Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.8 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zay Flowers is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Zay Flowers (11.8 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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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

WRBaltimore Ravens#15PPG LEADER

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

11.0 PPG11.8 PPG

14 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 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) WR in most league formats.

James Conner vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Comparing James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) against Zay Flowers (WR, Baltimore Ravens) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG in 2025 over 14 games, while Zay Flowers posted 11.8 PPG across 17 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, Zay Flowers in Week 13. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Zay Flowers outscored James Conner by a projected 14 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Zay Flowers 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.
•Zay Flowers caught 86 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	11.8
Games Played	14	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	201
Rushing Yards	752	62
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	3.6
Rushing TDs	5	1
Receptions	28	86
Receiving Yards	218	1,211
Targets	0	118
Total TDs	6	6
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

11.8 PPG for Zay Flowers versus 11.0 for James Conner in 2025. The baseline favors Zay Flowers, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start James Conner or Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zay Flowers has the edge at 11.8 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 0.8 points per game.

When are James Conner and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.