Las Vegas Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals Player Prop Picks: Can We Count on James Conner?
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals Player Prop Picks: Can We Count on James Conner?
The Arizona Cardinals are on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders this week. Arizona is coming off of a massive let-down against the Kansas City Chiefs in their home opener, and the Cards are looking to have a major bounce back in Vegas tomorrow.
James Conner was heavily utilized by Arizona throughout the 2021 season, and that continued in Week 1. Sportsbooks are undervaluing the 27-year-old running back for Week 2, so we'll be counting on James Conner in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Arizona Cardinals Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
Date: Sunday, September 18
Time: 4:25 PM ET
Where to Watch: CBS
Click Here for Raiders vs Cardinals Odds
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Arizona Cardinals Player Prop Picks
James Conner Over 21.5 Receiving Yards (-114) (Bet $114 to win $100)
*Odds Available at FanDuel at Time of Publishing*
We have a ton going for us on this play. James Conner is one of the highest usage running backs across the NFL right now. The man has absolutely zero competition for touches in the Arizona backfield, and his workload should remain at an elite level in Week 2.
Last week, Conner played an incredible 96% of Arizona's offensive snaps in the first half. The Chiefs were beating the Cardinals so bad that his usage got scaled back toward the end of the afternoon. But, we shouldn't have another situation where Arizona's down 37-7 through three quarters this week.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers RB also ran a route on 15 of Arizona's 17 dropbacks in the first half. Conner is essential to Arizona's offense right now, thanks to Chase Edmonds' departure in free agency, DeAndre Hopkins' suspension, and Rondale Moore's hamstring injury. Everything revolves around Kyler Murray and JC right now, which is perfect for his receiving lines.
Conner has now played 6 games in a Cardinals uniform without Chase Edmonds. He's totaled 25+ receiving yards in every single one of these games, averaging 43.7 receiving yards on 5.5 targets per game. And, we can expect Conner to see around 75-80% of Arizona's snaps this week. Even when he's logged just a 60% snap share or higher, he's 7 for 7 on this over. He'll be Kyler Murray's go-to option in the short game with Rondale Moore out, and the team's going to ride him until the wheels fall off.
James Conner Anytime Touchdown (-110) (Bet $110 to win $100)
*Odds Available at FanDuel at Time of Publishing*
James Conner won't only be involved as a receiver. He's also the Cardinals' most dependable red zone option and scores touchdowns at a ridiculously high clip.
The Cards ran 10 plays in the red zone in Week 1. Conner was on the field for all 10 of them. He was one of only a handful of running backs to play every single one of their team's snaps inside the 20, and he logged more than anyone else. JC scored Arizona's only first-half touchdown in Week 1, and that comes after an insanely lucrative 2021 season.
Arizona's RB has found paydirt in 13 of his last 15 games, dating back to Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season. He's scored the 2nd-most touchdowns in the league during this stretch, trailing only Jonathan Taylor.
The game's 51.5-point total is the highest on the Week 2 slate, which should offer plenty of scoring chances for the Cardinals RB. There's a ton of value in James Conner's props this Sunday, and I love his outlook in a potential shootout against the Raiders.