Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Jaylen Warren and James Conner are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 1.3-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

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

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

11.0 PPG12.3 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Jaylen Warren at 56%. That ranking gap means Jaylen Warren carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

The gap between James Conner and Jaylen Warren is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.3 PPG in 2025, this is one of those running back decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG with the Arizona Cardinals across 14 games, and Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 16.

When two running backs are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.

Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while James Conner profiles as a more traditional rusher with 752 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

James Conner has his bye in Week 11, and Jaylen Warren 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

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. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored James Conner by a projected 22 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Warren played 16 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Jaylen Warren contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jaylen Warren caught 40 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 Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	12.3
Games Played	14	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	197
Rushing Yards	752	958
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	59.9
Rushing TDs	5	6
Receptions	28	40
Receiving Yards	218	333
Targets	0	45
Total TDs	6	8
Age	-	27
Experience	-	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jaylen Warren at 12.3 PPG, 1.3 points per game above James Conner's 11.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start James Conner or Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 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 Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 1.3 points per game.

When are James Conner and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is James Conner or Jaylen Warren a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Jaylen Warren outscored James Conner by 1.3 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.