Fantasy: Sit James Conner vs Cowboys? PFF Says Yes

Should owner sit Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner in their fantasy lineups? Pro Football Focus says yes.

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner is off to a strong start this season. 

Thus far, Conner is RB13 with an average of 14.3 fantasy points per game. Last week against the New York Giants, Conner touted the rock 23 times for 106 yards and one touchdown, though he received just one target. 

The Cardinals entered 2023 saying they wanted to establish the run, and thus far they've stayed true to their identity. Conner has been one of few bright spots in the team's 0-2 start to the season.

Entering Week 3 against one of the toughest defenses in the league, many believe fantasy football owners should find an alternative to Conner when the Dallas Cowboys come to town.

PFF Says Sit James Conner in Fantasy This Week

Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner has been a valuable asset to the team, though the Dallas Cowboys present a daunting challenge. 

The following are points made by PFF's Nathan Jahnke:

• Conner has made his fantasy managers happy so far this season, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game thanks to his 37 carries. The problem this week is that the matchup might be too much for him to overcome.

• The Cardinals have the worst matchup for running backs in Week 3, according to PFF's strength of schedule tool. Conner plays the Dallas Cowboys, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season.

• The Cardinals are double-digit underdogs, which could lead Arizona to abandon the run fairly quickly in the game. Arizona lost its first two games but has spent only seven plays trailing by a touchdown or more. This means we really haven’t seen them in a situation yet this season where they would abandon the run.

• Cardinals running backs have a 14.6% target rate through two weeks, which is a bottom-10 mark, so it’s unlikely Conner will see enough targets to make up for the lack of carries.

Conner and the Cardinals' offense indeed might have a tough time on Sunday, as Dallas' defense ranks No. 1 in metrics such as yards allowed per game, points per game and turnover differential. 

Sitting Conner would be tough, especially considering his opportunities. He's the clear RB1 and has vastly out-snapped his running back counterparts in Keaontay Ingram and Emari Demercado. 

Conner has also proven to be valuable in the passing game, when the ball is thrown to him. Should Arizona truly find themselves down early, Conner has proven in the past to be a reference point for any Cardinals quarterback under center.