James Conner's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner took 21 carries for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown in the team's 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He also caught his lone target of the game for a gain of two yards. Conner did lose the ball on the Rams' five-yard line in the fourth quarter, but tight end Trey McBride fell on top of it as it bounced ahead into the end zone to give the Cardinals their fifth touchdown of the game. The eighth-year veteran was as elusive as ever, forcing six missed tackles in the game. Thanks to the lopsided score, Conner ceded backfield duties to Trey Benson and Emari Demercado after his fumble but there is no question he is the top dog in Arizona's running backs room. In Week 3, Conner will be in the RB1 conversation again when the Cardinals take on the Detroit Lions.

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.

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.