Jordan DeFigio, @fidgenewton
SteelerNation.com
"He's not a number one running back."
"He can't stay healthy."
"They shouldn't pay him."
All these things and more have been said of Pittsburgh Steelers running back, James Conner. Since being drafted in 2017, he's had his fair share of issues on the field and has yet to play a full season's worth of football. He's struggled with injuries and consistency, and after this year is set to become a free agent.
I wrote an article back in May expressing my desire that the Steelers keep him, purely based on nostalgia and heart. But this season, Conner is making a push for pay based on results.
Through seven games, Conner has amassed 110 carries for 498 yards (already passing his numbers through ten games in 2019), 5 touchdowns, 4.5 yards per carry, and a long of 59.
And he's looked damn good doing it, too.
There are plenty more where that came from, and on every play, he looks confident, calm, and powerful. He evades defenders with ease on one down, and plows over them the next. The only other season where his play has looked this strong this consistently was in 2018 when he carried the ball 215 times for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns.
And, consequently, made it to the Pro Bowl.
The Steelers' offensive line has morphed from game to game, but that hasn't stopped Conner. He's already had two games over 100 yards and has made it to the end zone in all but one.
When all is said and done, his price tag may be too costly for the Steelers to sign him to another deal.
But no one will be able to say he isn't worth the money.
#SteelerNation
