Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Jaleel McLaughlin vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Jaleel McLaughlin'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. Jaleel McLaughlin 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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RBDenver Broncos#99

Jaleel McLaughlin

PPG

6.9

Games

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

168

Bye

Week 14

RBArizona Cardinals#99PPG LEADER

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Jaleel McLaughlin

James Conner

Head to Head

6.9 PPG11.0 PPG

15 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Jaleel McLaughlin: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Jaleel McLaughlin is producing at 31% of elite pace and James Conner at 50%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Jaleel McLaughlin vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

Jaleel McLaughlin and James Conner are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 PPG across 15 games with the Denver Broncos, while James Conner posted 11.0 PPG in 14 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 4.1-PPG gap gives James Conner 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. Jaleel McLaughlin ran for 382 yards and 2 touchdowns; James Conner posted 752 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Jaleel McLaughlin has his bye in Week 14, and James Conner rests in Week 11. 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. Jaleel McLaughlin is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jaleel McLaughlin (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by a projected 70 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaleel McLaughlin played 15 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Jaleel McLaughlin 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaleel McLaughlin vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaleel McLaughlin	James Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.9	11.0
Games Played	15	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	154
Rushing Yards	382	752
Rush Yds/Game	25.5	53.7
Rushing TDs	2	5
Receptions	22	28
Receiving Yards	168	218
Targets	0	0
Total TDs	3	6
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 11

Summary

James Conner outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 4.1 PPG in 2025 (11.0 to 6.9). 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 Jaleel McLaughlin or James Conner in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Jaleel McLaughlin'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 Jaleel McLaughlin and James Conner average in 2025?▾

Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.1 points per game.

When are Jaleel McLaughlin and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN) has a bye in Week 14, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Jaleel McLaughlin or James Conner a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

James Conner outscored Jaleel McLaughlin 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.