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Le'Veon? That doesn't ring a bell. In 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers faced a running back problem with their former star not playing. Questions filled media rooms about who will lead their rush attack. Rather quickly, that was answered; 2017 third-round pick James Conner will be that guy. It turns out, that was the right choice. In his first season as a starter, Conner earned a Pro-Bowl nod and was voted as the No. 62 player in the NFL in the NFL Top 100.
In 2018, playing 12 games, Conner recorded 973 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 4.5 yards per carry average on the ground. He added 55 receptions for 492 yards and a touchdown as well. In all, Conner proved that the Steelers' running situation would be just fine. Entering 2019, he's a full-time starter; but before then, let's take a look at his three best performances from his breakout season.
3. Week 1 @ Cleveland Browns
Stats: 31 rushes for 135 yards, 2 touchdowns. 5 receptions for 57 yards.
Conner's first crack at starting the season as a starter went about as good as expected, upset for the tie as a result. He proved to be a bell-cow back, touching the ball 36 times en route to 192 total yards and a pair of scores. His third touch of the game went on to be a 12-yard first-down scamper, then he got back up and rushed for another first-down. His first score happened on a first down run to the endzone opened up by a pair of outside blocks.
By the mid-point of the third quarter, Conner was on a role, juking, evading, and running past defenders while the offensive line brought power in the trenches. The highlight of the quarter is a 22 yard run for a touchdown as he split the defense through the middle, then turned the corner for his second NFL score. Unfortunately, his debut as the starter had a stain on it. In rainy conditions, Conner fumbled the ball, giving it to Cleveland on the goalline. Nonetheless, it was an excellent game to shut naysayers up.
2. Week 5 Vs. Atlanta Falcons
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Stats: 21 rushes for 110 yards, 2 touchdowns. 4 receptions for 75 yards.
By week 5, Conner was the established starter for the Steelers and amongst their best weapons. By then, he had recorded two 100+ scrimmage yard games, and added another, finishing with 185. In the game, he averaged 5.25 yards per carry and 18.75 per reception, not getting tackled in the backfield once. It was his second game with over 100 yards running and 50 via the air, tying Jim Brown's record to do so in the span of five opening games.
Conner started the game with a tone-setter. He took a checkdown from Ben Roethlisberger 29 yards downfield, then flexed to reaffirm he'd have a dominant game; which he did. On the next play, Conner turned a power run into 30 yards. Two plays later, Conner punched in a touchdown on a run-up-the-gut, finishing with power and a leap to the goalline. By the end of the game, Atlanta Falcons defenders didn't have an answer, as the Steelers cruised to a 41-17 win, led by his two touchdowns on the ground.
1. Week 7 Vs. Cleveland Browns
Stats: 24 rushes for 146 yards, 2 touchdowns. 5 receptions for 66 yards.
In week 1, Conner was a problem for the Browns. That only got magnified in their second matchup, as he finished with 212 scrimmage yards (his first over 200) and a pair of scores to boot. His performance is sandwiched in between four straight games where he tallied over 120 scrimmage yards, but it's clear the 212 one stands out as the best. He nearly outgained the Browns Baker Mayfield-led offense entirely (212 vs. 237).
Whether Brown was converting screens for long first downs or juking, spinning, or hitting defenders on red zone touchdown scampers, Conner was dominant. The highlight of his day was a 23 yard run where he appeared to be bottled up in the backfield. It turns out, that was a lie. Conner shrugged off linebacker Jamie Collins, saw a lane to the goalline, and burst to it untouched by Cleveland; even better, it iced the game in the fourth quarter. Though he yet again had a fumble, Conner proved he'll be trouble for AFC North foes for a long time.
