Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or James Conner
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | 21.5 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 7.8 | 0.0 |
Samaje Perine News
Sunday, August 9, 10:44 AM
Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine still has a clear job in this backfield, but most of his fantasy appeal starts with Chase Brown. Perine played 15 games last season and ran 84 times for 382 yards and three touchdowns, adding 17 catches for 87 yards. He flashed when Cincinnati gave him a little more room, ripping off 94 yards and a score on only nine carries against the Jets. The Bengals haven't forgotten that. Their own offseason preview has Perine set to lead the group behind Brown again in 2026. Brown, however, played all 17 games last year and topped 1,000 rushing yards, and Cincinnati expects him to remain the lead back. Perine was on the field for just over 31% of the offensive snaps in 2025. RotoBaller ranks him 196th overall and RB58. There is still a place for the 240-pound veteran on a fantasy bench, especially for Brown managers, but weekly value will be hard to find unless his workload grows.
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
Wednesday, July 29, 11:13 AM
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (foot) is still not participating in team drills or 11-on-11 work as he continues his recovery from season-ending surgery, according to AZCardinals.com. Conner suffered a right foot injury in Week 3 last season and finished 2025 with 32 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown while adding eight receptions for 38 yards and another score across three games. Arizona has not provided a timetable for his return to full-team work, and the report did not mention a setback. His continued limitations give third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love, free-agent addition Tyler Allgeier, and Trey Benson additional opportunities in a crowded backfield. Love entered the offseason atop the depth chart after Arizona invested the No. 3 pick in him, so Conner will need to progress into team periods before his role can be evaluated clearly. For now, his participation level remains the key development to monitor as camp continues.
Samaje Perine vs. James Conner
Still trying to decide between Perine and Conner? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Samaje Perine is projected to score 5.3 points this week while James Conner is projected to score 3.4 points.
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