James Conner DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) was limited at practice on Tuesday. Rookie running back Trey Benson (ankle) was also limited. Conner picked up his injury in Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers. There has been much speculation as to whether or not Conner would be able to play in Week 17, especially since the Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention. Conner's participation in practice in any capacity on Tuesday is a very encouraging sign for his availability this weekend. Benson missed Week 16 with his ankle injury. His availability on Sunday would be a great sight for depth behind Conner or for Benson's standalone value. Conner has been on fire lately. He has rushed for 90 or more yards and scored a touchdown in three straight games. Fantasy managers have been riding Conner all the way to championship weekend as a result. Conner has rushed for his second 1,000-yard season in 2024. He has also caught 45 passes for 410 yards. If Conner is active this weekend, he should pick up where he left off in Week 16 when the Cardinals face the Los Angeles Rams.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is in wait-and-see mode for the team's upcoming Week 17 game against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night. Conner injured his knee in the overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 16, but not before putting up strong numbers with 19 touches for 166 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals were eliminated from postseason contention with their loss on Sunday, which means the Cardinals aren't going to rush the 29-year-old back this weekend if he's not ready. Conner's status will likely depend on how much he can do in practice this week. Trey Benson (ankle) missed the Week 16 game and Emari Demercado (back) is on Injured Reserve, so if Conner is ruled out, the Cardinals could be down to DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter in their backfield against LA on Saturday.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) didn't return to Sunday's overtime loss to the Panthers. The veteran had another fantastic showing, amassing 117 yards and a touchdown off 15 carries. He also had four catches for 49 yards. Conner likely would have been more productive in Week 16. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury and didn't return. The 29-year-old will likely undergo testing in the coming days. However, the Cardinals can't make the playoffs, so the team may not put him out there against the Rams in Week 17. If that's the case, Michael Carter, who had 18 yards off five attempts, will presumably remain the No. 1 option out of the backfield.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday's game with a knee injury. Conner sustained this injury in the third quarter. Before exiting, Conner was enjoying a nice game as he tallied 117 yards and a score on 15 attempts. He also caught all four of his targets for 49 yards. DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter should handle most of the rushing work while Conner remains sidelined. Dallas has already found the end zone today on a one-yard reception.

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner is a must-start RB1 in Week 16 when the Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers on the road. Conner will look to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards for a second straight season, entering this game with 973 yards. He has been a workhorse all year, posting ten games with 20 or more touches. The Cardinals have no margin for error if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the offense has relied on Conner to carry the load. Since signing his contract extension, Conner has put together back-to-back games with 90 or more rushing yards. The vibes are high with Conner and the Cardinals' rushing attack, and fantasy managers should trust him in this matchup.