Pittsburgh Steelers free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 29: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (86) catches a ball before an AFC West game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs on December 29, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 22: Washington Redskins Running Back Chris Thompson (25) holds off a tackle from New York Giants Safety Julian Love (24) during the game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins on December 22, 2019 at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Nicole Fridling/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. RB Chris Thompson (Washington Redskins)

When available, running back James Conner has proven to be a solid performer for head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. The 2017 third-round pick from the University of Pittsburgh saw occasional action during his rookie season but he’s been the real focus of the Steelers’ running attack these past two years. In ’18, he totaled 215 carries for 973 yards and 12 scores. He also finished third on the team with 55 receptions, good for 497 yards and one touchdown. But he also missed three games.

This past year, Conner was on the field for just 10 contests. It added up to only 715 total yards from scrimmage, including a team-best 464 yards on the ground. But this was a Pittsburgh team that ran for only 90.4 yards per game – the fourth-worst average in the NFL. It’s also worth noting that the Steelers’ offensive unit totaled only 25 touchdowns in 16 outings and Conner had seven of those scores.

The Steelers got a promising rookie campaign from 2019 fourth-round pick Benny Snell Jr., who finished second on the club with 426 yards on the ground on 108 carries. But Tomlin’s team could use another veteran option and Washington Redskins’ running back Chris Thompson has shown his worth as both a runner and pass-catcher and may also wind up being an insurance policy on kickoff returns.

Next: No. 2

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