James Conner

Conner is going roughly 2-3 rounds later than Chase Edmonds, though it’s not clear which player is likely to lead this backfield in touches. Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network cites a source in Arizona who indicates that the training camp battle at running back “might be a battle in name only” and that “Edmonds is the favorite to be the team’s featured back” in 2021. Conner is still just 26 years old, though drafters seem to be treating him like he’s 30+. After 270 touches, 1,470 yards and 13 touchdowns (en route to a No. 7 finish) in 2018, Conner missed nine games in the last two seasons with various injuries. Still, he hasn’t averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in a season–he posted 4.3 YPC in 2020–and he broke tackles at the ninth-highest rate last season. He’s a dual-threat who’s perfectly capable of taking over Kenyan Drake’s role from last season, if healthy. And health is the caveat with Conner. He’s already had surgery in 2021–he injured his toe in an ATV accident and PFN had a source that suggested he was “a bit banged up” during spring workouts. Conner might be the lead ball-carrier in Arizona or he could serve as Edmonds’ backup. Time will tell.