We've expressed some negative feelings regarding Arizona this season. They've shed a lot of talent since the end of last year; more all the time, with the release of DeAndre Hopkins. Kyler Murray may not be healthy at the start of the season. Is there value in this offense?
Maybe at least one player. Arizona might not have a great passing game, especially until Murray returns (and perhaps even then), and they might not do a lot of winning, but they should have a workhorse running back in James Conner. He was pretty great the second half of last year.
We keep track or first half versus second half stats, and Conner was one of 2022's best second-half running backs. In his seven games from Week 10 through Week 18, Conner averaged just over 20 PPR points per game. Among all running backs to play at least six games the second half of the season, that was better than anyone but Christian McCaffrey.
| RUNNING BACKS PER GAME, 2ND HALF OF SEASON | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | G | Run | No | Rec | Tot | TD | PPR |
| Christian McCaffrey, S.F. | 9 | 68.2 | 4.7 | 42.8 | 111.0 | .89 | 21.1 |
| James Conner, Ariz. | 7 | 76.7 | 3.9 | 25.4 | 102.1 | 1.00 | 20.1 |
| Austin Ekeler, LAC | 9 | 54.2 | 5.2 | 37.9 | 92.1 | .89 | 19.8 |
| Josh Jacobs, L.V. | 9 | 101.1 | 3.1 | 25.3 | 126.4 | .67 | 19.8 |
| Tony Pollard, Dall. | 8 | 62.6 | 3.4 | 31.3 | 93.9 | .88 | 18.0 |
| Derrick Henry, Ten. | 8 | 83.5 | 2.4 | 32.3 | 115.8 | .50 | 17.0 |
| Jerick McKinnon, K.C. | 9 | 18.7 | 4.1 | 39.6 | 58.2 | 1.00 | 16.2 |
| Cam Akers, LAR | 7 | 78.4 | 1.6 | 14.1 | 92.6 | .86 | 16.0 |
| Saquon Barkley, NYG | 8 | 66.6 | 3.6 | 18.6 | 85.3 | .63 | 15.9 |
| Najee Harris, Pitt. | 9 | 74.8 | 1.9 | 13.0 | 87.8 | .78 | 15.3 |
| Aaron Jones, G.B. | 8 | 65.1 | 3.4 | 23.1 | 88.3 | .38 | 14.7 |
| Leonard Fournette, T.B. | 6 | 43.8 | 5.0 | 34.2 | 78.0 | .17 | 13.8 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 8 | 54.1 | 1.4 | 7.5 | 61.6 | 1.00 | 13.5 |
| Nick Chubb, Cle. | 9 | 76.0 | 1.9 | 18.8 | 94.8 | .33 | 13.4 |
| Dalvin Cook, Min. | 9 | 62.8 | 2.2 | 19.6 | 82.3 | .44 | 13.1 |
| D'Andre Swift, Det. | 9 | 32.8 | 3.6 | 27.2 | 60.0 | .56 | 13.1 |
| David Montgomery, Chi. | 8 | 50.5 | 2.5 | 21.6 | 72.1 | .50 | 12.7 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E. | 8 | 52.8 | 4.3 | 24.3 | 77.0 | .13 | 12.7 |
| Kenneth Walker, Sea. | 7 | 68.6 | 2.1 | 16.7 | 85.3 | .29 | 12.4 |
| Jamaal Williams, Det. | 9 | 57.9 | .3 | 1.8 | 59.7 | 1.00 | 12.3 |
| Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 9 | 70.3 | 1.1 | 13.0 | 83.3 | .44 | 12.1 |
| AJ Dillon, G.B. | 8 | 47.6 | 1.5 | 13.4 | 61.0 | .75 | 12.1 |
| Devin Singletary, Buff. | 8 | 59.0 | 1.4 | 9.1 | 68.1 | .63 | 11.9 |
| Latavius Murray, Den. | 7 | 70.6 | 2.1 | 9.7 | 80.3 | .29 | 11.9 |
| Rachaad White, T.B. | 8 | 45.5 | 3.8 | 19.4 | 64.9 | .25 | 11.7 |
| Raheem Mostert, Mia. | 7 | 59.0 | 2.6 | 15.0 | 74.0 | .29 | 11.7 |
| Miles Sanders, Phil. | 9 | 68.1 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 72.1 | .56 | 11.5 |
| Brian Robinson, Was. | 7 | 82.6 | .7 | 7.6 | 90.1 | .29 | 11.4 |
| Tyler Allgeier, Atl. | 8 | 76.5 | 1.3 | 5.5 | 82.0 | .25 | 11.2 |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 8 | 56.8 | 2.6 | 21.4 | 78.1 | .13 | 11.2 |
| Travis Etienne, Jac. | 8 | 55.6 | 2.0 | 17.8 | 73.4 | .13 | 10.1 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl. | 7 | 41.9 | 2.0 | 12.0 | 53.9 | .43 | 10.0 |
| Jeff Wilson, Mia. | 7 | 48.7 | 1.3 | 10.4 | 59.1 | .43 | 9.8 |
| D'Onta Foreman, Car. | 8 | 77.3 | .1 | .1 | 77.4 | .25 | 9.4 |
| Antonio Gibson, Was. | 6 | 36.3 | 2.5 | 19.0 | 55.3 | .17 | 9.0 |
| Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 8 | 46.1 | 1.4 | 20.0 | 66.1 | .13 | 8.7 |
Most notably, Conner scored 7 of his 8 touchdowns last season in those final seven games. Murray wasn't around for six of those, so at least he'll be familiar with the starting quarterback's absence, should Murray not be ready in September.
Conner also has something of an injury history; he may not be able to stay healthy all year. But those are concerns with basically any workhorse running back, including the top options at the position (who will be drafted earlier). Conner also doesn't have to worry about being pushed by a promising young backup; the Cardinals have little else at the position. Corey Clement, Ty'Son Williams, Keaontay Ingram, undrafted Emari Demercado: those are the other running backs on Arizona's roster right now.
The Cardinals might not be doing a lot of scoring, including rushing touchdowns, but a lot of what they do should go through Conner. According to ADP data at fantasypros.com, he's being selected 27th at running back in PPR leagues. If so, looks like I'll have him on a few teams this season.
--Andy Richardson