Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Puka NacuaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 19.4 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Puka Nacua is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Puka Nacua (19.4 PPG) is the higher-floor play. James Conner (11.0 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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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

WRLos Angeles Rams#1PPG LEADER

Puka Nacua

PPG

19.4

Games

Rec

129

Rec Yds

1,715

Rec TDs

Targets

166

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Puka Nacua

Head to Head

11.0 PPG19.4 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Puka Nacua: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #1 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 5 (Deep League) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 1 (Elite) WR in most league formats.

James Conner vs Puka Nacua: The Full Breakdown

Comparing James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) against Puka Nacua (WR, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Puka Nacua posted 19.4 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Puka Nacua at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver 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. Puka Nacua (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Puka Nacua outscored James Conner by a projected 143 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Puka Nacua played 16 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Puka Nacua contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Puka Nacua scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.7 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Puka Nacua caught 129 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 Puka Nacua: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Puka Nacua
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	19.4
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	310
Rushing Yards	752	105
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	6.6
Rushing TDs	5	1
Receptions	28	129
Receiving Yards	218	1,715
Targets	0	166
Total TDs	6	11
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 11

Summary

Puka Nacua outscored James Conner by 8.4 PPG in 2025 (19.4 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 Puka Nacua in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Puka Nacua has the edge at 19.4 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 Puka Nacua average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Puka Nacua averaged 19.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 8.4 points per game.

Do James Conner and Puka Nacua share a bye week?▾

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