Who Should I Start? James Conner or Jonathan Taylor

Friday, January 30, 3:31 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) had his 2025 season cut short when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3. The veteran running back was a productive player as recently as 2024, when he recorded 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games played. However, he will enter the 2026 season at 31 years old and less than a year removed from significant ankle surgery, bringing his future fantasy viability into question. The Cardinals spent most of the 2025 season without both of their top running backs, as 2024 third-round pick Trey Benson (knee) did not play after Week 4 due to a knee injury. While Benson's injury status clouds his future outlook as well, Arizona appears headed for a backfield split. The team could also bring in additional talent at the position through free agency or the draft heading into 2026. Given his age and unclear health status, Conner's fantasy value in both redraft and dynasty formats is currently trending in the wrong direction.

Monday, February 2, 4:39 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor finished behind only Christian McCaffrey in overall fantasy points at the RB position in 2025 in his sixth year in the league. Taylor led the NFL in carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) while gaining 1,585 yards on the ground (4.9 yards per attempt). He added a career-best 46 receptions on 55 targets for 378 receiving yards and two more touchdowns in 17 starts. The 27-year-old former second-round selection in 2020 out of Wisconsin has run for 3,016 yards and 29 touchdowns on 626 rushing attempts for the Colts the last two years, and he's found the end zone double-digit times on the ground in four of his six NFL campaigns. The three-time Pro Bowler will remain the centerpiece of Indy's offense in 2026, and with quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) expected to return, he should maintain high-end upside as a top-five RB for fantasy football managers.