Who Should I Start? James Conner or De'Von Achane

Thursday, May 29, 1:04 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (knee) took part in voluntary organized team activities on Wednesday. "I'm ready," Conner said. "We ain't doing this forever." Conner injured his right knee in Week 16 of last year and had six touches before being pulled in Week 17. The Cardinals placed him on Injured Reserve for the Week 18 regular-season finale, but the 30-year-old veteran appears to be fine now and ready to go for the start of the 2025 season this fall. He racked up a career-high 1,518 scrimmage yards on 236 carries while catching 47 of 55 targets in 2024. It was the healthiest Conner had been in his career, so fantasy managers definitely should expect some more missed time given his age and physical running style. For now, he's still being considered a workhorse back in Arizona, but more injuries could give Trey Benson more of a role eventually.

Wednesday, August 27, 4:38 PM

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (calf) was not practicing on Wednesday, according to Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. Achane has been dealing with a lingering calf injury throughout most of August. However, earlier on Wednesday, the team's general manager noted that he expects their top running back to be "ready" for their Week 1 match against the Colts. While the Dolphins could be closely monitoring his workload, seeing him continue to sit out in practice is not a positive sign. Fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his status leading up to Week 1. When healthy, Achane is one of the most productive running backs in the sport. Last season, Achane enjoyed a breakout campaign totaling 907 yards on the ground and 592 through the air. If he were to miss time, rookie Ollie Gordon II would likely be bumped up the depth chart.