Aging running backs are often cast aside but dismissing them outright without a deep dive isn’t how a fantasy football manager thrives long term. With that in mind, the James Conner dynasty ranking is an interesting one.
Conner is coming off his first season with 1,000 rushing yards and has found the end zone 35 times in his three seasons since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is now the time to sell the Arizona Cardinals running back, or is Conner a reasonable hold for competitive teams?
James Conner’s Dynasty Outlook
Conner turns 29 in May, but you wouldn’t have known it given how he finished the 2023 season. In the final five games of his seventh season, he totaled 117 touches, 643 total yards, and seven touchdowns.
For the season as a whole, Conner didn’t show signs of wearing down. The volume down the stretch is one thing, but his ability to set a career-high in yards per carry after contact — by 36.9% — is another.
#NFL Week 13 rushing yards leaders:
1️⃣ Isiah Pacheco, #Chiefs – 110
2️⃣ James Conner, #Cardinals – 105
3️⃣ Chuba Hubbard, #Panthers – 104
4️⃣ Derrick Henry, #Titans – 102
5️⃣ Christian McCaffrey, #49ers – 93@PFNFantasy's early Week 14 RB rankings: https://t.co/PBxy9rCwIa pic.twitter.com/crvFnuhg7P— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
Arizona’s offense has some unknowns, but there’s no denying Conner’s upside or his projected role.
With Kyler Murray at the controls, there is significant growth potential while Trey McBride and Michael Wilson continue to develop. Add in the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, and we could be looking at a unit that produces well above expectations (2023: 24th in points per game).
No, I don’t think Conner’s best days are ahead of him, though his ability to stave off Father Time should be interesting to dynasty fantasy managers who expect to field a competitive roster in 2024.
Kyle Soppe’s Top 35 Dynasty RB Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL
2) Christian McCaffrey | SF
3) Breece Hall | NYJ
4) Jonathan Taylor | IND
5) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET
6) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX
7) Kyren Williams | LAR
8) James Cook | BUF
9) Saquon Barkley | NYG
10) Kenneth Walker III | SEA
11) De’Von Achane | MIA
12) Isiah Pacheco | KC
13) Tony Pollard | DAL
14) Alvin Kamara | NO
15) Javonte Williams | DEN
16) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
17) Josh Jacobs | LV
18) D’Andre Swift | PHI
19) Rachaad White | TB
20) Aaron Jones | GB
21) Austin Ekeler | LAC
22) Tyjae Spears | TEN
23) Joe Mixon | CIN
24) Nick Chubb | CLE
25) Najee Harris | PIT
26) David Montgomery | DET
27) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS
28) Jaylen Warren | PIT
29) Raheem Mostert | MIA
30) Derrick Henry | TEN
31) Khalil Herbert | CHI
32) James Conner | ARI
33) Kendre Miller | NO
34) Zach Charbonnet | SEA
35) Roschon Johnson | CHI
Should You Trade Conner in Dynasty?
Are you considering trading Conner in dynasty? Our free PFN Trade Analyzer makes it easy to find the best trade offer to make in seconds!
Player evaluation is great, but without the ability to look subjectively at your team, you’re going nowhere. A fantasy team that is still building and projecting to peak in 2025 or later has no business investing in a running back with a profile like Conner’s (29 years old with over 1,300 touches).
Over the past decade …
- 10.5% of RBs who touched the ball 200 times in a season were in their age-29 season or beyond.
- 7.4% of RBs to score 225 half-PPR fantasy points were in their age-29 season or beyond.
- Half-PPR points per touch in age-29 seasons or later dip by 5.1%.
- Yards per carry before contact in age-29 seasons or later dip by 6.7%.
- Yards per carry after contact in age-29 seasons or later dip by 5.1%.
That said, if 2024 (and maybe 2025) is within your title window, then Conner is an asset to you.
This is how trades get done. Conner’s value relies on the trajectory of your team as much as anything, so if you can cash in this chip during a rebuild, you do it. This is a similar case for numerous running backs in this age range (think Aaron Jones or Derrick Henry).
MORE: Dynasty Rookie Rankings 2024
You’re participating in a dynasty league because you want to simulate being a general manager of a real team. This is your chance to flex those muscles and make a move.
