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James Conner vs. Sony Michel: Who Will Rush for More Yards on Monday Night Football?

By Iain MacMillan

Sony Michel is expected to get the bulk of the carries on Monday Night Football against the Rams.
Sony Michel is expected to get the bulk of the carries on Monday Night Football against the Rams. / Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
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A pivotal NFC West battle is set for Monday Night Football, and the running backs for each team are expected to have influential roles on the outcome.

Cardinals running back James Conner will be going up against Rams running back Sony Michel, who will be starting in place of Darrell Henderson, who has recently been placed on the COVID-19 list.

So which one should you back from a player prop and fantasy perspective? Let's dive into the numbers.

All odds listed are via WynnBET.

James Conner

There are whispers about whether or not Chase Edmonds will be able to play tonight for the Cardinals, so most rushing props for Conner are off the board until that news is confirmed.

Conner has rushed at least 20 times in three of his last four games, so even if Edmonds returns tonight, expect Conner to still get the majority of carries. Even though he's getting carries, he hasn't been as effective this season as he has in years past. He's averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, which is the lowest mark of his career.

Things won't get any easier for him tonight, as he faces a Rams defense that's third in opponent yards per carry, allowing an average of only 3.8. I wouldn't recommend betting the OVER for any of his player prop totals tonight, but he could be worth a bet to score a TD. He has 14 total touchdowns on the year, and is listed at -200 (bet $200 to profit $100) to find the endzone tonight.

Sony Michel

Starting in place of Darrell Henderson, Sony Michel is set up for a successful night tonight. He's averaging 4.1 yards per carry and he's coming off his strongest performance of the season, gashing the Jaguars for 121 yards on 24 carries last week.

Michel also has a favorable matchup. The Cardinals rank 29th in opponent yards per carry, allowing opposing teams to gain an average of 4.7 yards per rush. For those reasons, I'd back the OVER on any Sony Michel rushing yardage prop.

If I had to decide who to start in fantasy tonight, Michel is the play based on matchup alone.

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