James Conner's fantasy outlook: should you pick him?

Knowing that the Arizona Cardinals dismissed running back Eno Benjamin earlier this week, we can say that James Conner will serve as their primary back for the remainder of the season. For fantasy managers who own Conner, this is good news.

He received all except five of the Cardinals' 26 carries last weekend with Benjamin on the sidelines. Keaontay Ingram, the sole backup in the squad, was the only other running back to see action on Sunday.

Conner has failed to score since the first round of matches this season, but now that he's fit, he has rediscovered his knack for finding the end zone just like last season. He scored on a nine-yard sprint midway through the fourth quarter after scoring his first touchdown on a four-yard run in the second quarter.

In his next match, Conner will take on a San Francisco 49ers defensive unit he recorded three touchdowns against in two encounters last season.

Conner is an excellent bet for RB1 output when he is on the pitch. Without Chase Edmonds, who now plays for the Denver Broncos, he scored as the number 2 running back in all of fantasy football in 6 contests last year.

James Conner's stats and fantasy prediction

In the Arizona Cardinals' win against the Los Angeles Rams, James Conner received all three of his targets for 17 yards. He handled 21 of the 22 running back carries in the game, played 96% of the Arizona Cardinals' offensive snaps, attracted 3 targets and commanded the backfield as well.

James Conner won't be very efficient in Arizona's difficult Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers. Still, as long as he keeps getting the kind of volume he got last week, he should be in fantasy teams.

The player has averaged 4.43 and 2.43 yards after contact per attempt in the two games since making a comeback from injury, with four missed tackles. The rushers continue to have it tough against the San Francisco 49ers.

The team is fourth in rushing yards per contest, fourth in explosive run rate since the fifth round of matches this season, and thirteenth in EPA per rush. Conner, who was the RB3 in fantasy football last week, can survive an ineffective day with production and touchdown value.

In the future, most fantasy football teams will start him every week, thanks to the work he put in on Sunday, coupled with Eno Benjamin's departure.