Don't Undervalue James Conner in Fantasy Football

James Conner has become a name in fantasy football and should remain a name on your shortlist come draft season.

The Arizona Cardinals are looking like they'll be toward the bottom of the league in 2023, but that doesn't mean they can't be home to some key fantasy players like Conner.

Let's look at what James Conner can bring to the table this season for fantasy owners as he continues to be underrated.

James Conner Fantasy Football Projection

Projections via numberFire

2023 Projected Points: 208.81 points
numberFire Positional Projection: RB18
2023 Projected Stats:

• 252.6 rushes
• 1,085.2 rushing yards
• 8.0 rushing TDs
• 38.1 receptions
• 267.3 receiving yards
• 1.2 receiving TDs

James Conner Fantasy Football Outlook

Proof of Getting It Done on a Bad Team

You don't have to look that far back to know what James Conner can do with a team that isn't all that good around him.

The Cardinals' lead back had a far better season than maybe anyone realizes in 2022. Conner had 183 rushes for 782 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns in 13 games. The beauty of Conner as a fantasy RB is that he also adds through the air, putting up 46 catches while turning that into 300 receiving yards and another TD. That all adds up to a healthy 177.2 points in half-point PPR formats. He finished 10th among RBs on a points-per-game basis, averaging 13.6. That's RB1 range if you're not aware.

His best weeks came toward the end of the season with and without Kyler Murray. His closing totals were 19.5, 20.4, 16.6, 21.5, and 12.5. Those last four came with Murray injured as the offense went from operating through Murray to Conner and his legs. The likelihood that happens again is pretty high and makes Conner a huge value -- even if the injury woes scare some.

Injuries still play a factor when we talk about Conner, but frankly, injuries are a factor for any RB. It's the riskiest position in fantasy for a reason but also can be the most important for your success even if it's not your main focus. The injury concerns are what discount Conner but shouldn't scare you away from taking him.

If anything, you should line up to make sure you don't miss out on him where he's valued. He's going to get the ball a lot, and it's going to turn into points. Few things are more important in fantasy football than opportunity, and he's going to get all of it.

A Zero RB Gold Mine

If you're up to date with trends in fantasy football, the zero-RB strategy trend is at the very top -- especially this season. Seven wide receivers are currently projected for the first round, per FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP) rankings. Add in Travis Kelce, and that makes up eight of the 12 first-round selections.

For those who don't know the strategy, it's quite simple; fantasy owners will completely ignore the RB position for the first few rounds of the draft, focusing on the top WRs, QBs, and TEs before coming back around and picking a handful of RBs who may have low floors, are ranked low, or can come on later in the season.

With Kyler Murray not expected to be back in Week 1 (and later), there are really no other rushing options to take away from Conner. Arizona didn't make any moves to add backfield help; the backups to Conner are Keaontay Ingram, Corey Clement, and Ty'Son Williams. It's his backfield and his ball, making him instantly a bigger value than many other guys around his ADP. The ball will be his time and time again.

It's not for everyone, but it's one that works effectively and makes Conner a gold mine for the zero RB strategy due to where he's ranked and the volume he has coming his way.

Final Verdict: An RB2 at a Discount

Finding an RB2 that you can set and forget can be difficult. Finding one where James Conner is going is almost unheard of. Wwith a proven track record like his, it becomes all the more confusing as to why despite playing for a team that's probably not going to be all too good.

His average draft position (ADP) sits at 73.3 on FantasyPros, leaving him as the RB26.

Here's a look at some of the RBs being drafted ahead of Conner with their PPG from a year ago.

There are numerous reasons for each player to be ranked higher whether it's banking on the upside, efficiency numbers, and new opportunities. Outside of the efficiency, everything can be more of a dart throw than a pick full of confidence. Conner doesn't carry the highest of ceilings but has the safest floor of all these players; that's what sets him apart and makes him worth the pick.

Conner could suffer in terms of carries depending on the Cardinals' game script since they're not expected to have the lead all that much. FanDuel Sportsbook has Arizona set at a 4.5 win total for the upcoming season while they're also the favorites to have the worst record in the league (+250). The good news is that he's targeted (58 targets last season) and doesn't have a change-of-pace back that should take many of those chances from him, either.

numberFire agrees that Conner is a far better value than his ADP projects elsewhere, ranking him as the RB18. For what it's worth, FanDuel's best-ball drafts have Conner sitting with an ADP of 155.9, which plays to his high floor being more beneficial to normal, season-long drafts rather than best-ball drafts with his ceiling not being as favorable.

He's not going to put up league-winning numbers. Sometimes, it might even look ugly on the stat sheet. But with the volume he's set to get as the lead back of the Cardinals, James Conner is a value and a half for any fantasy football drafter this season.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.