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Arizona running back James Conner is currently being drafted as the RB16 in the third round of PPR redraft leagues. This price is certainly understandable. Conner finished as the RB5 last year, racking up 18 total touchdowns in the process. He also demonstrated his ability as a pass-catcher with 37 receptions on 39 targets. These numbers placed him first in the league in running back catch rate, but as talented as Conner proved to be in the receiving game, he wasn’t the Cardinals’ primary target out of the backfield.
That was Chase Edmonds, who played three fewer games than Conner and still out-targeted him by 14. Furthermore, the vast majority of Conner’s receiving usage came in games in which Edmonds missed or exited early due to injury. Edmonds played the first eight games of the season and averaged 4.6 targets per game. During that same stretch, Conner recorded five total targets. When Edmonds went down in Week 9, Conner immediately absorbed his role, averaging 4.6 targets per game through Week 15.
So what does this mean for 2022? Edmonds was one of the first fantasy-relevant signings in free agency when he left Arizona for a two-year deal with the Dolphins. Meanwhile, Conner signed a big extension to remain a Cardinal, and many believed he could be a three-down workhorse this season. Enter Darrel Williams.
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A Ringing Endorsement for Darrel Williams
Williams signed a one-year contract with Arizona in May. Not much has been said of the former Kansas City running back since the signing outside of a report that superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes may have played a part in the deal:
Breaking: FA RB Darrel Williams is signing with the #AZCardinals, per source.
I’m also told Patrick Mahomes vouched for Williams, informing Arizona that he was a back he both liked/trusted. DW had a great season w/over 1,000 scrimmage yards, 8 TDs/zero fumbles (191 touches).
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 24, 2022
Darrel Williams Success In Kansas City
Williams, like Conner, saw an expanded role last season when his teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an injury in Week 5. He took full advantage of his opportunities, especially in the receiving game. He averaged 5.0 targets per game from Weeks 5 through 11 with Edwards-Helaire out. During this time, he was the RB10 in PPR scoring.
On the season, Williams even posted an 82.5% catch rate, which wasn’t as outlandishly high as Conner’s but still bested Edmonds’. He tied for 10th in the NFL in total running back targets despite not seeing any in Weeks 1 and 2 on minimal snaps.
Questionable Competition for Darrel Williams
The others competing for touches in the Cardinals’ backfield are unproven, to say the least. Eno Benjamin profiles as a talented receiving back and has even been lauded by coach Kingsbury this offseason, but Benjamin did not see the field as a rookie and saw only seven targets in 2021.
Arizona also drafted Keaontay Ingram in the sixth round of the 2022 draft, but it’s difficult to make a case for him getting any meaningful touches with three more experienced backs on the roster.
Darrel Williams Has Fantasy Football RB2 Upside At RB5 Price
Darrel Williams is being drafted as the RB56. On a points-per-game basis, Edmonds was the RB21 last season, excluding the game in which he left after one carry.
Although Benjamin is getting some camp hype and could be a sleeper in his own right, we just haven’t seen enough of him in the NFL to expect him to run ahead of Williams.
Even if there is some truth to reports that Benjamin could be the primary backup to Conner, it may not matter. Williams could easily carve out a role for himself that persists regardless of who is seeing the majority of early-down carries.
The numbers indicate that Williams is every bit the receiving threat that Edmonds is, and the Chiefs praised his pass protection skills on numerous occasions as well. For these reasons, I expect Williams to take on most of, if not all of, Edmonds’ role from 2021. If this indeed happens, he will be an absolute steal in the 13th round of fantasy drafts.
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