Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner put up 83 yards from scrimmage and found the end zone in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He will look to do more of the same on Sunday in the Cardinals' home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Fears that he might lose work to rookie Trey Benson were assuaged last week as Conner handled 16 of Arizona's 20 handoffs and was on the field for 67% of offensive snaps compared to Benson's 13% share. The Rams had one of the toughest run defenses in the league in 2023 but no longer have Aaron Donald anchoring their line. In Week 1, they gave up 131 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to the Lions. Conner should be locked into fantasy lineups this week and can be expected to put up another RB1 performance.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing described running back James Conner as the team's "bell cow" in recent comments to the media. Anyone left wondering how much Petzing's coachspeak could be trusted got their answer on Sunday. Conner handled the ball in each of the Cardinals' first six plays from scrimmage to open the game and paced the team's running backs with 16 rushing attempts. The eighth-year veteran gained 50 rushing yards and caught three passes for another 33 yards through the air. Conner scored his first touchdown of the season in the second quarter, taking the handoff from three yards out and punching it through the line for the score. Conner and the Cardinals next face the Rams, who allowed a combined 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns to David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions in Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner rushed for 50 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. He also caught three passes for 33 yards during the game.

From TheHuddle

When the Arizona Cardinals open their season on Sunday, it will mark running back James Conner's eighth as a pro, and his fourth with the team. Since joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner has the eleventh-most carries in the league despite missing seven games due to injury over the last two seasons and starting only six games in 2021. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently told the media that Conner is "the bell cow in that room," signaling he will maintain his role despite rookie Trey Benson's presence on the depth chart. In 2023, Conner turned in his first 1,000-yard season and finished with the third-most rushing yards per game (80.0). The Buffalo Bills have a stout defense but last season had a weakness against running backs, allowing 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst in the NFL) and 6.33 yards per target (fourth-worst) to the position. Conner can be started as a solid RB2 option in Week 1.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner is the 'bell cow in that (running back) room,' according to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Fantasy Spin: In case some of Trey Benson's biggest supporters needed to hear it from the play-caller himself. It is not a fantasy football season unless Conner is underrated. This year, managers have been hesitant to invest too much into Conner for two reasons: 1) a potential challenge from Benson and 2) the 29-year-old's durability issues. Conner managers should not hesitate to pick up Benson whenever and wherever possible, but it seems as though the rookie's value in 2024 will be mostly as a handcuff. It should also be noted that Conner was the highest-scoring non-quarterback in fantasy from Weeks 13-18, which is about the same time Kyler Murray started to look comfortable with his knee following his recovery from a torn ACL.

From TheHuddle

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner "is the bell cow in that room," offensive coordinator Drew Petzing told the media on Tuesday. In simpler terms, Conner remains the primary option in Arizona's backfield. After all, there's no reason to reduce his workload given that he excelled in 2023. Last year, despite being 28 years old, he delivered 1,040 rushing yards, 165 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Now, entering his age-29 campaign, he remains a solid RB2 option for fantasy purposes. Petzing's comments come amidst speculation that rookie Trey Benson may eat into Conner's workload. While Arizona surely hopes Benson is their future franchise running back and could need him to carry the backfield at a moment's notice, the bell cow role still belongs to Conner for now.

