Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury tested positive for COVID and will miss Sunday's game vs. the Browns. QB coach Cam Turner is also out after testing positive. Kingsbury is an offensive-minded coach and Arizona's play caller, so it's notable news for QB Kyler Murray and the rest of this offense. We're not adjusting our projections for the Cardinals offense, but the situation adds downside risk.

Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds (shoulder) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the 49ers. He only got in a limited practice on Friday, and HC Kliff Kingsbury labeled Edmonds a game-time decision. It’s a 4:25 pm ET kickoff, but hopefully we get an update on Edmonds on Sunday morning. He’ll obviously carry elevated risk if he’s active. If not, RB James Conner will be a strong fantasy play.

The Cardinals on Monday activated RB James Conner from the COVID list. He had landed there Aug. 12 as a high-risk close contact. Conner's return after just 4 days says he never tested positive for the virus. That he was deactivated as a close contact, though, also indicates Conner hasn't been vaccinated. So he's good to go for now. We'll see whether this issue pops back up for him at any point.

The Cardinals on Thursday placed RB James Conner on the COVID list as a high-risk close contact. As long as Conner tests negative, he should be back soon with no reason for further concern. We'll keep an eye out for updates on his situation. Jonathan Ward and Eno Benjamin should see extra reps for as long as Conner is out.

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Monday what most of us expected out of his backfield. "We expect both guys to share the load for the most part," the coach told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss, referring, of course, to RBs Chase Edmonds and James Conner. "We'll play to their strengths," Kingsbury added. "James is obviously a bigger back. Chase, when he had [an] opportunity, did some great things, and we want to make sure we're calling plays that both those guys are comfortable with when they're in and kind of tailor to them." Kingsbury added that "they can both do it all," but it's pretty clear that Conner will hold the edge near the goal line and Edmonds in the passing game -- much like with Edmonds and Kenyan Drake last year. Both remain fine values in current drafting: Edmonds as RB27 in FFPC best-ball formats, Conner at RB38.

According to Jess Root of Cards Wire, Cardinals RB James Conner has sat out team drills in recent days with an unspecified injury. Jonathan Ward has reportedly stepped in for Conner's reps with the 1st team. We haven't seen any other report of a Conner injury, so we're not concerned about the situation just yet. But it'll be one to monitor, given Conner's injury history.

ESPN's Josh Weinfuss believes Cardinals RBs Chase Edmonds and James Conner will "split the primary reps to start, with whoever has the hot hand getting the ball." Fantasy drafters are clearly expecting Edmonds to lead this backfield, taking him about 3 rounds ahead of Conner. We'll see if we get more clarity on the situation over the next month, but Conner is probably the better shot at ADP right now.

The Cardinals are signing RB James Conner, according to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer. Conner popped for a big year back in 2018, rushing for 973 yards and 12 scores on 4.5 yards per carry and adding a 55-497-1 receiving line. He hasn't looked like the same guy the past 2 seasons, though, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and 6.8 yards per catch. Conner ranked 33rd in Pro Football Focus' rushing grades among 47 RBs with 100+ carries last year. He turns just 26 next month but has dealt with a bunch of injuries, missing 12 games over the last 3 years. Conner and Chase Edmonds figure to battle for snaps this summer. We'll see if the Cardinals add anything else to the backfield in the draft.

RB James Conner had surgery to repair a "very moderate turf toe-type injury" this offseason, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The injury reportedly happened when Conner was riding in a "recreational vehicle." He's expected to be back to 100% by June, per Rapoport. Conner is still toiling on the free-agent market but is visiting the Cardinals today.

The Steelers have signed RB Kalen Ballage to a 1-year deal, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ballage lands in a backfield with plenty of opportunity currently available. We'll see, though, whether Pittsburgh adds a RB in the draft. We'd bet on the Steelers doing so, with the big question being how early. Ballage saw surprising touch volume with the Chargers last season, after injuries knocked out Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson. But he averaged only 3.3 yards per rush and 5.0 per reception. If you want to take a shot on Ballage at the very end of best-ball drafts, there's little risk. But we'd hope to see more touches go to Anthony McFarland -- who sure looks like he has a higher ceiling -- than Ballage. Even Benny Snell would probably still be a better bet for carries on the current depth chart.

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday that QB Mason Rudolph will start this weekend's finale vs. the Browns. Pittsburgh can't fall past the #3 seed and can only climb to #2 if the Bills lose at home to the Dolphins. So QB Ben Roethlisberger, whose arm has looked tired lately, will get the week off. Tomlin said "the vast majority of guys will be playing" vs. Cleveland, but we wouldn't be surprised if guys like James Conner, Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster at least had their snaps limited.

Steelers RB James Conner is returning from his quad injury for today's game vs. the Colts, but it sounds like Benny Snell might remain the lead back. "The overall arrow of the trajectory of his play has been an upward one, and he has merited more playing time, and he'll get more playing time because of it," HC Mike Tomlin said this week. Conner has fallen short of 3.2 yards per carry in 4 of his last 5, while Snell has fared pretty well in a few starts in place of Conner. This is a backfield to try to avoid in Week 16 fantasy lineups, but Snell looks like the better bet of the 2.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) doesn't appear on the final injury report. That returns him to the lineup for a tough matchup with the Colts. Conner hasn't topped 13 carries since Week 8 and could still cede work to Benny Snell this week. We'd prefer to avoid the Pittsburgh backfield, if possible.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) put in a full practice on Wednesday. He's on track to return for this weekend's game vs. the Colts. Conner figures to re-assume lead duties but has been completely ineffective for over a month now. He's a shaky Week 16 fantasy play.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) has been downgraded to out for tonight's game against the Bengals. That leaves the backfield to Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels. Snell totaled 24 carries and 7 targets when Conner missed Weeks 12 and 13 and should lead the way in carries tonight. Samuels has captured a bigger passing-game role lately, though, with 6 catches on 8 targets over the past 2 games. Look for him to play in passing situations vs. Cincinnati.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against the Bengals. He got in limited practices on Friday and Saturday. Conner seems on track to play but is just a RB3 or flex option at less than 100% and in a struggling Steelers ground game.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) returned to a limited practice on Friday. It looks like he'll suit up for Monday night's game vs. the Bengals, but check back tomorrow for another update on his status.

Steelers RB James Conner (quad) did not practice on Thursday. He's at least in some danger of missing Monday night's game vs. the Bengals. Conner's absence would leave lead duties to RB Benny Snell, who totaled 24 carries and 7 targets when Conner missed Weeks 12 and 13.

Steelers RB James Conner is dealing with a quad injury, HC Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. We don't have any details on the severity or Conner's status for Monday night's game vs. the Bengals. We'll keep an eye on his practice participation this week. If Conner is sidelined vs. Cincinnati, Benny Snell would step back in as Pittsburgh's lead back.