James Conner is a Featured Back for Pittsburgh. James's 2014 season ranks in the 45th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 258 plays — a average rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royce Freeman | Oregon | 2015 | 275 | 0.360 | 5.1 | 99.0 |
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
| Ameer Abdullah | Nebraska | 2014 | 262 | 0.380 | 5.3 | 99.6 |
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
| Blake Corum | Michigan | 2023 | 283 | 0.380 | 5.1 | 107.5 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsDelaware | W62-0 | — | 14 | 153 | 10.9 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0.21 |
| 2 | @Boston College | W30-20 | 4.9 | 36 | 214 | 5.9 | 1 | — | — | — | 0.22 |
| 3 | @Florida International | W42-25 | -16.2 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 21 · Rush Yds 90 · Avg 4.3 · Rush TD 2
| 31 |
| 177 |
| 5.7 |
| 3 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 4 | vsIowa | L20-24 | 6.8 | 29 | 155 | 5.3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0.32 |
| 5 | vsAkron | L10-21 | -9.4 | 25 | 92 | 3.7 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.11 |
| 6 | @Virginia | L19-24 | 4.0 | 21 | 83 | 4.0 | 0 | — | — | — | -0.09 |
| 8 | vsVirginia Tech | W21-16 | 7.8 | 16 | 85 | 5.3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 9 | vsGeorgia Tech | L28-56 | 11.2 | 10 | 120 | 12.0 | 3 | — | — | — | 1.22 |
| 10 | vsDuke | L48-51 | 7.0 | 38 | 263 | 6.9 | 3 | — | — | — | 0.28 |
| 12 | @North Carolina | L35-40 | 0.0 | 30 | 220 | 7.3 | 4 | — | — | — | 0.43 |
| 13 | vsSyracuse | W30-7 | -2.1 | 11 | 38 | 3.5 | 1 | — | — | — | -0.01 |
| 14 | @Miami | W35-23 | 13.9 | 16 | 75 | 4.7 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 1 | vsHouston | L34-35 | 5.4 | 21 | 90 | 4.3 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.21 |