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Week 1 is almost upon us, and fantasy managers are looking to make last-minute changes to their lineups. The running back position is one of the most important ones in fantasy football, and if you have Jamaal Williams and James Conner, you have a pretty tough decision to make.
Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns last season with Detroit and is now looking to fill in for the suspended Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. While the two-time Pro Bowler Conner is arguably going to be the Cardinals' main option this year.
So, should you start Williams or Conner this week, who'll be playing against the Titans and Commanders respectively? Let's take a look.
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A Look At Williams And Conner In 2022 And Their 2023 Outlooks
Last season, Jamaal Williams was a poacher around the goal line, with 15 of his league-leading 17 touchdowns coming from inside the 10-yard line. But he isn't just a red zone player, as he racked up 959 yards on 205 attempts (4.68 yards per attempt) from outside the red zone. He could be utilized like 2018 and 2020 Alvin Kamara in this Saints offense.
As for Conner, he has recorded 1,000+ scrimmage yards and eight or more touchdowns in each of his first two seasons as a Cardinal. With Kyler Murray's injury, Conner could become a "Bell-Cow Back".
The main problem here is that Arizona could have a problem moving the football with QBs like Joshua Dobbs and the rookie Clayton Tune. He's also pretty injury-prone, which is not a good thing if he's expected to have an increased workload.
The Titans Or The Commanders, Who Has A Worse Run Defense?
The Titans are dominant at stopping the run, allowing just 1307 rushing yards (least in the NFL) on 390 attempts (3.4 yards per attempt). By most metrics, the Titans had the best run defense in the league last season, but they also had the worst pass defense, and Derek Carr could carve them up.
On the other hand, the Commanders enjoyed the best of both worlds in 2022, as they were very good at defending the run and the pass. Apart from picking off the football, they were elite in every other defensive facet of the game, allowing the fourth-least passing yards and 11th-least rushing yards. They also had 87 tackles for loss and could shut Arizona out.
Should I Start Williams Or Conner In Week 1?
Both of these players are playing teams that have a good defense against the run, but the main difference is that Tennessee can't stop the pass, so expect Derek Carr to have an amazing game. He will probably move the ball to the goal line, where Williams can get a touchdown or two.
As for Conner, unfortunately, the Commanders have a good passing and rushing defense, so he probably won't do much this week. You should probably start Williams, as he has RB1 upside, while Conner should be a back-end RB2 or flex option.
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