other. He did come back in after the taping and fumble and I believe he was out for the rest of the game after that.

 

[JohnnyU]

All I've read is there was "taping" on the sidelines. Whatever that means. And it's unclear if he was out of the game because of a blowout or not.

He was being taped up and then he was jogging/testing out his ankle on the sidelines. He definitely tweaked his ankle so it may have been a combo injury/blowout as to why he sat. It's not completely one or the other. He did come back in after the taping and fumble and I believe he was out for the rest of the game after that.

I believe Conner is at a point in his career where he would give it a go if he was in a coma.

 

[zamboni]

All I've read is there was "taping" on the sidelines. Whatever that means. And it's unclear if he was out of the game because of a blowout or not.

He was being taped up and then he was jogging/testing out his ankle on the sidelines. He definitely tweaked his ankle so it may have been a combo injury/blowout as to why he sat. It's not completely one or the other. He did come back in after the taping and fumble and I believe he was out for the rest of the game after that.

I believe Conner is at a point in his career where he would give it a go if he was in a coma.

No question - he's playing for what will probably be his last contract.

 

[JohnnyU]

All I've read is there was "taping" on the sidelines. Whatever that means. And it's unclear if he was out of the game because of a blowout or not.

He was being taped up and then he was jogging/testing out his ankle on the sidelines. He definitely tweaked his ankle so it may have been a combo injury/blowout as to why he sat. It's not completely one or the other. He did come back in after the taping and fumble and I believe he was out for the rest of the game after that.

I believe Conner is at a point in his career where he would give it a go if he was in a coma.

No question - he's playing for what will probably be his last contract.

Isn’t he past any decent contract? I believe he’s almost to the point of looking over his shoulder and doesn’t wnt to get Wally Pipp’ed.

 

[icehouse]

Dang, still no update on that ankle?