James Conner fantasy outlook: Should you draft Cardinals RB in 2024?
James Conner's fantasy outlook in one line is probably summed up like this: he just keeps getting better.
Since signing for the Arizona Cardinals, Conner's finishes look pretty damn impressive if we're going by points per game: RB7, RB9 and RB13. But with the Cardinals bringing rookie RB Trey Benson to town on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, there have been a few questions over whether Conner would be a good pick this year. So without further ado, here's what you need to know before you draft.
James Conner's fantasy outlook for 2024
Yes, the Cardinals invested Day 2 capital on Trey Benson, but make no mistake, Conner's a pretty solid option. Despite having Joshua Dobbs under center for most of last year, Conner's production of 201.5 fantasy points in 13 games saw him finish as RB13 on a points-per-game basis. And that was behind a pretty rough offensive line.
The bottom line is that the Cardinals looked to Conner to deliver, and deliver he did.
Is James Conner a good pick?
In all likelihood, Conner will start as Arizona's primary ballhandler despite Benson being on the roster. He will lead the Cardinals' backfield in snaps this year.
Now, we're not saying he has RB1 potential, he's nowhere close. But if you're slipping down the drafts, you could take him into consideration at a stretch.
Should you draft James Conner in 2024?
Conner has strong RB2 potential but with an ADP of 55 overall, you could probably stay away. He's not the worst option at RB, but at that ADP, you could probably roll with Tee Higgins. Moreover, considering the Cardinals landed Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with Trey McBride in the passing game, we could potentially see Conner getting a little overlooked to get MHJ going.
Conner settles in as RB21 in our 2024 Fantasy Football RB rankings.
Additionally, our fantasy analyzer sees Conner net a return of 232 points. All things considered, Conner profiles as a lower-tier RB2, probably if you're drafting somewhere in the seventh round and you need a running back who's a legit starter.