Who Should I Start? James Conner or Jaylen Warren
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10.9 | 43.6 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 14.1 | 0.1 |
James Conner News
Friday, March 13, 5:37 AM
Two-time Pro-Bowl running back James Conner and the Arizona Cardinals agreed to a restructured contract that would keep him in the desert for the 2026 season. One day later, the team agreed to a two-year deal with Tyler Allgeier, adding depth to a running back room that already featured 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson. None of the three backs has a guaranteed salary above $2.1 million in 2026, and with a new coaching staff, this committee situation profiles as one of the murkiest in the league. Allgeier has the most experience in the type of wide-zone scheme expected to be implemented by offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, while Benson offers the most explosiveness, and Conner still boasts the best hands and receiving ability. With the Cardinals coming off a 3-14 season and expected to return Jacoby Brissett as the starting quarterback, this backfield may not find itself in a position to deliver much overall value, regardless of the division of labor.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.4 | 58.1 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 22.6 | 0.1 |
Jaylen Warren News
Tuesday, March 10, 10:19 AM
The Athletic's Saad Yousuf, Dianna Russini, and Mike DeFabo believe that with the addition of new running back Rico Dowdle in free agency, "there's a good shot" that Dowdle will be in the 1A role, and Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren will be the "change-of-pace" back. The 5-foot-8 Warren has been "at his best in a third-down role and out of the shotgun." It means that the 27-year-old will likely take over the pass-catching duties that Kenneth Gainwell had in 2025, when he caught a career-high 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Warren was the RB17 in half-PPR scoring last year, going for a career-high 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 211 carries in 16 games, adding 40 catches for 333 yards and two TDs as a pass-catcher. The addition of Dowdle is definitely a big hit to Warren's overall fantasy value going into 2026, but his role as a pass-catcher shouldn't be taken lightly in PPR formats, especially if veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers returns.
James Conner vs. Jaylen Warren
Still trying to decide between Conner and Warren? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that James Conner is projected to score 10.9 points this week while Jaylen Warren is projected to score 15.4 points.
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