In 2018, James Conner was RB6 in full PPR fantasy scoring. From Week 1-8 last year, he was RB9 in full PPR. Per game for the season, he was RB17 in full PPR.

But Conner missed six games from Week 9 on, leaving him as RB33 in full PPR for 2019. From Week 12-Week 14, Benny Snell stepped in as the Steelers’ lead early down back and had 53 carries for 202 yards and a touchdown (at least 16 carries on each game). Over that span, a crucial stretch of the fantasy season, he was RB22 in standard scoring and RB33 in full PPR.

The Steelers added to their running back stable by taking Anthony McFarland in the fourth round of April’s draft. But Mark Kaboly of The Athletic offered a note about Snell, capped with a fantasy angle.

Snell zipped upfield with a screen, bounced another run outside and, after a fake jet sweep, took a handoff up the middle and sprinted 20 yards for a touchdown,” Kaboly added. “His hands have been surprisingly good, too. I still don’t see him having much of a role if Conner stays healthy, but if he doesn’t, I’d want Snell on my fantasy team if I’d drafted Conner in the earlier rounds.”

Via Fantasy Football Calculator (12-team, full PPR), Conner is being drafted as RB15 (pick 2.11) and Snell is RB59 (pick 13.11). In standard scoring (12 teams), Conner is RB15 (pick 2.12) and Snell is RB57 (pick 13.11). In half-PPR, Conner’s ADP is RB16 (pick 3.03) and Snell’s is RB61 (pick 13.11).

Benny Snell Is The Fantasy Handcuff To Conner

Conner can’t be counted on to get through a full 16 games without being banged up. I’m not a believer in a bounce back for him this year, so I won’t be looking at him at his current ADP. But for those fantasy owners who do take the risky plunge on Conner as their RB1 or RB2, Snell is becoming a must-draft in the late rounds as the handcuff.