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Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner has been a key asset for fantasy managers for years now. After finishing 2021 as the RB5 in PPR formats, Conner was again expected to produce at a high level in 2022.
Conner has gotten off to a slow start this season, however. He has yet to surpass either 30 yards rushing or 30 yards receiving in a single game through two weeks. To make matters worse, he is now dealing with an ankle injury.
Fantasy managers are now rightfully concerned about their valuable back. Will Conner play in Week 3, or will he be forced to sit out?
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James Conner Injury News
James Conner mustered just nine touches for 51 scrimmage yards against Las Vegas last week before rolling his ankle in the third quarter. This play resulted in him exiting the game to be evaluated further.
RB James Conner looks like he hurt an ankle or leg. Jumps up but runs off field with slight limp.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 18, 2022
Conner was then ruled to be questionable to return to the contest. He ultimately did not make another appearance in Arizona's 29-23 overtime victory over the Raiders.
The talented back did manage to finish as the RB39 in PPR leagues last week, preventing managers from being severely impacted by his departure from the game. His availability for Week 3 remains a concern, though.
Is James Conner Injured or Playing in Week 3?
The initial reports on Monday morning were promising for Conner, suggesting his injury was relatively minor.
The ankle injury for #AZCardinals RB James Conner that kept him off the field is not considered long-term or serious, source said. He remained in uniform throughout the game, standing on the sidelines. A positive sign.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2022
On Monday afternoon, we received more clarity about Conner's status from head coach Kliff Kingsbury. It was then reported that the starting RB would be "day-to-day" with the ailment.
Kingsbury said RB James Conner will be day to day with the ankle injury.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) September 19, 2022
All in all, the news seems positive. With a full week to recover and by avoiding a severe injury, Conner appears to have a strong chance to play on Sunday against the Rams. If Conner is unavailable for the matchup, though, Darrel Williams would move into the team's starting role. Eno Benjamin would likewise ascend into the backup position.
Should Conner play, he would face an extremely difficult matchup. The Rams have yielded just 9.3 half-PPR points to running backs this season. Only the Denver Broncos have been more restrictive.
If you are currently relying on Conner to be in your starting lineup, it's better to be safe with a quality backup plan than sorry. For some options to target, check out RotoBaller's Week 3 Waiver Wire Rankings.
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