Fantasy Football: Week 1 RB rankings

Root aggressively for Steelers' Conner but temper early fantasy expectations

By ARTHUR ARKUSH

Sept. 9, 2018

If James Conner never played a down in the NFL, he'd be a great story.

The Steelers' second-year back selected in the third round a year ago in an outstanding RB class by his hometown team overcame a torn MCL and Hodgkin's Lymphoma ... in the same year. He returned with a vengeance to the Panthers in 2016, amassing nearly 1,400 yards from scimmage and 20 touchdowns en route to being the 105th overall pick the following spring.

After a quiet rookie campaign backing up the NFL's busiest (and best?) back, Conner suddenly has been thrust into the Week 1 starting gig with Le'Veon Bell nowhere to be found. Some stories write themselves, but this one is almost too good to be true for Conner. Still, as fantasy football players, we must avoid the temptation to let Conner's story cloud our judgment.

His first-ever start comes against Cleveland, which was top 10 in Pro Football Outsiders' DVOA run 'D' a year ago and paced the NFL in points allowed this preseason. The Browns might not be good this season, but in going from 2017 turnover leader DeShone Kizer to risk-averse Tyrod Taylor, they aren't likely to regularly get blown out and offer weekly enticing game scripts for opposing backs.

Conner, in addition to being a tremendous story, is a back with unique size and strength, not unlike Bell. He showed vast improvement from his first to second preseason. But he isn't Bell. And he shouldn't be viewed as someone who'll plug in seamlessly — to the Steelers offense or your fantasy lineups. Root aggressively for Conner but set your fantasy expectations for him conservatively, at least for now.

1. Todd Gurley, Rams at Raiders

2. David Johnson, Cardinals vs. Washington

3. Melvin Gordon, Chargers vs. Chiefs

4. Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Buccaneers

5. Leonard Fournette, Jaguars at Giants

6. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs at Chargers

7. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys at Panthers

8. Joe Mixon, Bengals at Colts

9. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers vs. Cowboys

10. Jordan Howard, Bears at Packers

11. Alex Collins, Ravens vs. Bills

12. Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Jaguars