Arizona
Arizona Cardinals Star Emerging as Fantasy Football Value Pick
The Arizona Cardinals do one thing extremely well offensively: run the football.
Veteran bulldozing RB James Conner has been the driving force of that run game since Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing took over in the desert.
The results on the field have been impressive. Conner has been a large part of Arizona’s ability to hang with some of the best teams in the NFL, even when the rest of the roster was severely lacking.
They’ve leaned on him to levels bordering on absurd, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing at a consistent rate.
But Conner isn’t given the same level of name recognition as some of the NFL’s other elite running backs — and that may actually be an advantage when drafting one’s fantasy squad this season.
According to ESPN’s Mike Clay, Conner is a player that could be targeted as late as the fifth round.
“Sometimes you have to make the “boring” pick, and the fifth round is flush with unexciting but solid players who can help you grind your way to a fantasy championship,” Clay wrote.
“Conner is my top-ranked available player in this area, and although his age (30) is a concern, there’s enough good here to outweigh the risk. Arizona’s lead back has produced at least 220 touches, 1,080 yards and eight TDs in four consecutive seasons, which includes career highs in yards and touches last season.
“Conner has finished as a top-20 fantasy back in four straight seasons (top 15 in PPG each year) and is well-positioned for another fringe-RB1 campaign.”
It’s not invalid to look at a back entering his 30s and proceed with some level of caution. But Conner has seemingly only improved with age. The Cardinals are certainly comfortable with it, offering Conner a two-year extension that takes him through the 2026 season.
While second-year RB Trey Benson figures to get somewhat of an increased role, the truth is that it’s still Conner’s backfield in Arizona, for the time being.
The question will be just how proficient the Cardinals’ run game will be after the departure of OL coach Klayton Adams. In all likelihood, Arizona will still be a very strong running team, and Conner’s skill transcends scheme.
There’s no predicting when the drop-off will be for the veteran back, but it certainly doesn’t look like it’s coming this season.
Arizona
Arizona man convicted for role in bringing cocaine to Cincinnati, other US locations for over 5 years
CINCINNATI — An Arizona man has been found guilty of supplying dozens of kilograms of cocaine to multiple U.S. locations, including Cincinnati, bi-weekly for more than five years.
Tucson resident Cesar Cervantes, 52, was convicted of participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies in a jury trial after the government seized more than 160 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl and $1.4 million in cash from him.
According to court documents, Cervantes would use a network to deliver drugs that originated in Mexico to multiple locations across the country, including designated couriers in Cincinnati, between at least July 2018 and August 2023. Officials said he would supply between 25 and 50 kilograms biweekly to his coconspirators.
Cervantes would then use money launderers to funnel money back to Mexico. In one instance, court documents said he had coconspirators deliver around $300,000 to two separate money launderers — one based in China and another in Colombia.
The jury found Cervantes guilty on all counts for his role in the conspiracies following a trial before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland in the Southern District of Ohio. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Arizona
Backyard blaze erupts after Arizona monsoon lightning strike
Investigators are analyzing two ransom notes sent after Nancy Guthrie vanished, as a retired FBI agent questions whether the latest message is real. A new development in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance centers on two ransom notes sent to her family after she vanished. Investigators believe the messages may have come from the same person or group, possibly from the same computer IP address. The first note demanded billions in bitcoin, while the second claimed Guthrie had died and offered an apology. Retired FBI agent John Iannarelli says he is skeptical of the second note and questions why the sender has not provided credible information about her location. The case remains active as detectives continue following any reliable leads.
Arizona
Lit cigarette sparks fire at Arizona wildlife park
CAMP VERDE, AZ (AZFamily) — An Arizona wildlife park is asking visitors to follow its rules after a visitor discarded a lit cigarette in the park, sparking a fire.
Park officials said Saturday a visitor ignored the no-smoking policy and threw a lit cigarette on the ground near the Tiger Splash Arena, causing the fire.
“If you are not willing to respect our policies, we understand that our park may not be the right destination for you,” Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary said in a social media post.
Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District firefighters put out the fire before it could spread or threaten any animals, park officials said.
“Every policy we have in place exists for a reason, even if it may seem inconvenient to some visitors,” park officials said. “The outcome could have been devastating for the animals. We respectfully ask all visitors to follow the rules that are in place for everyone’s safety.”
Park officials said the safety of the animals, guests and staff is the highest priority.
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