Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Travis EtienneWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Travis Etienne is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.9 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Travis Etienne is the better fantasy play this season.

Travis Etienne has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.9-PPG advantage is real (13.9 to 11.0), and Travis Etienne'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

RBJacksonville Jaguars#13PPG LEADER

Travis Etienne

PPG

13.9

Games

Rush Yds

1,107

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Travis Etienne

Head to Head

11.0 PPG13.9 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Travis Etienne: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #13 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Travis Etienne at 63%. That ranking gap means Travis Etienne carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Travis Etienne: The Full Breakdown

James Conner and Travis Etienne 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 Travis Etienne posted 13.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A 2.9-PPG gap gives Travis Etienne 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; Travis Etienne posted 1107 and 7. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: James Conner sits Week 11 while Travis Etienne is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Travis Etienne (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Travis Etienne outscored James Conner by a projected 49 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Travis Etienne played 17 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Travis Etienne contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Travis Etienne scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Travis Etienne caught 36 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 Travis Etienne: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Travis Etienne
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	13.9
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	236
Rushing Yards	752	1,107
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	65.1
Rushing TDs	5	7
Receptions	28	36
Receiving Yards	218	292
Targets	0	52
Total TDs	6	13
Age	-	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

Travis Etienne outscored James Conner by 2.9 PPG in 2025 (13.9 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 Travis Etienne in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Travis Etienne has the edge at 13.9 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 Travis Etienne average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Travis Etienne averaged 13.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.9 points per game.

When are James Conner and Travis Etienne's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Travis Etienne (JAX) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is James Conner or Travis Etienne a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Travis Etienne outscored James Conner by 2.9 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.