Who Should I Start? James Conner or Mike Washington Jr.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | 10.9 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 6.5 | 0.0 |
James Conner News
Sunday, June 28, 11:09 AM
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot/ankle) is still working his way back from the gruesome foot/ankle injury that ended his 2025 season in Week 3. While Conner should be available to play in 2026, the landscape around him in Arizona has shifted dramatically. The Cardinals overhauled their coaching staff, signed running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency, and then used the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on running back Jeremiyah Love. Entering 2026, Conner likely profiles as the Cardinals' RB3. However, the 31-year-old remained a highly productive player in his last full season in 2024, recording 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games. If Conner proves he's healthy over the summer, he may end up being moved to a running back-needy team before the start of the regular season. Given that his average draft position has plummeted to RB67 in redraft leagues, Conner could be worth taking a flier on in the late rounds of drafts.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | 19.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 6.1 | 0.0 |
Mike Washington Jr. News
Saturday, July 11, 5:20 AM
Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. does not need a weekly role to justify his price near the end of drafts. The Raiders traded up to take him 122nd overall after he piled up 1,296 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 195 touches at Arkansas, including 28 receptions. He is now listed at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds after clocking a 4.33-second 40 at the combine, and the team viewed him as a natural fit for Klint Kubiak's wide-zone scheme. Ashton Jeanty is not about to lose the backfield. He handled 321 touches as a rookie, and Washington may have to live on scattered change-of-pace work while Jeanty is healthy. The appeal comes from the depth chart behind him. Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, and undrafted rookie Roman Hemby offer little proven NFL production, leaving Washington with a real chance to enter the season as the primary backup. RotoBaller ranks him RB55 and 191st overall in PPR, a price that asks for very little. Washington is not a standalone flex play yet, but he is a worthwhile late-round handcuff for Jeanty managers and a reasonable injury-away bet for anyone taking shots at running back depth.
James Conner vs. Mike Washington Jr.
Still trying to decide between Conner and Washington Jr.? 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 3.4 points this week while Mike Washington Jr. is projected to score 4.2 points.
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