Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Theo JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Theo Johnson's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, James Conner (11.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Theo Johnson (7.0 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.

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

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RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

TENew York Giants#24

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

11.0 PPG7.0 PPG

14 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 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 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

James Conner vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) against Theo Johnson (TE, New York Giants) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG across 15 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.

James Conner has his bye in Week 11, Theo Johnson in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire James Conner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Theo Johnson 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. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Theo Johnson by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•James Conner scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Theo Johnson caught 45 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	7.0
Games Played	14	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	105
Rushing Yards	752	0
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	0.0
Rushing TDs	5	0
Receptions	28	45
Receiving Yards	218	528
Targets	0	74
Total TDs	6	5
Age	-	25
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Conner holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.0 points per game. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start James Conner or Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Theo Johnson's 7.0 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 Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are James Conner and Theo Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Theo Johnson (NYG) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.