Weekly Bold Prediction: James Conner goes over 150 yards from scrimmage
Seemingly days after being ostracized by Steelers fans everywhere for “always being hurt,” RB James Conner is back on their radar after rushing for 106 yards and playing a full game against the Denver Broncos.
Conner is the source of this week’s bold prediction, not because of his 106 yards on the ground last week (propped up by a 59-yard long as well) but due to the team he is facing.
The Houston Texans defense has been swiss cheese against opposing running games so far in 2020. Over the course of two games they have relinquished 396 rushing yards; only one team, the Detroit Lions, have given up more at this point.
The Texans first faced rookie Clyde Edwards-Hellaire of the Kansas City Chiefs, making the first-round pick look like the new face of fantasy football as he rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown, with an average of 5.5 yards-per-carry.
The Baltimore Ravens were next, using a platoon of runners of stymie the Texans defense to the tune of 230 total yards on the ground. Gus Edwards averaged 7.3 yards, Mark Ingram 6.1, and J.K. Dobbins 24.0. Dobbins only carried the ball twice, with the bulk of his yards on a 44-yard scurry, but Edwards and Ingram also had long runs of 22 and 30 respectively.
That’s why I mention Conner’s 100-yard game being “propped up” last week – because it’s likely Conner will break a big one again this week too. Edwards-Hellaire also had a 27-yard long in the Chiefs Week 1 win over Houston too, where the rookie back also added gains of 14 and 18 yards throughout the contest.
Edwards would also have two more additional long gains of 14 and 15 runs in Week 2.
That leaves some big play capabilities wide-open for a Steelers team that could equally control the ground game this Sunday. Getting All-Pro guard David DeCastro back on the field also comes at a great time.
The only scenario where the Steelers would abandon the run is if they dig themselves a hole they must climb out of by passing the ball a lot more – since I do not foresee a shootout-style game (the over/under is set at 45) look for James Conner to get a decent bulk of carries and also be involved in the short passing game with a few receptions.
In total, I anticipate Conner to finish near his previous 2018 Pro Bowl form in this game, logging between 20 and 25 touches, 150 all-purpose yards and potentially one touchdown, before making way for a breather or two with Benny Snell.
