If you drafted Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner in your fantasy football league this past season, chances are you were profoundly disappointed by his production. The third-year back battled injuries in a one-dimensional offense. However, Conner should return to prominence in 2020.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Conner with a third-round pick in 2017. The University of Pittsburgh alumn famously battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma during his junior season, but the 2014 ACC Player of the Year overcame it.
Conner didn’t fully recapture his dominance during his final collegiate season, which led to him falling in the draft. As a rookie, he didn’t hold much value for fantasy football players because of Le’Veon Bell. However, that all changed in 2018.
Bell stepped away from the Steelers in 2018, refusing to sign the franchise tag. The superstar’s decision thrust Conner into the spotlight, and he more than delivered on expectations. While drafting Bell in 2018 sank some fantasy football teams, drafting Conner brought a lot of success.
Conner finished his second season in the NFL with 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in 13 games. His 225 points ranked seventh among running backs in standard leagues. In points per reception (PPR) leagues, Conner finished sixth among backs with 280 points.
Unfortunately, Conner saw his totals and averages plummet across the board in 2019. Now, the fourth-year pro can regain his Pro Bowl form in 2020.