Who Should I Start? James Conner or Rhamondre Stevenson

Monday, September 22, 6:34 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) underwent season-ending surgery on Monday after suffering a significant right ankle injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Conner was carted off with his ankle immobilized, and head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed he won't return this season. With Conner sidelined, the Cardinals will turn to second-year back Trey Benson, who has been highly efficient, averaging 6.0 yards per carry (second among RBs). Gannon praised Benson before the season, noting he viewed both Conner and Benson as capable starters. Benson now projects as the lead option in Arizona's backfield, while Emari Demercado is expected to mix in behind him.

Sunday, January 18, 9:32 PM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 70 yards on 16 carries during Sunday's Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. He also caught all four of his targets for an additional 11 receiving yards. Stevenson led the backfield in touches on Sunday, and understandably so. He was far more efficient (4.4 YPC) than teammate TreVeyon Henderson (2.1 YPC) once again. We'll likely see a similar distribution of touches heading into next week's AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos. Denver has a strong defense, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs during the regular season. With that being said, Stevenson has shown that he can produce even against strong run defenses. Look no further than Sunday's playoff win over Houston. He should remain a strong option for DFS managers and bettors going forward, especially in formats where his pass-catching role gives him a boost.