Who Should I Start? James Conner or David Montgomery

Friday, December 20, 11:55 PM

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.

Friday, December 20, 6:20 PM

The Detroit Lions are still deciding on whether to place running back David Montgomery (knee) on Injured Reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games. Head coach Dan Campbell said the team is "optimistic" about Montgomery's ability to return in the playoffs despite suffering an MCL injury in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, the team still has a decision to make on whether to put Monty on IR. "It certainly sounds more optimistic, that's the best way to say it," Campbell said. If Detroit puts him on IR before their game this Sunday against the division-rival Chicago Bears, Montgomery would not be available to play in the Lions' first playoff game, which might not be until the Divisional Round if the team secures the top overall seed in the NFC. The 27-year-old is out of play in fantasy leagues for the rest of the year, though, with Jahmyr Gibbs now set to take on an even bigger role.