The Arizona Cardinals will take on the Carolina Panthers on the road in Week 16 and if there were ever a week to use James Conner in fantasy or to put money on his performance, it would be this week.
Conner, who is having another fine season in 2024, rushing for 973 yards on 4.5 yards per carry so far this season, will face the league’s worst run defense.
The Panthers are last in rushing yards allowed per game (173.0 yards) and last in yards allowed per carry (5.0).
They have allowed over 200 rushing yards in their last three games and 165 or more in six straight games.
The Cardinals have a great rushing attack. They are No. 7 in rushing offense, averaging 141.5 yards per game and third in the NFL in yards per attempt at 5.1.
Conner has five games of at least 100 rushing yards this season but he has not had more than 21 carries in a game.
So not only should Conner have a big game, it will probably be a game in which other running backs get carries. Rookie Trey Benson has not practiced this week with an ankle injury, so Michael Carter, who has been on the practice squad all season, will likely get elevated to the active roster and get a decent number of carries in the game. Likewise, DeeJay Dallas, who is playing in the third-down role since Emari Demercado is on injured reserve, could see some carries as well.
Conner should be good for over 100 yards and at least one touchdown.
Carter will probably be good for 40-plus yards.
As bad as the Panthers’ run defense is, we should not expect a big game from quarterback Kyler Murray. This will be a run-heavy game and it should be.
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