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Cards beef up their backfield

225-pound Tyler Allgeier joins 233-pound James Conner

I like big backs, and I cannot lie. The Cardinals are bringing back James Conner and have signed Tyler Allgeier, and now they have a rare pair of jumbo-sized backs with 1,000-yard rushing seasons on their resumes.

Arizona also still has Trey Benson, who’s been hurt for most of his first two seasons. He won’t be selected in typical fantasy drafts, but if he can stay healthy, it wouldn’t be shocking if he resurfaces at some point.

No standout guy in Arizona, but they’ve got options.

Per reports, Allgeier signed a two-year deal worth $12.25 million. That averages within $2 million of what Javonte Williams got from Dallas. Allgeier ran for over 1,000 yards as a rookie but was pushed into a lesser role after the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson.

Conner missed most of last season and will be 31 in May. He had to take a pay cut to avoid being trimmed from the roster.

I expect it will be a committee situation in Arizona, probably with Allgeier and Conner leading the way. Note that the new coach, Mike LaFleur, was with the Rams last year, where they were rotating Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in a lot of games. That could be the template.

These are both bigger backs. Conner is listed at 233 pounds, while Allgeier is listed at 225. Benson isn’t small, either – 220 for him.

In the 32-team era, there have been 21 other teams that have had a pair of running backs, with both having run for over 1,000 yards at some point in their career and both weighing at least 225 pounds. For only five of these teams, did both backs then go on to run for at least 500 yards.

TEAMS WITH TWO BIG RUNNERS
YearPlayerWtAttYardsAvgTD
2002Duce Staley, Phil.24226910293.85
2002Dorsey Levens, Phil.230754115.51
2003Deuce McAllister, N.O.23235116414.78
2003Lamar Smith, N.O.23011615.60
2004• Jerome Bettis, Pitt.2522509413.813
2004• Duce Staley, Pitt.2421928304.31
2004• Chris Brown, Ten.23522010674.96
2004• Antowain Smith, Ten.2321375093.74
2005Antowain Smith, N.O.2321666594.03
2005Deuce McAllister, N.O.232933353.63
2005Jerome Bettis, Pitt.2521103683.49
2005Duce Staley, Pitt.242381483.91
2006Jamal Lewis, Balt.24531411323.69
2006Mike Anderson, Balt.230391834.71
2006Willis McGahee, Buff.2352599903.86
2006Anthony Thomas, Buff.2251073783.52
2006Steven Jackson, St.L.24034615284.413
2006Stephen Davis, St.L.230401774.40
2007Willis McGahee, Balt.23529412074.17
2007Mike Anderson, Balt.23015624.10
2007LenDale White, Ten.23530311103.77
2007Chris Brown, Ten.2351024624.55
2008• Brandon Jacobs, NYG26421910895.015
2008• Derrick Ward, NYG24018210255.62
2010Arian Foster, Hou.22732716164.916
2010Derrick Ward, Hou.240503156.34
2011Arian Foster, Hou.22727812244.410
2011Derrick Ward, Hou.240451543.42
2013Peyton Hillis, NYG240732473.42
2013Brandon Jacobs, NYG264582384.14
2015LeGarrette Blount, N.E.2471657034.36
2015Steven Jackson, N.E.24021502.41
2018Saquon Barkley, NYG23326113075.011
2018Jonathan Stewart, NYG2406172.80
2023Latavius Murray, Buff.230793003.84
2023Leonard Fournette, Buff.22812403.30
2023• Ezekiel Elliott, N.E.2281846423.53
2023• Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.2271566194.04
2024• Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.2272078013.97
2024• Antonio Gibson, N.E.2281205384.51
2025Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.2271306034.67
2025Antonio Gibson, N.E.228251064.21
2026James Conner, Ari.233????
2026Tyler Allgeier, Ari.225????

—Ian Allan

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