From RotoBaller

Dynasty | Cardinals rookie Trey Benson ran for 43 yards on nine carries in the Cardinals preseason loss to the Colts. Dynasty Analysis: it's been a relatively quiet preseason for Benson, though he looked a bit better in this one. Still, he's done little to unseat James Conner and is looking like a clear handcuff and backup at the moment. A solid second round rookie pick, Benson is going to need an injury or some ineffectiveness from Conner to carve out a meaningful role early it seems.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner, who is in a contract year, will very much remain the focal point for the team's backfield for the foreseeable future. Fowler thinks Conner still has untapped potential as an RB2 for fantasy managers after coming off a career-best 5.0 yards per carry and his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign in 2023. The only thing that could hold him back from a volume standpoint is durability. The 29-year-old has never played a full season in the NFL, so the Cardinals might manage his workload accordingly. But if his health cooperates, another 200-plus-carry season should be in the cards for Conner. Fantasy managers that roll with Conner as their RB2 would be wise to handcuff him later in drafts with rookie third-rounder Trey Benson, who should eventually leapfrog Emari Demercado as the primary backup in Arizona.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner may have recorded a career-high 1,040 rushing yards in 2023, but he hopes that was his floor and he can build on that total in 2024. "That's the floor," Conner told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward. Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling." Now 29 years old, Conner still has a solid grasp on the Cardinals' No. 1 running back role even after Arizona added Trey Benson in the draft. He has continued to show that he can make an impact on the ground and through the air, entering 2024 as a solid RB2 option in most fantasy football leagues.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner said his career-high 1,040 rushing yards last year are his floor for the 2024 season. 'Definitely got a lot of work to put in but that's the floor, not the ceiling.'

Fantasy Spin: Conner topped 1,000 yards on the ground despite missing the final four games with a knee injury. He enters this season as the lead back in Arizona, and while he isn't the most explosive option at the position, he should have the volume to finish as a reliable RB2.

From TheHuddle

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner has been one of the most underrated ball carriers in fantasy football over the last few years. The former Pittsburgh Steeler remained productive in his age-28 season last year, rushing 208 times for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns and catching 27 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He finished as the RB18 in PPR formats despite missing four games due to injury. Heading into 2024, Conner expects more of the same. "That's the floor," Conner said (speaking of a 1,000-yard rushing season), "I want that to be the lowest I rush for in my career going forward." While Arizona selected Florida State running back Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Conner is expected to maintain his workhorse role, at least early in the season. The Cardinals have an ascending offense, so Conner could be a tremendous value pick at RB25 cost in preseason drafts. That said, Conner has never played a full season, so be sure to stash high-upside backs behind him if you roster him.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals veteran running back and team captain James Conner is heading into his eighth NFL season in 2024 and his fourth with the Cardinals. He's coming off his first 1,000-yard season as a professional and said he wouldn't mind finishing his NFL career in the desert. Conner has grown close to quarterback Kyler Murray, spending time together on numerous outings. The 29-year-old veteran is entering the last year of the three-year deal he signed in 2022, which has ended up being a bargain for the Cardinals. "It would be awesome to finish my career here, but nothing changes," Conner said. Rookie third-rounder Trey Benson could eventually take over Conner's spot as the team's lead back, but as far as 2024 in concerned, Conner should remain the team's lead back in what should be an improved offense.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner is entering the final year of his current contract and said that he would be interested in remaining with the team beyond the 2024 season.

Fantasy Spin: The 29-year-old Conner topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in 2023 and was fourth in the NFL in average rushing yards per game (80). However, he could wind up sharing offensive snaps this year with RB Trey Benson if the rookie gets off to a strong start. For now, Conner can be viewed as a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 fantasy option, while Benson is worth rostering in most fantasy leagues.

From TheHuddle

Dynasty | The Arizona Cardinals drafted Florida State running back Trey Benson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Dynasty Analysis: Benson was snapped up with the 66th overall selection. It's a solid landing spot for the former Seminole who will presumably pair with James Conner in a new-look backfield in the desert in the short-term. However, Conner's injury history and age is going to likely pave a quick path to a true starting job for Benson sooner rather than later. While he may not reach his potential for a year or two, Benson looks like a very solid pick right around the round 1/2 turn in rookie drafts.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Dynasty | With the early third round selection of RB Trey Benson, the Cardinals prepare for life after James Conner. Dynasty Analysis: Benson was widely regarded as a top two RB in the rookie class, and could prove to be a steal in the third round. But it isn't the type of draft capital that commands an immediate workload. Dynasty managers can expect a dip in Conner's dynasty value long-term; a dip that was coming for the 28 year-old anyways. But the short term value should get a bump as Conner takes on a full workload with Benson's fresh legs waiting patiently until the wheels fall off for Conner.

From Dynasty League Fantasy