Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Kyren WilliamsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.4 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyren Williams has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.4-PPG advantage is real (14.4 to 11.0), and Kyren Williams's 13 touchdowns show scoring upside. James Conner is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBArizona Cardinals#99

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

RBLos Angeles Rams#11PPG LEADER

Kyren Williams

PPG

14.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,252

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Kyren Williams

Head to Head

11.0 PPG14.4 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Kyren Williams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #11 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Kyren Williams at 65%. That ranking gap means Kyren Williams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Kyren Williams: The Full Breakdown

James Conner and Kyren Williams are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG across 14 games with the Arizona Cardinals, while Kyren Williams posted 14.4 PPG in 17 appearances for the Los Angeles Rams.

A 3.4-PPG gap gives Kyren Williams the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. James Conner ran for 752 yards and 5 touchdowns; Kyren Williams posted 1252 and 10. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kyren Williams at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. James Conner is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Kyren Williams (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kyren Williams outscored James Conner by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyren Williams played 17 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Kyren Williams contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyren Williams scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kyren Williams caught 36 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Both players share a Week 11 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Kyren Williams: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Kyren Williams
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	14.4
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	245
Rushing Yards	752	1,252
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	73.6
Rushing TDs	5	10
Receptions	28	36
Receiving Yards	218	281
Targets	0	50
Total TDs	6	13
Age	-	25
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Kyren Williams outscored James Conner by 3.4 PPG in 2025 (14.4 to 11.0). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start James Conner or Kyren Williams in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyren Williams has the edge at 14.4 PPG compared to James Conner's 11.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did James Conner and Kyren Williams average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Kyren Williams averaged 14.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.4 points per game.

Do James Conner and Kyren Williams share a bye week?▾

Yes, both James Conner and Kyren Williams share a Week 11 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is James Conner or Kyren Williams a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kyren Williams outscored James Conner by 3.4 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.