Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Tyjae SpearsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Tyjae Spears's 6.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

James Conner is the better fantasy play this season.

James Conner has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.1-PPG advantage is real (11.0 to 6.9), and James Conner's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Tyjae Spears 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#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

RBTennessee Titans#48

Tyjae Spears

PPG

6.9

Games

Rush Yds

283

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

264

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Tyjae Spears

Head to Head

11.0 PPG6.9 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Tyjae Spears: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #48 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Tyjae Spears at 31%. That ranking gap means Tyjae Spears carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Tyjae Spears: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. James Conner (Arizona Cardinals) finished the 2025 season averaging 11.0 fantasy points per game in 14 games. Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans) came in at 6.9 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

James Conner carries a 4.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Tyjae Spears is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 264 yards, while James Conner profiles as a more traditional rusher with 752 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Tyjae Spears carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

James Conner has his bye in Week 11, and Tyjae Spears rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire James Conner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Tyjae Spears 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. Tyjae Spears (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Tyjae Spears by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Conner played 14 games in 2025 compared to Tyjae Spears's 13. That durability gap means James Conner 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.
•Tyjae Spears 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 Tyjae Spears: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Tyjae Spears
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	6.9
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	90
Rushing Yards	752	283
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	21.8
Rushing TDs	5	2
Receptions	28	45
Receiving Yards	218	264
Targets	0	50
Total TDs	6	2
Age	-	24
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, James Conner holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 11.0 points per game. Tyjae Spears averaged 6.9 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 Tyjae Spears in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Tyjae Spears's 6.9 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 Tyjae Spears average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Tyjae Spears averaged 6.9 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are James Conner and Tyjae Spears's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Tyjae Spears (TEN) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is James Conner or Tyjae Spears a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

James Conner outscored Tyjae Spears by 4.1 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.