The Arizona Cardinals are leaning toward a youth movement, but they have a steady, true veteran on the roster: James Conner.
Conner’s fantasy football outlook is intriguing this year because he is an aging veteran who turned 29 years old and has dealt with a multitude of injuries. Even with these negative things attached to his name, he still dominates on the field.
Let’s break down how Conner’s fantasy outlook will look in 2024.
James Conner’s Fantasy Profile for the 2024 Season
Last season, Conner finished the year with 1,040 rushing yards, the sixth-best mark in the NFL.
Conner produced behind a dysfunctional offensive line and had no passing game to help alleviate the pressure in the box against the run game.
Conner’s seven rushing touchdowns were 14th best in the NFL, and according to TruMedia, he wasn’t just the hammer to end the drive. He also elongated the drives with the eighth-best rushes for first downs in the NFL, accumulating 57 overall.
When the Cardinals turned to Conner, he produced — plain and simple.
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Conner’s biggest issue is his availability. He has played 13 games in each of his last two seasons.
Now, injuries can never be predicted, so don’t lean too much stock into this. But it is worth considering that Conner has seen over 200 rushing attempts in two of the last three seasons.
Is Conner a Good Fantasy Pick?
As much as Conner can produce workhorse running back numbers, we can fade him at his average draft position (ADP) of 55 overall.
Here are some players you can add to your team with similar ADPs this fantasy football season: George Pickens (57), Tee Higgins (58), David Montgomery (60), and Kyle Pitts (63).
If you have implemented a ZeroRB Draft strategy, Conner can be a great target in the fifth round as your first running back to add to your plethora of wide receivers as he follows the rule of “Volume Is King” that we chase in our running backs.
Another issue with Conner is that his bye week lands in Week 11. That is a crucial week in fantasy football for someone with his ADP to be out of your lineup. If you are following ZeroRB, you lost your primary running back for an important week. If not, you lose your RB2/Flex play for the same crucial week.
Conner has an uphill battle in multiple facets this season, as well. He faces the 29th-toughest strength of schedule for running backs, which makes us cringe when looking to draft him at his ADP. He also has a challenger in the backfield because the Cardinals drafted Trey Benson, who brings homerun speed to the Arizona backfield.
In addition, the Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr., who will pair with Trey McBride in the passing game. The organization’s moves show a move to a faster, more youthful passing attack, which doesn’t fit the definition of James Conner.