James Conner

[RightlegTucker]

2014 James Conner could've been a 1st round pick in rookie drafts, he was noticeably slower last year. People drafting him should be doing so with the hope that he returns to form and gets an opportunity down the road rather than for his current situation.

[smallxl]

What are you guys paying for him in picks and where do you see him going in drafts ?

Is he even close to someone like Meredith or C.Coleman's value

Not close to those two but a definite stash if you have room

[cc texan]

Sounds good thank you I think he is just getting over hyped because Bell has a injury suspension past but I think even if something happens to Bell he won't be a every down starter he wasn't that good in college maybe he will get just short yard carries if Bell goes down

The Steelers invested a 3rd round pick in him which basically means they feel he may become a full time back should something happen to Bell. The problem is Deangelo Williams is still a free agent and could return to the team or Bell could re-sign with the Steelers basically making Connor a long term back up.

Does he have talent? Yes but he is stuck behind a top 3 running back, who yes has a problem with injuries and drugs on occasion. Like I said earlier if you can get him in the third that would be a solid pick. Basically his future is determined by what Bell does, and that is the bottom line on Connor.

Honestly I don't think he has that much talent I think they over reached for a hometown cancer winner feel good story because he wasn't that special in college

He was getting treated for cancer in 2015 and was still recovering last year. Even with that he put up 1400 combined yds and 20 tds in 2016. He went for over 1800 yds and 26 tds the last season he was completely healthy.

[Minnkota]

I am a believer. I got him in 2 leagues with late 2nds, which is usually getting close to dart throw territory anyway. Sometimes you just have to take your guys.

[Sgtpsych]

I like him and believe,in his ability to be a starting RB. Plus best selling rookie jersey.

[dipANDglide]

I was snatching him up in the mid 3rd in my early drafts. I'm seeing him go in the mid-late 2nd in a lot of my later drafts now. If he is indeed Bell's backup, he is a bargain in the 3rd, there are too many guys I still like in the 2nd to take him there.

[Pantherbro13]

I took him in both my rookie drafts. First I got him at 3.8 and second I got at 3.3. He could be a career backup but I can afford the risk in case Bell doesn't sign long term. Worst case I try to ship him off to the Bell owner in a year or two.

[jeffster]

The difference in tone on Conner is striking. He went in the third round, not too far after Kamara, Hunt and Foreman, and before Periene, Mack and Joe Williams, who all went in the 4th. And yet at least three of those guys frequently breach the late 1st round in drafts, and all of them are solidly in the 2nd round.

But the guy who was drafted similarly, has crazy good size, and is on a super productive offense behind a guy with multiple suspensions and injuries entering a contract year can barely make it into the 3rd?

I know his athleticism is questionable. Is that the only thing driving this?

[Shoreline Steamers]

idk about that DJ , Howard , Ajayi were all handcuffs plus many many more than I don't feel like going through lol

There is a marked difference between RBs drafted with the intention to take over the starting job (that doesn't mean out of the gate) and RBs drafted strictly as backups. DJ and Howard were drafted to be starters. Ajayi probably so as well as it seemed pretty clear Miami was not using Miller to the fullest extent. Conner is nothing more than a backup. He is in no way to the talent level of Bell that he is going to walk into a job if Bell leaves.

I like a lot of what you've got to say Skip, but have to disagree with you on this a bit. NFL teams generally don't spend third-round picks on players they project as merely backups.

And as for the above, DJ was also a third-rounder. Both Howard and Ajayi were fifth-rounders, and that's not often where starting calibre RB's are taken. Even with the way the position has been devalued the last few years. Now I'm not saying that Conner is even remotely close to DJ talent-wise. But the draft capital Pittsburgh used to select him indicates they're pretty high on him.

[Space Cowboy]

An ankle injury to bell and Connor is getting 15+ touches and is approaching rb1. He's well worth a third round pick.

[Space Cowboy]

The difference in tone on Conner is striking. He went in the third round, not too far after Kamara, Hunt and Foreman, and before Periene, Mack and Joe Williams, who all went in the 4th. And yet at least three of those guys frequently breach the late 1st round in drafts, and all of them are solidly in the 2nd round.

But the guy who was drafted similarly, has crazy good size, and is on a super productive offense behind a guy with multiple suspensions and injuries entering a contract year can barely make it into the 3rd?

I know his athleticism is questionable. Is that the only thing driving this?

Very good points. He's just not flashy and the 40 time I'm sure scares some ppl.

[Jmatt>Coleman]

I would feel good drafting him anywhere in the third, late second a reach but Bell isn't someone I would bet a lot of money on to play 16 games a year

[harr]

The difference in tone on Conner is striking. He went in the third round, not too far after Kamara, Hunt and Foreman, and before Periene, Mack and Joe Williams, who all went in the 4th. And yet at least three of those guys frequently breach the late 1st round in drafts, and all of them are solidly in the 2nd round.

But the guy who was drafted similarly, has crazy good size, and is on a super productive offense behind a guy with multiple suspensions and injuries entering a contract year can barely make it into the 3rd?

I know his athleticism is questionable. Is that the only thing driving this?

Very good points. He's just not flashy and the 40 time I'm sure scares some ppl.

I agree. Bell isn't going to be in Pittsburgh after next season if he doesn't come off his strong stance on what he feels he is worth. The Steelers won't pay him that type of money, regardless of whether he is "worth" it or not. Conner isn't flashy, just super productive (5.6 ypc avg in college, mostly between the tackles). He isn't athletically gifted the way Bell or similar guys are, but he is a hard worker that has underrated receiving ability, in my opinion.

[hjernazian]

idk about that DJ , Howard , Ajayi were all handcuffs plus many many more than I don't feel like going through lol

There is a marked difference between RBs drafted with the intention to take over the starting job (that doesn't mean out of the gate) and RBs drafted strictly as backups. DJ and Howard were drafted to be starters. Ajayi probably so as well as it seemed pretty clear Miami was not using Miller to the fullest extent. Conner is nothing more than a backup. He is in no way to the talent level of Bell that he is going to walk into a job if Bell leaves.

fair point... but using that stream of logic, was K. Drake drafted to be a backup? Or was he stuck behind Ajayi? He looks even better than Ajayi. Not saying Conner is Drake - but the Steelers investing a 3rd in him has to say something about how the experts value him... weather or not he's stuck behind Bell forever or not.