James Conner
Verdict: Start ’em
The Steelers run game was a surprising success against the Texans, as Conner turned in a strong overall performance. While a lot of this was due to the talent he has, the key to his success was the rotation of RBs that played. While Conner received the bell cow work, Anthony McFarland saw a lot of work to “change the pace” and Benny Snell came in on short-yardage work. This rotation allowed Conner to stay healthy and well-rested, aiding in his dominant performance.
Assuming the Steelers keep that rotation, Conner will be a savvy start this week in fantasy. He can do it all as a runner: gain yards, catch passes, and serve as the goal line back meaning he should be able to see similar production that he had last week. The problem before was defenses could hone in on him and put in players that would stop him. Now, with the changing players in the backfield, teams will have to be more on their feet and plan accordingly.
While Conner may not have 150 total yards, he should be a threat to gain 100 total yards a week. On top of this, receptions in the passing game can add to his point totals as well as his ability to score in the red zone. The Titans have struggled to stop the run, so the Steelers may be able to completely launch their rushing attack this week. Keep Conner in your lineups ahead of this week’s matchup and reap the rewards.
The Steelers have a lot of good fantasy matchups this week to keep in mind before finalizing your starting roster. Keep all of these players in mind when setting your lineups and reap the rewards of solid fantasy output.