Who Should I Start? James Conner or Zach Charbonnet

Saturday, September 7, 5:33 AM

When the Arizona Cardinals open their season on Sunday, it will mark running back James Conner's eighth as a pro, and his fourth with the team. Since joining the Cardinals in 2021, Conner has the eleventh-most carries in the league despite missing seven games due to injury over the last two seasons and starting only six games in 2021. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing recently told the media that Conner is "the bell cow in that room," signaling he will maintain his role despite rookie Trey Benson's presence on the depth chart. In 2023, Conner turned in his first 1,000-yard season and finished with the third-most rushing yards per game (80.0). The Buffalo Bills have a stout defense but last season had a weakness against running backs, allowing 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst in the NFL) and 6.33 yards per target (fourth-worst) to the position. Conner can be started as a solid RB2 option in Week 1.

Thursday, September 5, 8:40 PM

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is better left on your bench in Week 1 when the Seahawks host the Denver Broncos. The Broncos had one of the league's worst rushing defenses in 2023. However, Charbonnet is unlikely to see a large enough rushing share to be effective for fantasy. If history is any indication, Kenneth Walker III has a firm grip on the starting running back position. Charbonnet has high-end insurance value, but he is better left alone in Week 1.