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    Should You Start James Conner or Kyren Williams in Fantasy Football Week 5?

    James Conner and Kyren Williams have been two of the better fantasy football running backs this season. However, which should you start in Week 5?

    The 2023 NFL regular season is nearly a quarter of the way over. Fantasy football players can start to see which of their draft picks were an excellent selection and which they were better off leaving for someone else in the league.

    This week, four teams are on a bye, leaving fantasy players with some difficult decisions, especially at the running back position. One of those decisions could be between starting James Conner or Kyren Williams. Let’s dive into it.

    Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

    James Conner’s Fantasy Outlook This Week

    Conner is the RB14 on the year, averaging 12.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The veteran running back is coming off a poor performance against the San Francisco 49ers, totaling only 52 rushing yards and 6.1 fantasy points.

    However, the former Pittsburgh Panthers star was outstanding over the first three weeks this season, averaging 88.7 rushing yards and 14.9 fantasy points per game, scoring two touchdowns in those three contests.

    More importantly, Conner is the featured running back in Arizona. He has accounted for 79.5% of the backfield’s rushing attempts, 86.9% of the yards, 58.8% of the targets, and 85.8% of the fantasy points this year.

    MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

    This week, the veteran has an appealing matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC North team has surrendered 111.3 rushing yards and 18.5 fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Furthermore, they have given up over 100 rushing yards in all but one game.

    Kyren Williams’ Fantasy Outlook This Week

    Williams is the RB4 on the year, averaging 19 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The second-year running back is coming off a strong performance against the Indianapolis Colts, totaling 103 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 26.2 fantasy points.

    The former Notre Dame running back has been a massive surprise for fantasy players this season. Many expected him to have a limited role behind Cam Akers. Instead, Williams took over as the starter in Week 1 and never looked back.

    Not only has he become the starter, but the second-year running back has been outstanding for fantasy players, totaling six touchdowns this season. Williams has two touchdowns in all but one contest.

    MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

    This week, the former Notre Dame star has a difficult matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFC East team has held running backs to only 48 rushing yards and 11.4 fantasy points per game this season. Furthermore, they have surrendered fewer than 65 rushing yards to running backs in every game.

    Which Running Back Should You Start?

    Both running backs have been excellent options for fantasy players this season. However, their matchups this week are drastically different.

    Conner faces a Cincinnati defense that couldn’t slow down Derrick Henry last week, giving up 122 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Williams takes on a Philadelphia defense that has held running backs to under six fantasy points twice this season.

    Fantasy players likely have to play both running backs this week due to a lack of better options. However, Conner has significantly more appeal in Week 5.

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