Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

James Conner vs Trey BensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

James Conner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.0 PPG to Trey Benson's 7.2 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 3.8-PPG advantage is real (11.0 to 7.2), and James Conner's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Trey Benson 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

RBArizona Cardinals#46

Trey Benson

PPG

7.2

Games

Rush Yds

160

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

James Conner

Trey Benson

Head to Head

11.0 PPG7.2 PPG

14 GP4 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Trey Benson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #46 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, James Conner is producing at 50% of elite pace and Trey Benson at 33%. That ranking gap means Trey Benson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

James Conner vs Trey Benson: The Full Breakdown

James Conner and Trey Benson 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 Trey Benson posted 7.2 PPG in 4 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 3.8-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. James Conner ran for 752 yards and 5 touchdowns; Trey Benson posted 160 and undefined. 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 Trey Benson is off Week 14. 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

If you can acquire James Conner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Trey Benson 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. Trey Benson (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•James Conner outscored Trey Benson by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•James Conner played 14 games in 2025 compared to Trey Benson's 4. That durability gap means James Conner contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

James Conner vs Trey Benson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	James Conner	Trey Benson
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.0	7.2
Games Played	14	4
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	154	29
Rushing Yards	752	160
Rush Yds/Game	53.7	40.0
Rushing TDs	5	0
Receptions	28	13
Receiving Yards	218	64
Targets	0	16
Total TDs	6	0
Age	-	23
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 14

Summary

James Conner outscored Trey Benson by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (11.0 to 7.2). 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 Trey Benson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, James Conner has the edge at 11.0 PPG compared to Trey Benson's 7.2 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 Trey Benson average in 2025?▾

James Conner averaged 11.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Trey Benson averaged 7.2 PPG over 4 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are James Conner and Trey Benson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is James Conner or Trey Benson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

James Conner outscored Trey Benson by 3.8 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.